Adoption Counselor – Part Time

Location: York, PA
Weekly Schedule: 40 hours/week, Monday - Thursday, and Sunday.

Daily Schedule: Alternates between 9am - 5:30pm and 8am - 4:30pm.

Make a lasting impact—help pets find their perfect match and guide adopters through life-changing moments.

About Us

The York County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (YCSPCA) is a nonprofit animal welfare organization committed to reducing animal homelessness and cruelty through adoption, education, outreach, and enforcement. We strive to create meaningful connections between pets and people, guided by our core values: Compassion, Integrity, Resilience, Collaboration, Lifesaving, and Excellence.

Position Summary

Adoption Counselors play a vital role in ensuring animals find permanent, loving homes. They work directly with the public to facilitate adoptions, provide guidance and education, and promote the well-being of animals in our care. Using a conversational approach rooted in the Adopters Welcome philosophy, Adoption Counselors help people make informed, responsible decisions—building lasting human-animal bonds.

This position requires strong communication skills, a passion for animal welfare, and the ability to navigate emotional or challenging conversations with empathy and professionalism.

Key Responsibilities

Adoption Counseling & Matchmaking

• Conduct open, supportive conversations with potential adopters to assess fit and make successful matches
• Guide adopters through shelter visits, adoption meets, dog introductions, scheduled appointments, and walk-in meetings
• Provide accurate information on animal behavior, health history, and long-term needs
• Educate the public on topics such as training, acclimation, safety, licensing, and responsible ownership
• Promote and prioritize long-term shelter residents for placement
• Maintain a friendly, professional, and welcoming demeanor with the public

Animal Knowledge & Collaboration

• Stay informed about adoptable animals and collaboration with the shelter team
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of each animal’s medical, behavioral, and personality profile
• Support animal behavior evaluations and enrichment efforts
• Participate in playgroups and assist with training plans as needed

Operations & Administration

• Complete all adoption paperwork, payments, and system entries accurately
• Meet adoption goals and support healthy population flow
• Maintain records in shelter software (Shelterluv)
• Monitor cleanliness of public adoption areas and the lobby
• Support basic animal care and ensure high sanitation standards as needed

• Represent the YCSPCA at adoption events and off-site activities
• May assist with media and public education efforts
• Handle difficult customer interactions or escalations with professionalism
• Cross trained in customer service, animal intake, and animal care to provide coverage as needed

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• At least 1 year of customer service in a fast-paced, public-facing role
• At least 1 year of animal handling experience in a shelter or veterinary setting
• Minimum 3 years of experience with animal behavior, husbandry, and basic training
• Proven ability to facilitate animal meets/adoptions and handle sensitive conversations
• Willing to be cross trained and fill in other departments

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree in animal science, communications, marketing, or related field
• One or more years of animal adoption experience
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)
• Familiarity with Shelterluv or similar shelter management software
• Prior animal shelter or rescue experience

Skills & Attributes

• Passion for animal welfare and YCSPCA’s mission
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with empathy and clarity
• Confidence handling animals with unknown or challenging behaviors
• Ability to assess adopter needs and make thoughtful recommendations
• Excellent time management, organization, and multitasking abilities
• High emotional intelligence and professionalism in difficult situations
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team
• Willingness to be crossed trained and fill in other departments

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds and manage dogs up to 125 pounds
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, or squat for extended periods
• Ability to work both indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions

Schedule & Working Conditions

• Workweek includes weekends and occasional evenings or holidays
• Required to work a minimum of three holiday shifts per year in animal care
• Regular exposure to animals, cleaning chemicals, noise, and possible zoonotic diseases
• Work may include handling fractious or aggressive animals
• Will be cross trained in other areas

Why Join the York County SPCA?

• Be part of a mission-driven team working to save lives and support our community
• Opportunity to grow your skills in animal behavior, counseling, and nonprofit work
• Dynamic environment committed to innovation, equity, and excellence

Ready to Apply?

If you are passionate about creating lasting matches between people and pets and want to be part of a high-impact team, we want to hear from you. Apply now!