Join Our Team

Are you looking for a rewarding leadership position in a diverse, vibrant, affordable city, where creativity and a culture of continuous improvement drives organizational culture? PAWS is seeking a Medical Director to lead our delivery of veterinary services, and to play an instrumental role in achieving our ultimate goal of making Philadelphia a no-kill city. As the city’s largest rescue partner and provider of affordable basic veterinary care for community pets, our passionate team works every day to end pet homelessness and to provide top-quality care to dogs and cats with medical and surgical needs who would otherwise not have a chance.

This is a hybrid position: our Medical Director can typically expect to have the flexibility to work from a remote office up to one day per week. While onsite, the Medical Director will work from PAWS’ Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic in Philadelphia’s Grays Ferry neighborhood and make occasional visits to PAWS’ Northeast Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic in Northeast Philadelphia. The Medical Director has both clinical responsibilities (approximately 60%) and administrative responsibilities (approximately 40%). Clinical responsibilities include: performing HQHVSN surgeries and additional specialty surgeries as needed, conducting routine wellness and sick visits for pets whose owners rely on PAWS for affordable care, performing examinations and determining treatment plans for our in-house and foster population of rescued animals, and consulting and collaborating with specialty veterinary partners on special cases. Administrative responsibilities include: upholding and updating PAWS’ current medical procedures and protocols in keeping with industry best practices; establishing new protocols as needed; providing insight and oversight for in-house and foster animals with complex medical or surgical needs; and, leading and mentoring a cohesive and productive medical staff in partnership with all members of leadership.

The Medical Director acts as a liaison among multiple departments within the organization to ensure optimal treatment and outcomes for animals who come into PAWS’ care. Therefore, successful candidates must have excellent interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills and be able to work well with staff with widely varying levels of medical knowledge. The ability to think practically about community-driven medical care, balancing animal welfare and “gold standard” practices with cost and reasonable outcomes, is essential.

Responsibilities:

— In collaboration with the Director of Operations, upholding, updating, and developing protocols and policies related to the treatment and care of shelter and client-owned animals

— Assisting in the development of a strong, qualified, and cohesive medical staff

— Finding and/or supporting opportunities to conserve and raise funds and in-kind donations, including working with the Veterinary Technician Manager on building partnerships with vendors and local full service and specialty veterinary practices, and keeping the communications and development teams apprised of special cases for grants and fundraising opportunities. 

— Working with the Veterinary Technician Manager and Lead Surgery Technician to ensure that all clinical and surgical equipment is maintained in safe working order and overseeing inventory and ordering of medical equipment. 

— Providing oversight regarding the care and placement of PAWS shelter animals

— Holding the DEA license for PAWS’ Grays Ferry facility and maintaining accurate and complete controlled substance records as required by law

— Providing excellent veterinary care for all animals in PAWS’ facilities, both rescued and publicly owned, and ensuring the safe, sanitary and humane treatment of animals in PAWS’ care in accordance with established professional standards and requirements, applicable laws and regulations

— Conducting routine wellness and sick visits for pets whose owners rely on PAWS for affordable care, including communicating empathetically with owners about the treatment options available. 

— Performing high-volume, high-quality sterilization surgery on publicly owned and rescued/foster animals

— Performing specialized surgeries and procedures as needed and appropriate, including: mass removals, triage dentals, enucleations, entropion repair, amputations, and other procedures to prepare rescued animals for adoption

— Consulting and collaborating with specialty veterinary partners on special cases

— Providing “on-call” services as needed for medical consultation and emergencies

Educational and Licensure Requirements:

— Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or equivalent from an accredited university. 

— Valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Veterinary license with no history of complaints or disciplinary action.

— Valid DEA license, or ability to obtain one, with no history of complaints or disciplinary action.

Additional Requirements:

— A minimum of 3 years’ experience in supervisory roles with demonstrated success in leading a team.

— A minimum of 5 years’ of experience with HQHVSN surgery, as well as other soft tissue and specialty surgeries.

— A minimum of 5 years’ of clinical experience with health conditions common in shelter populations and community medicine settings.

— A self-starter who is organized, innovative, flexible, and passionate about PAWS’ goals and objectives.

— Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills with strong attention to detail.

