ASPCA
Overview
Join our Adoption Center team as an Admissions and Placement Specialist to make a direct and meaningful impact on the vulnerable animals and owners who need us most.
Summary Are you a positive, engaging people person? Do you thrive in a fast‑paced environment with lots of changing needs and priorities? If so – and you love animals – you should consider the role of Admissions and Placement Specialist at the ASPCA Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery.
Who We Are The Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery is dedicated to helping animals by engaging community members directly in the care of animals. The role of Admissions and Placement Specialist is crucial for creating a positive impression on visitors, volunteers, and potential adopters. They help animals prepare for new homes, ensure their welfare, guide adopters to the right match, and counsel adopters on care and preparation. If a pet owner is surrendering their animal, the Specialist explores alternatives and supports a humane solution.
What You’ll Do Admissions and Placement Specialists are part of a high‑performing team that provides care for up to 3,000 at‑risk pets per year. They collaborate internally and externally to ensure visitors receive prompt, exceptional customer service. The Center currently provides shelter and adoption for these groups of animals:
Animal victims of cruelty and neglect brought by the NYPD
Animals brought through the Community Engagement team
Underage kittens and other medically compromised stray animals
Animals surrendered by their owners awaiting adoption to new homes
Animals transferred in from shelter/rescue partners
Specialists report to the Manager of Admissions and Placement and are located at the 92nd Street location in NYC.
Where and When You’ll Work This role is located at our 92nd Street location and requires a flexible schedule: 4‑10 hour days, including a weekend day, nights, and holidays as needed.
Compensation The target hiring salary range is $23.33 – $24.77 per hour. The maximum is for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience, and may be adjusted for performance.
Benefits
Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer‑paid dental, and optional vision coverage.
Flexible paid time off: vacation, personal, sick, bereavement, parental leave, and 10 company holidays.
Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with matching contributions.
Robust professional development: classes, on‑the‑job training, coaching and mentorship with industry peers, and internal mobility opportunities.
Responsibilities Adoption Matchmaking – 70%
Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals, staff, and clients using low‑stress handling techniques.
Assist potential adopters and guide them toward animals that are the best match.
Develop adopter expectations through a conversation‑based, empathetic approach.
Approve appropriate matches and decline mismatches, explaining reasons and finding alternatives when possible.
Counsel adopters on the medical and behavioral care their animal has received and coach on post‑adoption care.
Coach potential adopters in socialization and training of interested animals.
Be familiar with all available dogs and cats, including attributes and challenges, and present them enthusiastically.
Check each animal’s health and welfare status daily using shelter management software and update volunteers accordingly.
Assist with onboarding, coaching, and supervision of volunteers on the Adopter survey, adoption process, and Fear Free philosophy.
Conduct adoptions onsite and using audio/video technology, processing paperwork and financial transactions.
Create and maintain animal records, including documentation of matchmaking conversations.
Cross‑reference adopters in the animal abuser registry as required by New York regulations.
Shadow or deploy with Community Engagement, Community Medicine, Relocation, National Response Team, or another ASPCA department once per year.
Admissions and Client Support – 20%
Assist the public surrendering or rehoming pets by providing intake support and exploring alternatives to surrender.
Teach the public about animal care, welfare, and Fear Free® philosophy and techniques.
Actively seek opportunities to engage visitors in animal welfare and the ASPCA’s work.
Animal Care and Welfare – 10%
Ensure animals’ welfare by attending to their physical and emotional health per ASPCA protocols.
Follow kennel signage regarding animal treatment and care.
Transport animals using low‑stress handling techniques between facilities and partners.
Provide socialization, enrichment, and training reinforcement as directed by the Adoption Center Behavior team.
Qualifications
Exceptional communicator and team player in a fast‑paced shelter environment.
Passion for providing exceptional customer service.
Effective communication in spoken and written English with diverse cultures.
Comfortable working with behaviorally and medically compromised animals, including environments where euthanasia is performed.
Ability to work independently and in a team amid distractions, multiple projects, shifting priorities, and deadlines.
Embraces differences, listens, and seeks to understand viewpoints.
Builds positive, productive relationships within and across teams, volunteers, and the public.
Positive, engaging demeanor; enjoys working with people.
Self‑motivated with a solution‑oriented attitude.
Negotiation and conflict management skills.
Computer proficiency; experience with PetPoint or a similar database is a plus.
Strong interest in animal welfare and advocacy.
Physical capability to walk, bend, stand, reach continuously during a minimum 8‑hour day; lift up to 30 lbs; walk dogs up and down stairs.
Comfortable working with and around dogs and cats.
Language
English (required)
Spanish (preferred; other languages desirable)
Education and Work Experience
High school degree required.
Minimum of two years of customer or client service experience.
Minimum of five years of overall professional work experience.
Training or coaching experience preferred.
Animal handling experience strongly preferred.
Previous experience in behavioral animal care and enrichment, ideally in a shelter and/or veterinary setting with compromised animals.
Fear Free Shelter certification required within 60 days of hire.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws.
About Us The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals deserve kind, respectful treatment by humans and must be protected by law. As a 501(c)(3) not‑for‑profit corporation, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals nationwide. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a full‑service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers. The ASPCA also operates programs that extend nationwide, including disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal advocacy, and resources for the sheltering and veterinary community.
