Seasonal Admissions Associate & Foster Assistant

Description

Job Title: Seasonal Admissions Associate & Foster Assistant

Reports to: Admissions/Foster Program Supervisor

Objective: The seasonal admissions associate & foster assistant is responsible for providing support to the admissions-foster program supervisor during the busy season. In this role, the job holder completes administrative tasks assigned by the AFP supervisor, performs admissions exams, front-line customer service, provides preventative care to cats and kittens, assists with cat/kitten discharge to foster care, and performs other tasks as assigned by the AFP supervisor.

Position Type and Hours: Non-exempt, hourly, part-time, temporary. This seasonal position will run through 12/31/25.

Foster Assistant (50% of time) 

• Scheduling foster admissions; securing foster placement; coordinating pickups.
• Monitor foster program inbox by checking and responding to foster emails.
• Send cats/kittens to foster care by preparing and sending the proper paperwork, gathering the necessary foster supplies; updating the cat/kitten(s)’ Shelter Buddy records; providing special instructions to the foster parent if necessary and fielding any questions.
• Receive cats/kittens from foster care by preparing kennel space,collecting/reprinting paperwork; performing exams/treatments as needed, and updating the cat/kitten(s)’ Shelter Buddy records.
• Serve as point of contact for foster parents on the AFP supervisor’s weekend by scheduling vet appointments for foster parents; fielding questions via email and phone.
• Manage the surgery schedule by assigning foster cats/kittens surgery dates based on their age/health; confirming dates with the foster parent and scheduling it in Acuity; rescheduling kittens if they are underweight or too ill for surgery. 
• Update the Foster List by communicating with foster parents regarding their cat/kittens’ health and socialization status; offer surgery dates and prepare them for pre-adoption/adoption when ready; make cats/kittens available for adoption in Shelter Buddy and ensure that the foster parent has all the information they need to process applications.
• Maintain and replenish foster supplies by inventorying current supplies, placing orders as needed, and discarding expired supplies.  
• Serve as a back-up for foster supply bag maintenance by stocking, cleaning, and tagging kitten baby bags, adult foster bags, and mentor bags when volunteers are unable to perform these duties. 

Admissions (50% of time) 

• Prepare kennels for admissions by providing cage covers, signage, food/water, and setting up cats and/or kittens when they arrive at the shelter.
• Review records from the previous shelter, vet clinic, or public admissions forms by reading through cat/kittens’ medical or vet records and noting treatments given, treatments due, and previous behavior concerns or adoption placement recommendations.
• Perform physical exams on all cats and kittens by examining the cat and/or kittens’ bodies for signs of illness or abnormalities; weighing, aging, and sexing the cat and/or kittens; documenting abnormal findings; administering age-appropriate preventative care treatments; performing behavior assessments.
• Provide medical care and treatment to cats and/or kittens in need by escalating emergency cases to the hospital; starting medications according to CAT’s established medical protocols if necessary; feeding kittens unable to eat on their own; recording care provided in Shelter Buddy. 
• Facilitate public admissions by greeting clients and ensuring proper paperwork is signed for surrender; communicating and explaining decisions to deny intake if necessary; accepting payments for admission fees if applicable; answering client questions or concerns. 
• Create animal records for new cats/kittens by entering each incoming cat and/or kitten into Shelter Buddy; recording the physical exam findings, basic identification information, adoption fees, previous and due treatments, behavior and personality notes, and any medications administered; providing the data to an admissions volunteer to enter and verify accuracy once complete when available.
• Maintaining the cleanliness and functionality of the admissions exam room by cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, supplies, and kennels; restocking examination and preventative care supplies as needed.
• Assisting with CAT’s helpline program by responding to clients in a caring, knowledgeable, and professional manner; sharing resources and tools to promote pet retention; identifying shelter candidates and scheduling admissions exams when done. 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Knowledge 

• Animal sheltering
• Cat behavior, including queens and kittens
• Customer service
• Computer programs, including Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Shelter Buddy

Skills

• Prioritize tasks to meet deadlines
• Remain organized and manage time
• Communicate effectively in person and in writing
• Solve problems and perform multiple tasks simultaneously
• Perform basic medical procedures on cats (vaccinations, fluids, etc.)
• Safely handle animals
• Provide compassionate care for cats
• Operate standard office equipment and computers, including copy machines, telephone systems, email, internet navigation, document creation and data entry.
• Use specialized medical equipment

Abilities 

• Work cooperatively within a team environment 
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information 
• Facilitate difficult conversations when necessary 
• Provide compassionate customer service in a highly emotional setting

Qualifications and Experience: 

Necessary

• High school diploma or equivalent 

Preferred 

• 1 year on-the-job veterinary assistant experience
• Prior shelter, veterinary, foster, or animal control experience
• Previous experience working within a nonprofit organization
• Prior customer service experience

Mental Effort: This position has variation in tasks, and the job holder must decide which tasks to complete as well as the order in which they are completed. Many of the tasks are routine, but the job holder may occasionally encounter issues or variations from the norm which require troubleshooting and/or new ways of thinking/performing a task. Additionally, this position requires the job holder to manage details, changing priorities, and workflow interruptions. 

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: 

Physical Requirements

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential job functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Move and/or transport items up to 50 pounds (assisted or unassisted)
• Position oneself at various levels to successfully carry out the essential functions of the job
• Provide direct animal care including feeding, watering, cleaning litter boxes, and other animal handling
• Provide direct medical care to animals including administering vaccinations, medications, subcutaneous fluids and performing other treatments as needed 
• Clean animal housing and facility 
• Disinfect and sanitize using agents such as bleach and Rescue®
• Communicate effectively with other staff, volunteers, clients, and members of the public by email, phone, or in-person
• Navigate the shelter and building
• Read and keep accurate records/files
• Work on a computer and use various software programs
• Operate office equipment such as a copy and fax machine, printer, scanner, and multi-line telephone 

Work Environment

Work in this position is performed at an animal shelter. The work environment will have hazards or obstacles, and there is a higher risk of personal injury while performing assigned tasks if safety protocols are not followed. Job conditions may be uncomfortable relative to noise, temperature, smell, cleanliness, or exposure to contagious disease. The worker may encounter the following: 

• Distressed animals that put the worker at risk for injuries such as bites and scratches
• Animal urine, animal feces, animal vomit, animal blood, animal fur
• Medications used to treat animals
• Needles used to vaccinate or provide other treatments to animals 
• Zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from cats to humans
• Disinfecting agents such as bleach and Rescue®
• Animal handling equipment such as nets, leather gloves, etc.

Pay Range: This position starts at $19.00-$20.00 per hour.

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor.  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

 To Apply: Click the Apply button below. Please upload your resume to the application portal--a resume is required for consideration. If you are having any problems uploading your resume to the application portal, please email your resume to jobs@catadoptionteam.org, and we can send you a list of the screener questions to answer. 

PLEASE NOTE: There are required screener questions for this position that will replace a Cover Letter requirement.  

Salary : $19 - $20