— Outgoing, patient, empathetic, mature, and able to get along well with a culturally diverse community.

— Good judgment and strong problem-solving ability, identifying tasks that need to be accomplished and prioritizing appropriately, and working independently with minimal supervision and direction.

— Ability to manage and accommodate varied work assignments and schedules.

— Comfort and experience with Google and Microsoft applications. PAWS uses a variety of web-based software that veterinarians must be comfortable learning to use on a daily basis for managing client care.

Benefits of PAWS employment: 

— Competitive salary and retention bonus.

— Moving stipend considered for outstanding out-of-state applicants.

— Potential eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

— 9am – 5pm schedule, with limited on-call duties. 

— Medical, dental, and prescription insurance coverage.

— 401(k) plan with employer matching.

— Nine (9) paid holidays off (the shelter is closed).

— Paid time off (PTO).

— Yearly Continuing Education allowance, and up to four paid days off to attend conferences/participate in CE.

— Veterinary Medical Malpractice Liability coverage. 

— VIN membership.

— Pennsylvania bi-annual license renewal fees.

— DEA license renewal fees.

— Free and heavily discounted clinic services, lab work and medications for your personal pets.

— Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

— Voluntary benefits (long- and short-term disability, life, and accident insurance).

Interested?
For a full job description, or more information, please email Maddie Camerlengo, Senior Clinic Operations Manager, at maddie@phillypaws.org.

About the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS):
PAWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to saving Philadelphia’s homeless and at-risk pets and serving pet owners in need. PAWS is the city’s largest rescue partner and provider of affordable veterinary care for pet owners and rescue organizations that cannot otherwise access it. Each year, PAWS finds loving homes for thousands of animals in need and enables thousands more families to keep their cherished pets. Through rescue efforts, community support, and surrender prevention, PAWS is working to make Philadelphia a place where every savable pet is guaranteed a home.

Are you ready to lead a passionate team and make a pawsitive impact in Philadelphia? PAWS is looking for a dynamic Veterinary Technician Manager to help us achieve our dream of making Philadelphia a city where every savable pet is guaranteed a home! Join us as we work to end pet homelessness and provide top-notch veterinary care to the pets in our community who need it most.

What’s the Scoop?  

As our Veterinary Technician Manager, you’ll be at the heart of our mission, guiding a talented crew of veterinary technicians and assistants at our Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic in the vibrant Grays Ferry neighborhood (with occasional jaunts to our Northeast Philadelphia clinic). You’ll be the ultimate champion for our medical support team, ensuring they have the training, resources, and support they need to thrive while delivering exceptional care.

Your Adventure Awaits:

In this exciting role, you’ll be a: 

—Mentor and Inspirer: Guide our veterinary technicians and assistants, helping them grow and shine while embodying PAWS’ values.

—Training Wizard: Create an engaging onboarding process and ongoing training programs that will keep our stellar team at the top of their game.

—Team Builder: Foster a collaborative atmosphere where teamwork reigns supreme and everyone feels valued.

—Hands-On Hero: Spend at least two days a week rolling up your sleeves working in PAWS’ community clinic, supporting HQHV surgery, and caring for in-house shelter animals.

—Community Connector: Build relationships with local veterinary practices to coordinate care for our rescued animals.

What you’ll bring to the table:

—Leadership Experience: You’ve got at least two years of people management experience in the veterinary field, guiding teams to success.

—Passion for the Mission: Your heart beats to provide accessible veterinary care and support loving homes for every pet.

—Animal Aficionado: You know your way around common feline and canine diseases and how to handle animals of all kinds — especially ones with personality!

—Communication Skills: You excel at engaging with a diverse community of clients and colleagues, even in challenging situations.

—Tech-Savvy: Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google products, and eager to learn our clinic management systems (ClinicHQ and ShelterLuv).

Qualifications:

—CVT/LVT license strongly preferred

—Post-secondary education in veterinary science preferred

—Fear-Free Certification is a plus!

Physical Requirements:

—Must be ready to be on your feet, handle the hustle and bustle of clinic and shelter life, and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.

Why PAWS?

