Intake Specialist

Description

 Since 1984, we’ve dedicated ourselves to ensuring every animal has the quality of life they deserve—a life worth living. Now, we go beyond our walls to help create a more humane community for pets and the people who love them.

Asheville Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We do, however, hold the County contract for animal sheltering. This means that we are the open-admission shelter for all Buncombe County animals.

As the only open-intake animal shelter in Buncombe County, we're always here for the animals in our community. The Buncombe County Animal Shelter is located next door to Asheville Humane Society's Adoption Center and serves as a point of entry for all found strays or animals surrendered by their owners. 

Position Summary

The Intake Specialist's primary focus is to process the admissions of incoming animals and the outcomes of Return to Owners. This position performs administrative activities relating to Shelter Admissions, including paperwork and computer processing. This position is also responsible for the cleanliness and tidiness of the Admission and Processing Rooms. Other duties include animal care and providing species/age-specific medical workups, including vaccinating, microchipping, etc.

Schedule: This position works at the Buncombe County Animal Shelter, located on our Animal Care Campus. The typical work schedule is Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This is a full-time, non-exempt position.

Compensation & Benefits: The salary for the Intake Specialist starts at $15.75/hour. AHS is pleased to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees that includes: medical, dental, and vision insurance, a Simple IRA plan with up to 3% company match, 18 days of PTO in the first year, paid holidays, pet prescription discounts, and more! Benefits are available after 60 days of employment.

Key Responsibilities

• Process and complete required paperwork for the admissions of incoming animals and outcomes of Return to Owners.
• Provide proper identification of incoming animals through microchip scanning, photography, and other identification checks.
• Provide preventative medical care to animals admitted through vaccination, deworming, and other procedures.
• Assist Animal Control Agencies with the admission process of animals and work collaboratively with the Officers on individual situations. Document all notes made by Animal Control Agencies.
• Monitor and respond in a timely manner to emails and voicemails associated with the processing team.
• Provide guidance and counseling to clients regarding animal issues in accordance with AHS policies.
• Demonstrate proper animal care and handling and restraint protocols.
• Responsible for monitoring the animals in processing throughout the day, ensuring they are maintained in a clean environment, provided with fresh food and water, and walked.
• Responsible for cleaning, disinfecting and storing dishes, laundry and other items used in the daily care of the animals in processing.
• Responsible for moving animals from processing to the general population by the end of each business day as space allows.
• Report and document animal temperament and health concerns.
• Responsible for maintaining a working knowledge of all AHS programs and services.
• Coordinate opening and closing of the Admissions program spaces, including the Community Sheltering Center.
• Responsible for ensuring that processing is presentable, tidy, and organized in both public and staff areas.
• Responsible for monitoring the inventory of Admissions program supplies and equipment and notifying the Senior Manager of Operations when supplies are low, or equipment is in need of repair.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent required. 
• Intermediate computer knowledge and experience with a multiline phone system.
• Previous experience working with animals preferred.
• Ability to apply proper animal handling skills and knowledge of individual animal temperament.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, written, and communication skills.
• Ability to work with volunteers and co-workers in a professional manner.

This position requires standing for long periods and sufficient manual dexterity to use animal handling and cleaning equipment on a regular basis. It requires the ability to stoop, bend, reach, and lift items weighing at least 50 pounds to a level of 4 feet high and the ability to handle dogs weighing up to 150 lbs. This position requires the ability to work with moderate noise in a confined area and to sit at a computer for extended periods of time.