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Summary Are you a positive, engaging people person? Do you thrive in a fast‑paced environment with lots of changing needs and priorities? If so – and you love animals – you should consider the role of Admissions and Placement Specialist at the ASPCA Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery.
Who We Are The Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery is dedicated to helping animals by engaging community members directly in the care of animals. The role of Admissions and Placement Specialist is crucial for creating a positive impression on visitors, volunteers, and potential adopters. They help animals prepare for new homes, ensure their welfare, guide adopters to the right match, and counsel adopters on care and preparation. If a pet owner is surrendering their animal, the Specialist explores alternatives and supports a humane solution.
What You’ll Do Admissions and Placement Specialists are part of a high‑performing team that provides care for up to 3,000 at‑risk pets per year. They collaborate internally and externally to ensure visitors receive prompt, exceptional customer service. The Center currently provides shelter and adoption for these groups of animals:
Animal victims of cruelty and neglect brought by the NYPD
Animals brought through the Community Engagement team
Underage kittens and other medically compromised stray animals
Animals surrendered by their owners awaiting adoption to new homes
Animals transferred in from shelter/rescue partners
Specialists report to the Manager of Admissions and Placement and are located at the 92nd Street location in NYC.
Where and When You’ll Work This role is located at our 92nd Street location and requires a flexible schedule: 4‑10 hour days, including a weekend day, nights, and holidays as needed.
Compensation The target hiring salary range is $23.33 – $24.77 per hour. The maximum is for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience, and may be adjusted for performance.
Benefits
Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer‑paid dental, and optional vision coverage.
Flexible paid time off: vacation, personal, sick, bereavement, parental leave, and 10 company holidays.
Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with matching contributions.
Robust professional development: classes, on‑the‑job training, coaching and mentorship with industry peers, and internal mobility opportunities.
Responsibilities Adoption Matchmaking – 70%
Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals, staff, and clients using low‑stress handling techniques.
Assist potential adopters and guide them toward animals that are the best match.
Develop adopter expectations through a conversation‑based, empathetic approach.
Approve appropriate matches and decline mismatches, explaining reasons and finding alternatives when possible.
Counsel adopters on the medical and behavioral care their animal has received and coach on post‑adoption care.
Coach potential adopters in socialization and training of interested animals.
Be familiar with all available dogs and cats, including attributes and challenges, and present them enthusiastically.
Check each animal’s health and welfare status daily using shelter management software and update volunteers accordingly.
Assist with onboarding, coaching, and supervision of volunteers on the Adopter survey, adoption process, and Fear Free philosophy.
Conduct adoptions onsite and using audio/video technology, processing paperwork and financial transactions.
Create and maintain animal records, including documentation of matchmaking conversations.
Cross‑reference adopters in the animal abuser registry as required by New York regulations.
Shadow or deploy with Community Engagement, Community Medicine, Relocation, National Response Team, or another ASPCA department once per year.
Admissions and Client Support – 20%
Assist the public surrendering or rehoming pets by providing intake support and exploring alternatives to surrender.
Teach the public about animal care, welfare, and Fear Free® philosophy and techniques.
Actively seek opportunities to engage visitors in animal welfare and the ASPCA’s work.
Animal Care and Welfare – 10%
Ensure animals’ welfare by attending to their physical and emotional health per ASPCA protocols.
Follow kennel signage regarding animal treatment and care.
Transport animals using low‑stress handling techniques between facilities and partners.
Provide socialization, enrichment, and training reinforcement as directed by the Adoption Center Behavior team.
Qualifications
Exceptional communicator and team player in a fast‑paced shelter environment.
Passion for providing exceptional customer service.
Effective communication in spoken and written English with diverse cultures.
Comfortable working with behaviorally and medically compromised animals, including environments where euthanasia is performed.
Ability to work independently and in a team amid distractions, multiple projects, shifting priorities, and deadlines.
Embraces differences, listens, and seeks to understand viewpoints.
Builds positive, productive relationships within and across teams, volunteers, and the public.
Positive, engaging demeanor; enjoys working with people.
Self‑motivated with a solution‑oriented attitude.
Negotiation and conflict management skills.
Computer proficiency; experience with PetPoint or a similar database is a plus.
Strong interest in animal welfare and advocacy.
Physical capability to walk, bend, stand, reach continuously during a minimum 8‑hour day; lift up to 30 lbs; walk dogs up and down stairs.
Comfortable working with and around dogs and cats.
Language
English (required)
Spanish (preferred; other languages desirable)
Education and Work Experience
High school degree required.
Minimum of two years of customer or client service experience.
Minimum of five years of overall professional work experience.
Training or coaching experience preferred.
Animal handling experience strongly preferred.
Previous experience in behavioral animal care and enrichment, ideally in a shelter and/or veterinary setting with compromised animals.
Fear Free Shelter certification required within 60 days of hire.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws.
About Us The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals deserve kind, respectful treatment by humans and must be protected by law. As a 501(c)(3) not‑for‑profit corporation, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals nationwide. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a full‑service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers. The ASPCA also operates programs that extend nationwide, including disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal advocacy, and resources for the sheltering and veterinary community.
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