—Join our mission-driven team and enjoy fantastic benefits, including:

—Competitive salary commensurate with experience

—Excellent medical, dental, and prescription coverage

—A 401(k) plan with employer matching

—9 paid holidays and generous PTO

—A yearly Continuing Education allowance (expenses and time)

—Free and discounted services for your furry companions

—Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and more!

Ready to make a difference?
If you’re excited about leading a passionate team and improving the lives of pets and their families, we want to hear from you! Join us in creating a brighter future for Philadelphia’s pets. Reach out to Maddie Camerlengo, Senior Clinic Operations Manager, at maddie@phillypaws.org today!

About the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS):
PAWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to saving Philadelphia’s homeless and at-risk pets and serving pet owners in need. PAWS is the city’s largest rescue partner and provider of affordable veterinary care for pet owners and rescue organizations that cannot otherwise access it. Each year, PAWS finds loving homes for thousands of animals in need and enables thousands more families to keep their cherished pets. Through rescue efforts, community support, and surrender prevention, PAWS is working to make Philadelphia a place where every savable pet is guaranteed a home.

Are you ready to make tails wag and hearts soar? At PAWS, we’re on a mission to end pet homelessness and provide top-notch veterinary care to community pets who need it most. Every day, we save lives and help families stay together, and we want you to be part of this incredible journey!

We’re looking for a mission-driven, team-oriented, full-time veterinarian who’s ready to dive into the action at our bustling clinic and shelter. You’ll play a vital role in the historic progress we are leading in Philadelphia by performing high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter surgeries, caring for rescued animals, and giving community pets access to the wellness care they deserve.

Why You’ll Love Working with Us:

— Make a Difference: Help care for over 2,400 homeless animals we rescue each year. Your work will directly impact their lives and their families.

— Team Spirit: Collaborate with a passionate crew of staff and volunteers who share your love for pets and commitment to our mission.

— Diverse Duties: Enjoy a variety of tasks! Rotate among surgery, shelter medicine, and community wellness appointments for a well-rounded experience.

— Teach & Inspire: Work alongside veterinary technicians and students, sharing your knowledge and skills in a supportive environment.

— Unique & Interesting Cases: With the animals PAWS rescues, you can truly focus on the medicine, with lots of tools and resources at your fingertips.

What You’ll Do:

— Surgical Superstar: Perform 25+ spay/neuter surgeries a day (with plenty of support and training available!). You’ll also tackle soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries for our rescued animals (or be able to learn to do them!).

— Wellness Warrior: Provide accessible, compassionate care to community pets, conducting routine wellness exams and helping appreciative owners understand affordable treatment options. We have funding available to offset costs when needed, so you can be a true advocate for underserved communities/pets, not a salesperson.

— Shelter Hero: Ensure that our shelter animals receive excellent care, supporting our robust foster program that finds homes for over 1,500 animals every year!

What We’re Looking For:

—Passion for Pets: A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and a valid PA veterinary license.

— Experience Counts: Two years of experience in general practice or a shelter setting, with a preference for high-volume spay/neuter surgery.

— Empathy & Communication: Great interpersonal skills to connect with pet owners and our diverse community.

Why PAWS?

We offer a fantastic benefits package, including:

— Competitive salary + sign-on/relocation bonus + retention bonus

— Full Time benefits available with a 4-day (32-hours) work week if preferred

— Potential for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

— Set hours (no on-call or holidays!) and generous paid time off

— 401(k) with employer match

— Medical, dental, and prescription coverage

— Yearly Continuing Education allowance + additional paid time off for conferences

— Discounted care and products for your own pets

If you’re ready to jump in and make a difference, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to Maddie Camerlengo, Senior Clinic Operations Manager, at maddie@phillypaws.org today!

About the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS):
PAWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to saving Philadelphia’s homeless and at-risk pets and serving pet owners in need. PAWS is the city’s largest rescue partner and provider of affordable veterinary care for pet owners and rescue organizations that cannot otherwise access it. Each year, PAWS finds loving homes for thousands of animals in need and enables thousands more families to keep their cherished pets. Through rescue efforts, community support, and surrender prevention, PAWS is working to make Philadelphia a place where every savable pet is guaranteed a home.

