Part Time, Customer Care Representative

Part Time, Customer Care Representative

Oregon Humane Society

About the Oregon Humane Society
Founded in 1868, OHS is the Northwest's oldest and largest animal welfare organization with one of the highest adoption rates in the nation. We work toward a world where all animals are treated with compassion, kindness, and respect. With campuses in Portland and Salem, OHS is an Oregon-based nonprofit that relies on donor support for its adoption, education, medical, and humane law‑enforcement programs.

Visit oregonhumane.org to learn more about how we’re creating a More Humane Society.

Customer Care is responsible for education and matchmaking between clients and the animals in our care. The rep informs clients on pet ownership, training techniques, acclimation into home, and known behavioral/medical needs. This role focuses on the transition of the animal from the shelter to the adopters' home and provides ongoing support throughout the pet’s life.

The Customer Care Representative is a vital member of the OHS Shelter Operations team. Responsibilities include providing education about animals to interested adopters, facilitating interactions between animals and clients, and supporting adoption processes. The role is part‑time: 5‑day, 5‑hour shifts (20‑24 hours/week) and includes weekend shifts.

Personal Leadership

• Consistently strives to exceed expectations; demonstrates flexibility, resilience, and the ability to maintain positive relationships.
• Maintains high ethical standards, treating all people with respect and dignity.
• Demonstrates an awareness of individual strengths and growth needs, is open to feedback, and builds a culture of learning.

Learning

• Contributes to dialogue and accountability with leadership to review progress.
• Utilizes data and insights to understand key inputs and metrics.
• Builds appropriate feedback loops to measure milestones and impact.

Influence & Representation

• Communicates effectively to executive and stakeholder groups.
• Liaises with donors, other departments, and maintains productive relationships.
• Leverages best practices externally to grow OHS’ reputation.

• Interact with the public, show animals to potential adopters, provide education, and process adoption paperwork.
• Navigate complex conversations with diverse clientele in person and over the phone, providing education on animal behavior and medical needs.
• Handle animals and facilitate introductions of client dogs to shelter dogs.
• Manage a high‑traffic reception desk, answer questions, and use various software platforms.
• Use POS to ring up purchases for clients in the retail store, while providing product information.
• Educate clients and collaborate on long‑term in‑home management plans and training methods.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively; provide excellent customer service internally and externally.
• Follow up on requests, check work for errors, complete tasks on or before deadlines, and assume responsibility for successes or errors.
• Assist in training new staff/volunteers.
• Perform any other duty as requested by management.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. Applicants may address how their professional and lived experience contributes to the OHS mission, even if they do not meet every qualification.

• 1 year related work experience in customer service, retail, food service, animal care/handling, or a high‑pressure, high‑volume environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with diverse populations.
• Ability to solve problems constructively and positively.
• Sound judgment during all interactions with the public, staff, and volunteers.
• Basic working knowledge of computer software programs.

Work performed concurrently in an office and animal medical center/shelter environment.

• Active pace requiring multitasking and adaptability.
• Weekend, evening work, and holidays may be required.
• Potential animal contacts and injuries.
• Noise exposure moderate.

Physical requirements include lifting, moving, and guiding animals or objects up to 150 lbs, prolonged standing, bending, reaching into confined spaces, keyboarding, and using office equipment.

We strive for a culture of integrity, respect, and compassion, where every member contributes authentic perspectives and reaches potential as individuals and teams.

Oregon Humane Society is an equal‑opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis and actively seeks diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

This position description does not create any employment contract beyond an at‑will relationship.

• Entry level

• Part‑time

• Other
• Non‑profit Organizations