Adoptions Shift Supervisor
4 days ago
Des Moines
Job Description Adoptions Shift Supervisor Your Mission: Lead With Heart to Help Animals Find Homes Are you a confident leader who thrives in fast-paced, people-centered environments and believes every adoption should be a positive, thoughtful experience? As an Adoptions Shift Supervisor at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL), you’ll play a vital role in guiding adoption and transport operations while supporting staff, volunteers, and the community. Your work will directly impact how animals find loving homes and how people experience the ARL, every single day. This role is perfect for someone who leads with empathy, communicates with clarity, and is passionate about animal welfare. You’ll balance hands-on operational work with people management, customer engagement, and mission advocacy, all while helping ensure animals are placed safely, responsibly, and efficiently. What You’ll Do You’ll provide daily shift supervision for adoption operations, including on-site adoptions, off-site adoption events, and animal transport. You’ll coordinate and oversee the safe movement of animals between ARL facilities and partner locations such as clinics and pet stores, stepping in as backup support for adoptions and transport when needed. As a people leader, you’ll hire, onboard, train, coach, and manage Adoption Assistants, ensuring they are cross-trained and scheduled across ARL adoption locations. You’ll create and manage staff schedules, provide ongoing coaching, and foster a supportive, high-performing team focused on exceptional customer service and successful adoption outcomes. You’ll serve as a visible advocate for the ARL, maintaining strong knowledge of organizational policies and procedures and ensuring accurate, consistent communication with the public, staff, and volunteers. You’ll help de-escalate challenging customer situations, assist with animal introductions and evaluations, and actively promote ARL’s mission, programs, services, and events. Operationally, you’ll assist with selecting and transporting animals between facilities, balancing cash drawers, processing financial transactions accurately, and maintaining data integrity. You’ll also collaborate closely with volunteers, supporting their training, engagement, and contributions to departmental goals, while ensuring compliance with ARL policies, OSHA requirements, and safety standards. What You Bring You have a high school diploma or GED, with one year of supervisory experience and at least two years of professional customer service experience preferred. You bring strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, and you’re confident resolving conflict with professionalism and care. You’re comfortable working in a fast-paced, sometimes stressful environment and are able to adapt while maintaining a calm, welcoming demeanor. A valid driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record is required. You’re comfortable using basic computer systems, Microsoft Office, and handling financial transactions with accuracy and attention to detail. Most importantly, you’re a passionate advocate for animals and the people who love them and you’re ready to lead a team that shares that commitment. Working Conditions This position requires the ability to lift up to 50 pounds and to stand or sit for extended periods of time. Work is performed in a shelter and field environment where exposure to animal odors, waste, moderate noise levels, and the risk of bites, scratches, or potentially contagious diseases may occur. Professionalism, adaptability, and a steady presence are essential. Why Work at the ARL? At the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, you’re joining a compassionate, mission-driven organization dedicated to improving the lives of animals and strengthening the human-animal bond. As an Adoptions Shift Supervisor, you’ll help shape meaningful experiences for animals, adopters, staff, and volunteers while making a real difference in your community every day. Employment with the Animal Rescue League of Iowa is at-will, meaning either the employee or ARL may terminate the employment relationship at any time. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state regulations, the Animal Rescue League of Iowa provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages applicants to discuss accommodation needs during the hiring process. Sunday 9:45 am - 6:30 pm, Monday 11:30 am - 7:30 pm, Tuesday 11:30 am - 7:30 pm, Friday 11:30 am - 7:30 pm, Saturday 9:45 am - 6:30 pm or Tuesday 11:30 am - 7:30 pm, Wednesday 11:30 am - 7:30 pm, Thursday 11:30 am - 7:30 pm, Friday 11:30 am - 7:30 pm, Saturday 9:45 am - 6:30 pm 40 hours