At PAWS, we work every day to end pet homelessness and to provide excellent veterinary care to community pets who would not otherwise receive it. In doing so, we save lives who would not have a chance otherwise and help families stay together. We are looking for a diversely talented, team-oriented, part-time veterinarian who is ready to help propel the historic progress we are making in Philadelphia by seeing community pets in our busy wellness clinic.

Our veterinarians are ambassadors of PAWS’ mission, upholding the integrity of the organization and working collaboratively with other staff members and volunteers. Our goal is to be a trusted resource for pet owners in our community who would not otherwise be able to access or afford care, so that they can keep their cherished pets as part of their families.  This position is for PAWS’ clinic located at 1810 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19115.

We think you’ll be a great fit if you:

— Lead with accessibility and empathy in mind when working with pet owners from the community to find affordable solutions to keep their animals healthy and as part of their families. Thanks to grants and other strategic partnerships, PAWS is able to assist pet owners who experience financial barriers to getting their pet seen or medications filled.

— Are team-oriented, collaborative, and want to work with PAWS’ medical and non-medical staff to care for the pets and people we serve.

— Can work efficiently without compromising care.

— Like teaching, guiding, and working collaboratively with veterinary technicians and support staff.   

Clinic Responsibilities:

PAWS’ Clinics provide a means for pet owners and animal rescue organizations in Philadelphia to access affordable, high-quality veterinary services for their dogs and cats. Clinics are equipped with the medications and resources to handle routine outpatient cases including wellness exams, skin conditions, upper respiratory infections, gastrointestinal disease, non-emergent urinary tract conditions, minor soft-tissue injuries, and other preventative care. The ideal candidate will be able to:

— Provide excellent veterinary care for all community pets in PAWS’ care, ensuring the safe, sanitary and humane treatment of animals in accordance with established professional standards and requirements, applicable laws and regulations.

— Conduct routine wellness and sick visits for pets whose owners rely on PAWS for affordable care, including communicating empathetically with owners about the treatment options available. 

— Consult and collaborate with specialty veterinary partners on special cases.

Benefits of PAWS employment: 

— Competitive salary and retention bonus.

— Potential eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

— 9am-5pm schedule, with no on-call duties. 

— Medical, dental, and prescription insurance coverage for FT employees.

— 401(k) plan with employer matching.

— Nine (9) paid holidays for FT employees. 

— Paid time off (PTO).

— Yearly Continuing Education allowance, and paid time off to attend conferences/participate in CE.

— Veterinary Medical Malpractice Liability coverage.

— VIN membership.

— Pennsylvania bi-annual license renewal fees.

— Free and heavily discounted clinic services, lab work, medications, and food for your personal pets.

— Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

— Voluntary benefits (short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance).

Education, License, and Experience Requirements:

— Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or equivalent from an accredited university.

— Valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Veterinary license with no history of complaints or disciplinary action.

— Two + years work experience as a licensed veterinarian in general practice or clinic setting.

Additional Job Skills Required:

— A self-starter who is organized, innovative, flexible, and passionate about PAWS’ goals and objectives.

— Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills with strong attention to detail.

— Outgoing, patient, empathetic, mature, collaborative, and respectful as a member of our culturally diverse community.

— Good judgment and strong problem-solving ability, identifying tasks that need to be accomplished and prioritizing appropriately, and working independently with minimal supervision and direction.

— Ability to manage and accommodate varied work assignments and schedules.

— Comfort and experience with Google and Microsoft applications strongly preferred. PAWS uses a variety of web-based software that veterinarians must be comfortable learning to use on a daily basis for managing client care.

Interested?
Please share your resume and introduce yourself to Maddie Camerlengo, Senior Clinic Operations Manager, at maddie@phillypaws.org.

About the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS):
PAWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to saving Philadelphia’s homeless and at-risk pets and serving pet owners in need. PAWS is the city’s largest rescue partner and provider of affordable veterinary care for pet owners and rescue organizations that cannot otherwise access it. Each year, PAWS finds loving homes for thousands of animals in need and enables thousands more families to keep their cherished pets. Through rescue efforts, community support, and surrender prevention, PAWS is working to make Philadelphia a place where every savable pet is guaranteed a home.

PAWS is hiring a full time Adoption-Foster Coordinator for Old City Adoption Center location interacting primarily with cats, kittens, and guinea pigs!

