Specialist, Lifesaving Outcomes (Adoptions)

Location: Salt Lake City, UT (onsite at Sugar House location)

Pay

Hiring range: $19.50 – $23.00 per hour, depending on experience, plus benefits.

Schedule

• Full-time, temporary role expected to last 1 year from start date
• 5 days on, 2 days off; weekend availability required (especially Saturdays)
• Shift: 10:30 am – 7:30 pm (subject to change)
• Includes weekends, nights, and holidays

About the Role

Outcomes Specialists connect pets with potential adoptive families through superior customer service and relationship building to set both the animal and new family up for success. The role models Best Friends’ culture of warm, welcoming hospitality with visitors and guests, creating longstanding connections with the organization’s lifesaving mission. Specialists act with urgency to accomplish important tasks and play a direct role in achieving Best Friends Animal Society’s no-kill mission. While primarily focused on pet adoption, specialists may also support other lifesaving outcome-focused programs based on organizational needs.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate kindness, inclusion, and respect in all interactions with visitors, volunteers, and animals.
• Act as a role model for authenticity, positivity, and compassion, including active listening and conflict resolution.
• Promote, coordinate, and facilitate animal placements (including foster animals) by matching adopters with pets, providing counseling on pet history, needs, and medical/behavioral support.
• Support pet adoption opportunities through events, offsite meets, and pet retention initiatives to expand lifesaving capacity.
• Develop knowledge of animals in Best Friends’ care; assist adopters, fosters, and transfer partners with introductions, pet-to-pet meets, medical records, health certificates, and follow-ups.
• Create a welcoming environment to enhance visitor satisfaction and support the organization’s mission through superior customer service.
• Work directly with volunteers on lifesaving care protocols, animal handling, transportation, data entry, and communications to maximize volunteer contributions.
• Develop detailed knowledge of Best Friends’ programs to effectively match animals with adopters, fosters, and transfer partners.
• Assist in creating engaging social media content (written, video, photo) and collaborate with marketing teams to support lifesaving outcomes.
• Represent Best Friends in media relations while maintaining the organization’s voice.
• Provide basic animal care (feeding, cleaning, walking, medicating) and follow all health and safety policies.
• Collaborate with team members to develop and implement efficient processes for lifesaving goals, including accurate recordkeeping and communications.
• Maintain a safe workplace by valuing and modeling safe practices and reporting unsafe conditions.

Requirements

• Previous experience working with dogs and/or cats in a professional or volunteer capacity.
• Basic ability to identify and discuss medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs and cats.
• Experience in an animal shelter setting preferred but not required.
• Excellent communication skills (in-person, written, phone) and comfort with public speaking.
• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, and colleagues.
• Strong interpersonal skills, teamwork, and ability to handle sensitive situations professionally.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks.
• Resourceful, proactive attitude with problem-solving skills and flexibility to persist until goals are achieved.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with shelter/animal management software or willingness to learn.
• Physical ability to routinely lift 40 pounds and perform strenuous activities (lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, bending).
• Ability to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods and perform repetitive tasks (typing, arm/hand motions).
• Comfort working indoors/outdoors in various weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold.
• Experience handling dogs and cats of all sizes, temperaments, and medical/behavioral conditions.
• Valid driver’s license for at least 3 years, meeting Best Friends’ driver qualification standards; ability to travel (including overnight) as needed.

Benefits

Great benefits package included.