The Cat City Lead is an essential role for PAWS. Cat City is a satellite location for PAWS, operating in the University District of Seattle. The Cat City Lead works in collaboration with the Cat City Manager to oversee all daily operational aspects of this location. They provide leadership to our team of volunteers and staff, helping to maintain excellence in both animal care and customer service. When a manager is not onsite, they are responsible for communicating needs to property management, shelter managers, veterinary and animal care teams while ensuring the workplace is safe for both people and animals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily:

• Performs and oversees steps necessary for the proper opening or closing of the Cat City facilities, including the financial procedures per written Cat City Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s).
• Mentors staff and assists with on-the-job training and oversight. Leads staff and volunteers to ensure essential duties are completed and reassigns and prioritizes tasks.  
• Organizes the adoption staff and ensures the daily work of the team is on track, such as completing adoption calls, and finalization of adoptions, according to Standard Operating Procedures.
• Provides accurate information and courteous service to the public, in person, through phone calls and electronic communication, about all aspects of animal care and shelter operations.
• Provides follow-up and advice on cat behavior issues for adopters and the public via phone, email and in-person. Responds to adoption follow-up calls and emails giving support and advice and referring the adopter to the correct department as needed.
• Processes incoming animals, accurately administering preventative medical care such as vaccines, dewormers and antiparasitic medications; as well as accurately completing all paperwork and entering information into the shelter database program.
• Processes outgoing animals, accurately completing all paperwork and entering information into the shelter database program.
• Handles and processes incoming money from adoptions, retail sales, donations and license sales, in accordance with written policies and procedures. Corrects errors to monetary and paperwork transactions per SOP’s.
• Leads adoptions, providing information to prospective adopters in a courteous and educational manner to aid in the selection of companion animals suitable for their household, all in accordance with written adoption policies and procedures.
• Supervises care of animals in accordance with written policies and procedures; administers vaccines, medications, and other health care items as prescribed by PAWS veterinarians.  Monitors animal health by maintaining accurate records and observing animals daily for signs of illness; completing daily monitoring sheets as well as weekly weight checks as needed; alerting managers and veterinary staff to any concerns.
• As needed, selects cats suitable for Cat City and transports them to and from the Lynnwood and Cat City facilities. Transports cats to emergency veterinary care as needed. Transports animals to and from off-site adoption sites and events as needed. May perform adoption and customer service duties at offsite events.
• Cleans all animal housing and treatment areas and provides food, care and socialization for animals according to written procedures.
• Oversees, trains, provides assistance and feedback to volunteers in day-to-day performance of their duties. Assists the Cat City Manager and Programs Manager with volunteer oversight, scheduling, recognition and retention activities.
• Audits the adoption holds and associated communications with the public about the adoption process.
• May fill in at the Lynnwood shelter or be assigned other duties by management as needed.

Additional Responsibilities include the following.

• Supports and provides content for PAWS website information about adoptable animals including their biographies, images, videos and adoption recommendations.
• Assist the management team with marketing and social media efforts and promotions involving companion animals, adoption and related topics. Works collaboratively with the Cat City Manager and Shelter Managers with the evaluations of behavioral needs in the shelter and at Cat City by maintaining accurate records and status changes as required. Update animal behavior notes to aid in behavioral evaluations, and to aid in successful placement.
• Under direction of shelter managers, may help determine which animals need to be euthanized; euthanizes or assists in euthanizing animals according to written policies and procedures.
• Periodically acts as spokesperson and tour guide at Cat City for media, special visitors, and donors.
• Oversees regular testing and maintenance of the alarm system and safety equipment such as the fire extinguishers.
• Cleans and prepares public areas prior to opening, such as the adoption lobby, hallway and public bathroom.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education:

• Must have two years of experience in the field; be able to read, write and speak clearly in English so that written and verbal instructions can be followed.
• Additional schooling in the animal care profession is highly desirable.

Related experience:

• Must have at least one year in a supervisory position or comparable leadership experience.

Certificates, Licenses, or Registrations:

• Must have or be able to obtain a Washington State Certificate for the Administration of Legend Drugs and pass the PAWS Certified Euthanasia Technician training (CET).
• Must have or be able to obtain a valid Washington driver’s license with no record of major or repeated minor traffic offenses, and auto-insurance with required coverage limits.
• Must have own personal reliable transportation suitable for carrying cats and supplies to and from Lynnwood and Cat City facilities and other locations as needed. Qualified mileage used during PAWS business may be reimbursed based on current policy.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

• Ideal candidates embrace and embody the five core values of our organization: commitment, compassion, respect, kindness, and trust.
• Must be able to work cooperatively with people and to communicate clearly about PAWS’ mission, the care and treatment of animals, and the safety of the public and other employees.
• Must be able to represent PAWS professionally at all times. Must be able to work maturely and respectfully with diverse groups of people and maintain high quality customer relations.  Must possess excellent interpersonal, organizational, written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be organized and flexible, able to balance concurrent projects and adjust to rapid, changing needs.

technical Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual:

• Must be willing and able to work daily with companion animals and have a basic understanding of the needs and behavior of domestic cats and dogs. Must be able to handle individual animals in a caring, safe and humane manner.
• Must be able to become proficient with computer systems used in operations and already possess basic computer skills including Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.
• Important considerations for this position include the ability to handle animals safely and humanely and to communicate clearly about their needs at all times.

schedule:

The schedule for this position will include:

• A set weekly schedule, including one weekend day. 
• Teaching classes in the evening after closing two days a month.
• Sharing a rotating holiday schedule with other Cat City staff to ensure that animal care is provided to any animals who are onsite.
• In the event of foul weather, this person may be required to respond to either Cat City or Lynnwood and provide animal care on their day off if they are identified as a member of the foul weather team.

travel:

Occasional travel to and from alternate worksite may be required.

vaccinationS:

None

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Work is performed both in and out of the PAWS facility and requires lifting, bending, stooping, pushing and other moderately strenuous activities. Must be able to sit or stand for long periods of time, including working at a computer or animal care station. Must be able to safely and frequently drive a vehicle.

Occasionally required to climb ladders, sit, stoop, kneel, squat, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is usually working inside of a climate-controlled environment, but it is common to experience humidity or colder temperatures during outside weather changes. They will be routinely exposed to smells associated with animal care including mild fumes from cleaning chemicals.  The noise level in the work environment is moderate but can get loud when we have a high number of people checking in to visit.

scope of supervisory responsibilities:

Oversee and guide the work of volunteers and Cat City staff. They will provide input to Cat City Manager when they are preparing annual evaluations of Cat City staff.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this document is provided for guidance purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice and is not intended to be a substitute for legal counsel.