At PAWS, we work every day to end pet homelessness and to find loving homes at-risk pets. PAWS’ innovative foster program, open adoption philosophy, and commitment to surrender prevention are essential parts of our progressive mission, enabling us to rescue thousands of animals each year. PAWS is looking for a motivated, welcoming, and organized Adoption-Foster Coordinator to join our team! Because our team is extremely collaborative and our animal population can have complex medical and behavioral needs, excellent communication and organizational skills are crucial for this role. The ideal candidate has a focus on animal welfare, is outgoing, customer service oriented, patient, and is able to get along well with a variety of people and animals.

Benefits for full time Adoption-Foster Coordinators at PAWS include heavily discounted/at-cost veterinary care and pet food, as well as medical/dental insurance, 401(k) with employer matching, and paid time off!

Duties include, but are not limited to:

—Engaging with potential adopters to ensure smooth and timely adoptions. This includes: 

        —Communicating with all applicants in a non-judgmental manner 

        —Screening applications thoroughly

        —Employing compassion, curiosity, patience, and deliberate attention during conversations with applicants

        —Sharing resources and information relevant to each home and experience level

        —Making appropriate matches between applicants and the population of available animals

—Providing information, guidance, and support for foster parents as they navigate foster procedures, get their foster pets ready for adoption, resolve or manage medical issues, and work through behavior concerns. This includes: 

        —Communicating with consideration to the foster’s experience level and emotional investment and honoring their feedback

        —Asking questions to get objective information and sharing relevant resources and information

        —Supporting foster parents through emotional decisions and events in their foster pets’ care including unexpected illness, death, or euthanasia

—Problem-solving concerns with foster parents and adopters who encounter challenges or have questions

—Assessing and organizing donated items and other supplies, keeping storage areas clean and accessible.

—Creatively promoting PAWS animals to both foster parents and potential adoptive homes by taking photos of animals available for foster or adoption, posting on social media, and writing bios to attract fosters or adopters 

—Following established procedures governing safe work practices to prevent the spread of disease keeping all work and animal housing areas clean, organized, and sanitized

—Working cooperatively with volunteers to create a welcoming and supportive team and work environment, including training, supervising, and building relationships with volunteers to support retention

—Supporting animal care and operations at our adoption center. This includes:

        —Administering medication

        —Monitoring for health conditions and reporting medical concerns promptly and

        —Providing enrichment for resident animals

        —Ensuring animals have clean cages, and fresh food, water, bedding and litter

        —Following best practices for safe, humane, and stress-free animal handling

—Administrative support, including responding to voicemails and emails, paperwork and computer file organization for contracts and resources, record-keeping, data entry, scheduling appointments, and inbox hygiene with attention to existing procedures and best practices so information is easily accessible by staff who need it 

—Leading with compassion in each interaction with clients and members of the public, including visitors to adoption centers, potential foster parents or adopters, recent adopters, and donors as well as clinic clients, people inquiring about our services, and surrendering owners

—Promoting a humane and caring attitude towards pets and treating all animals with compassion at all times, including those who are sick, injured, stressed, or reactive

—Other duties as assigned

Education and experience required:

—A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Bachelor’s Degree or some college preferred. Experience working or volunteering in an animal rescue, shelter, or veterinary practice is preferred. Experience with customer service experience preferred.

Education and experience required:

—A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Bachelor’s Degree or some college preferred.

—Professional experience working with dogs with behavioral needs is preferred.

—Experience working or volunteering in an animal rescue, shelter, or veterinary practice is preferred.

—Customer service experience is preferred.

—Professional writing experience is preferred.

Physical Requirements:

—Ability to walk and/or stand on your feet throughout a normal workday and tolerate loud noises.

—Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain an animal when necessary.

—Allergic conditions that would be aggravated when handling animals may be a disqualification.

Required Skills and Qualities:

—Ability to read, write, and understand English (other language proficiency a plus) 

—Computer proficient in Microsoft office and Google/G-Suite products, and proficiency or comfort with learning the internet-based software used by the organization (ShelterLuv, Trello, Mailchimp).

—Working knowledge of basic animal health and behavior.

—Excellent customer service skills, including a welcoming, positive and non-judgemental attitude and the ability to show gratitude for volunteers, donors, other clients.

—Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

—Strong sense of initiative, identifying tasks that need to be accomplished and prioritizing appropriately, working independently with minimal supervision and direction.

—Flexibility, maturity, and ability to manage multiple tasks and accommodate varied work assignments and schedules.

—Ability to communicate effectively with a culturally diverse staff, volunteers, and community in a professional, pleasant, respectful, courteous, and tactful manner at all times.

—The ability to remain pleasant and calm even in stressful situations, and to turn people down, firmly when necessary, without becoming aggressive or unpleasant.

Hours/Location:
PAWS is open seven days a week. A minimum of 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, is required, including weekends. This position will primarily be based out of our Old City location but may be cross-trained for occasional shifts at our Grays Ferry location. The daily schedule may vary according to the needs of the organization and may include weekend, night, and holiday work.

Interested?
Please share your resume and introduce yourself to us at tammy@phillypaws.org!

About the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS):
PAWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to saving Philadelphia’s homeless and at-risk pets and serving pet owners in need. PAWS is the city’s largest rescue partner and provider of affordable veterinary care for pet owners and rescue organizations that cannot otherwise access it. Each year, PAWS finds loving homes for thousands of animals in need and enables thousands more families to keep their cherished pets. Through rescue efforts, community support, and surrender prevention, PAWS is working to make Philadelphia a place where every savable pet is guaranteed a home.

PAWS’ Shelter Manager is a highly motivated, process and procedure-oriented manager committed to the mission, values, goals, and success of PAWS. The Shelter Manager oversees the daily operations of the Grays Ferry Avenue shelter’s animal care, on-site volunteers, and facilities, and sets and models high standards. This role requires strong leadership skills, a passion for animal welfare, an ability to interact empathetically and cooperatively with staff, volunteers and members of the public, and the ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

General Responsibilities:

— Foster and model a positive, team-oriented work environment for staff and volunteers, including providing hands-on support and training opportunities for animal handling and enrichment. 

— Oversee the wellbeing of animals on-site by integrating cleaning, animal handling, and enrichment best practices and protocols to ensure animals are receiving the highest quality care from staff and volunteers, including the idea that we treat each animal as an individual and tailor their care as such.

— Work collaboratively with the veterinary and lifesaving leadership teams to implement nationally recognized animal sheltering, animal handling, and lifesaving best practices. 

— Partner with the Dog Program Manager and Cat Resource Manager to grow and implement in-kennel enrichment programming for staff and volunteers.

— Communicate PAWS policy changes, values and vision related to animal care and facilities to staff and volunteers.

— Work directly with animals, including but not limited to: taking dogs out for walks; providing socialization and enrichment; restraining animals for medical care; transporting animals; cohabitating with “office animals”. 

— Provide leadership and support for customer service issues needing manager intervention. This includes listening, empathizing, and providing effective responses and remedies to customers’ questions and needs and communicating in a patient, courteous, and respectful manner at all times, even in stressful situations.  

— As part of the management team, explore, implement, and utilize software and systems to increase automation and efficiency in the management of volunteer and animal data and communication across teams.

Management of Animal Care Team: 

— Directly supervise and schedule animal care staff to ensure individual duties are being completed and the department has sufficient daily coverage.

— Interview, hire, and train new animal care department staff and interns, with the goal of maintaining a high standard of employee performance.

— Coach, evaluate, and discipline animal care staff with support from the Director of Operations.

— Hold regular team meetings and schedule “continuing education” opportunities for animal care staff. 

— Schedule animal care duties, including weekly, monthly and quarterly deep clean and preventative maintenance assignments, and delegate select administrative duties, as needed. 

— Perform daily walk through of animal housing areas to ensure on-site animals are receiving individualized housing/location, enrichment, or other interventions for optimal quality of life.

— Create processes for ensuring information about on-site animals are communicated across teams and recorded in the appropriate databases.

— Create, edit, and/or update all animal care, cleaning, animal handling, and enrichment materials as needed (policies and procedures, applications, contracts, handouts, etc). 

— Proactively communicate planned intakes with special housing/handling needs to appropriate staff.

— Perform data entry tasks to maintain accurate records of animals in the shelter.

