Adoption Specialist

Key Responsibilities

The Adoption process ensures that the right family is the best match for both the dog and the family when placing the right dog in a forever home. Adoption Specialists are the “face” of the rescue and need to be comfortable interacting with the public and have excellent follow-through skills.

• Monitor and triage interest in assigned dog(s), including communicating updates on the status of an application to an interested family promptly.
• Review and validate the information provided to us via the application process and conduct phone interviews.
• Follow up on all assigned pre-qualified applications to assist in matching them with an adoptable dog.
• Responsible for screening all potential homes for assigned dog(s), often balancing multiple interested applicants at once.
• Provide updates on the adoption status of a dog using Shelter Manager and execute adoption movements, as required.
• Discuss a variety of topics and best practices for transitioning a rescue dog to a new home with potential adopters, including how to house train, crate train, and care for a rescue dog.
• Develop a basic understanding of Dog Star Rescue’s intake, vetting, and foster programs to educate potential adopters properly.
• Communicate openly within the team, as well as with potential adopters and other areas of the rescue.
• Facilitate safe meet and greets, using Dog Star’s best practices, with potential adopters and rescue dogs, including for families with children and other resident dogs.
• Follow the processes, procedures, and best practices outlined in the Adoption Manual.
• Advocate for the best interest of each dog.
• Collaborate with the Foster, Behavior, and other teams when necessary for help with placement.
• Attend and participate in weekly Adoption Events (2 weekends minimum – 3 preferred)
• Additional tasks as needed.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal skills, attention to detail, problem resolution, critical thinking, working independently in a collaborative environment, good time management skills, phone etiquette, active listening skills, and ability to communicate and interact with all kinds of people. Passionate about dogs with the ability to interact positively with dogs of ALL breeds and sizes. Computer literate with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Meets, and Shelter Manager or the willingness to learn.

Benefits

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail
• Problem resolution
• Critical thinking
• Working independently in a collaborative environment
• Good time management skills, phone etiquette, active listening skills, and ability to communicate and interact with all kinds of people.
• Passionate about dogs with the ability to interact positively with dogs of ALL breeds and sizes.
• Computer literate with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Meets, and Shelter Manager – or the willingness to learn.

Time Commitment

Attend a mandatory orientation program, participate in a mentor program, collaborate with the immediate team and other internal teams, follow organization communication procedures, policies, and guidelines at all times, and volunteer five (5) to twenty (20) hours a month minimum.

Working conditions

Requires sitting for long periods, getting up and down with reaching or bending, manual dexterity with normal hand and finger movements for typical office work, and participation in in-person adoption events. Remote work, with access to a laptop, tablet, internet, and phone. The ability to lift/push/pull at least 50 lbs. May be subject to dog bites and scratches while handling dogs with questionable temperament. Regular bending, reaching, kneeling, sitting on the floor, crouching, and standing/walking for extended periods, with the potential for exposure to animal waste, blood, and zoonotic diseases.

Reports to: Adoptions Team Coordinators