Pet Retention Counselor

Summary of Purpose:

Duties (Essential Functions):

Provide high quality, culturally competent, trauma-informed counseling and case management.

• Deliver services with an open-minded and inclusive attitude, treating each community encounter with respect, kindness, and compassion.
• Provide excellent active listening and problem solving to clients through motivational interviewing.
• Offer appropriate and available resources to prevent relinquishment to the shelter in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Provide counseling to pet owners via phone calls, email, text, or in person (ie: walk-ins, client home visits, community events, tabling at social service organizations).

Provide professional, compassionate, stellar customer services to all who visit, call, volunteer, donate or work for KHS.

• Act as a forward-facing KHS representative at community events and tabling at social service organizations.
• Collaborate with other departments, organizations, and team members.
• Communicate with the Pet Retention Services Manager regarding unusual activities, significant problems, or concerns.

Organization and data entry.

• Document interactions with clients through notes and data entry into Casebook program.
• Inventory pet supplies and track event attendance through data entry into Excel spreadsheets.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Experience in social services industry preferred.
• Ability to navigate traumatic situation and provide support to clients in crisis situations.
• Passion for serving the community
• General cat/dog behavior and care knowledge.
• Exceptional organizational, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in communication, note documentation and data entry.
• Self-directed with ability to work independently/meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment with little direct supervision.
• Ability to quickly adapt as programs and policies evolve.
• Basic to intermediate computer knowledge.
• Ability to communicate respectfully and effectively with people of all backgrounds and personalities.
• Ability to manage the emotional aspect of end-of-life services and humane euthanasia, and support staff in high-emotion circumstances.
• Accept, support, and represent KHS core values, programs, policies, and procedures.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, clean driving record and ability to drive KHS vehicles.
• Cover letter strongly preferred.
• Background Check required.

Physical, Psychosocial, and Cognitive Demands/ Working Environment

• Individual will have extended periods of sitting, talking and listening.
• Occasional bending, reaching, kneeling, walking, and standing regularly while performing job functions.
• Frequently lifts, carries, or otherwise moves and positions objects weighing up to 30 lbs.
• Working in an indoor desk environment and outdoor community outreach events as needed.
• Local travel – includes off-site meeting and events.
• Potential exposure to animals.
• Potential for exposure to allergens (including but not limited to pet dander, dust, peanut butter), and zoonotic diseases (diseases transferred from animals to humans).
• Exposure to chemicals.
• Exposure to loud noise.
• Exposure to emotional circumstances.
• Fast-paced environment.