Oversight of Shelter Facilities:

— In partnership with the Director of Operations, ensure the Grays Ferry facility is kept clean, sanitary, and organized in order to create an inviting, attractive, and professional environment for visitors, staff, and volunteers. 

— Ensure adequate stock of animal care, housekeeping, enrichment, and facility supplies. 

— Refine inventory and ordering processes for animal care (including prescription food), housekeeping, and enrichment supplies. 

— Serve as primary contact for staff and volunteers with facility concerns and questions. 

— Serve as primary contact for contractors/vendors providing scheduled maintenance and visits for time-sensitive/emergency repairs.

Management of In-Shelter Volunteers: 

— Directly supervise in-shelter volunteers, ensuring essential shifts are covered, volunteers are appropriately scheduled and trained, and volunteers have support for questions and concerns. 

— Lead virtual and in-person new volunteer orientation for the Grays Ferry shelter location, including coordinating orientation (sending confirmations, taking attendance) and providing post-orientation follow-up communication to ensure conversion to volunteer shifts. 

— Perform shelter volunteer administration and tracking, including:

          — volunteer account set up

          — adding volunteers to applicable spreadsheets, calendars, and databases

          — coordinating shadow/mentor shifts

          — sending regular team emails

          — regularly auditing the volunteer schedule to recruit coverage for open shifts

          — auditing data to identify and address issues with conversion and retention 

— Respond to phone and email inquiries from prospective Grays Ferry shelter volunteers.

— Serve as one of the primary contacts for volunteers participating in “day trips” with shelter dogs. 

— Develop new processes for engaging cat volunteers in the collection of photos, personality, and behavior information for on-site cats. 

— Develop and build teams of specialized volunteers to assist with specific shelter populations. 

— Serve as primary contact for group volunteer opportunities at the Grays Ferry location.

— Support general volunteer program needs when the Community Outreach & Volunteer Manager is away. 

— In partnership with other shelter leadership, coordinate volunteer transport for animals between locations. 

— Develop continuing education and other opportunities to engage, empower, and build the knowledge and skill sets of shelter volunteers. 

Required Skills and Qualities: 

— At least one year of experience in staff or volunteer management. 

— At least two years of experience working in an animal shelter or rescue. 

— Working knowledge of basic animal health and behavior and experience handling cats and dogs of various sizes and temperaments.

— Ability to read, write, and understand English (other language proficiency a plus).

— Strong sense of initiative, identifying tasks that need to be accomplished and prioritizing appropriately, working independently with minimal supervision and direction.

— Computer proficient in Microsoft office and Google/G-Suite products, and proficiency or comfort with learning the internet-based software used by the organization (ShelterLuv, Airtable, Volgistics).

— Excellent customer service skills.

— Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

— Flexibility, maturity, and ability to manage multiple tasks and accommodate varied work assignments and schedules.

— Ability to communicate effectively with a culturally diverse staff, volunteers, and community in a professional, pleasant, respectful, courteous, and tactful manner at all times.

— The ability to remain pleasant and calm even in stressful situations, and to turn people down, firmly when necessary, without becoming aggressive or unpleasant.

Educational Requirements:

— High school diploma or equivalent required, BA/BS preferred.

Physical Requirements:

— Ability to walk and/or stand on your feet throughout a normal workday and tolerate loud noises.

— Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain an animal when necessary.

— Allergic conditions that would be aggravated when handling animals may be a disqualification.

Hours/Location:
This is an exempt position. PAWS is open seven days a week. A minimum of 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, is required, with at least one weekend day worked. This position is based out of our Grays Ferry location. Daily schedule may vary according to the needs of the organization and may include weekend, night, and holiday work.

Reports to:
Director of Operations; partial oversight provided by the Community Outreach & Volunteer Manager – on responsibilities related to PAWS’ volunteer program.

Interested?
Please share your resume and introduce yourself to us at jobs@phillypaws.org!

About the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS):
PAWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to saving Philadelphia’s homeless and at-risk pets and serving pet owners in need. PAWS is the city’s largest rescue partner and provider of affordable veterinary care for pet owners and rescue organizations that cannot otherwise access it. Each year, PAWS finds loving homes for thousands of animals in need and enables thousands more families to keep their cherished pets. Through rescue efforts, community support, and surrender prevention, PAWS is working to make Philadelphia a place where every savable pet is guaranteed a home.

PAWS is looking for motivated, compassionate, and versatile veterinary technicians to be a part of our Northeast medical team! We are Philadelphia’s largest animal rescue partner and provider of affordable veterinary care, offering wellness, sick, vaccination, and surgery services for a large and diverse caseload of animals.

Veterinary technicians interact regularly with the public and must strive to provide excellent customer service and positive experiences at all times. Ideal candidates have a focus on animal welfare, are outgoing, patient, and flexible, and can get along well with a variety of people and animals.  Experience in an animal hospital, private veterinary practice, and/or shelter environment, as well as a basic understanding of veterinary diseases, treatment, and disease transmission, is preferred.

Benefits for full-time veterinary technicians at PAWS include heavily discounted/at-cost veterinary care and pet food, as well as medical/dental insurance, 401(k) with employer matching, paid time off, and a budget for continuing education!

Primary Duties:

— Treat all animals and people compassionately and respectfully, and handle animals in a safe, effective and humane manner at all times, including those who are sick, injured, larger and possibly untrained, aggressive, or feral. 

— Collect histories and perform and accurately record examinations, vaccinations, and medical treatments for publicly owned animals under the direction of veterinarians using PAWS’ record keeping systems.

— Administer first aid treatments and medications to sick and injured animals

— Prepare owned and rescue animals for high-volume sterilization and other surgeries, including administration of anesthesia.

— Perform or prepare laboratory tests and diagnostics.

— Monitor animals’ conditions, rapidly identify and address any medical or behavioral conditions which might warrant veterinary attention, and work in cooperation with staff to attend to any immediate needs. 

— Euthanize animals as needed and appropriate under the supervision and direction of a veterinarian or the director of operations.

— Work courteously and cooperatively with staff and volunteers to ensure that all procedures and policies are followed.

— Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Qualities:

— Minimum of one year of experience working in an animal hospital, private veterinary practice, and/or shelter. 

—Experience prepping, recovering, and monitoring animals during surgery strongly preferred.

— Ability to read, write and understand English.

— Strong attention to detail; our patients’ health depends on accuracy and consistency in their medical treatment. 

— Computer proficient in Microsoft office and Google/G-Suite products, and proficiency or comfort with becoming proficient in all internet-based clinic management systems utilized by PAWS (ShelterLuv, Clinic HQ).

— Strong interpersonal, customer service, and verbal and written communication skills.

— Strong sense of initiative and ability to problem-solve, identifying tasks that need to be accomplished and prioritizing appropriately, working independently with minimal supervision and direction.

— Flexibility, maturity, and ability to manage multiple tasks and accommodate varied work assignments and schedules.

— Ability to communicate effectively with a culturally diverse staff, volunteers and community in a professional, respectful, courteous and tactful manner at all times.

— The ability to remain pleasant and calm even in stressful situations, including when delivering bad news and  turning people down firmly when necessary, without becoming aggressive or irritable.

Physical Requirements:

— Ability to work with and around animals, including those who are diseased, injured and/or stressed.

— Ability to walk and/or stand on your feet throughout a normal workday and tolerate loud noises.

— Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain an animal when necessary.

Educational Requirements:

— High school diploma or equivalent is required.

— Post-secondary education in the veterinary sciences field is preferred but not required.

Work Location/Schedule/Compensation: 

          — Compensation commensurate with experience. 

          — This position is located at PAWS’ Low-Cost Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic at 1810 Grant Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19115. 

— A minimum of 8 hours per day is required.  This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with a schedule of Tuesday – Saturday 9AM-5PM.

Interested?
For a full job description,  more information or to apply, please email Maddie Camerlengo, Senior Clinic Operations Manager, at maddie@phillypaws.org.

About the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS):
PAWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to saving Philadelphia’s homeless and at-risk pets and serving pet owners in need. PAWS is the city’s largest rescue partner and provider of affordable veterinary care for pet owners and rescue organizations that cannot otherwise access it. Each year, PAWS finds loving homes for thousands of animals in need and enables thousands more families to keep their cherished pets. Through rescue efforts, community support, and surrender prevention, PAWS is working to make Philadelphia a place where every savable pet is guaranteed a home.