St. Louis County department of Public Health is hiring an Adoption Specialists. The Adoption Specialists will work extensively with the general public to ensure proper placement of the animals in our care. The shelter is open 7 days a week. Some weekends will be required. The typical starting salary is $16.80-$20.16 hourly depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience as well as budgetary considerations. Additionally, we offer a competitive benefits package and a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy. To learn more about these and other County benefits, please visithttps://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/administration/work-for-us/benefits/ St. Louis County Government is a qualified agency for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program managed by the Federal Government. For more information regarding this program, please visit https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service. Examples of Duties Administer animal adoption processes to achieve animal placement. Assist all visitors, staff and volunteers with animal intake and adoption procedures to ensure positive interactions for animal well-being. Provide education and support to customers before and after adoption. Care for animals in an animal shelter including providing food, water, exercise and human interaction according to defined guidelines. Adapt practices to ensure the most current approaches to animal health and welfare are implemented. Utilizing various software applications to perform word processing, data entry, and spreadsheet functions. Oversee the placement of animals needing foster care and coordinate their return for surgery, treatment, and/or adoption Serve as primary contact for foster volunteers, recruit and support new foster families, and share resources available to fosters Work closely with other team members to identify animals needing foster homes and to support medical and behavioral needs Perform other duties as required or assigned. Minimum Qualifications High school diploma or equivalent preferably at least two years of experience in animal welfare and extensive customer service experience. Additional Information

SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT

: A selection committee will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant which will include recentness and appropriateness of the applicant's education and experience, answers to the supplemental questions, results of employment references investigated and any other appropriate information available. The selection committee will admit to the interview only those persons who possess the most job-related qualifications and may establish admittance criteria beyond the minimum qualifications stated above. The interview will comprise 100% of the applicant's earned grade. A candidate must earn a qualifying grade of 70 or more on the interview to be eligible for appointment. After initial interviews with the selected candidates are conducted, an email will be sent to the address on file with instructions on how to complete and submit a Conviction Questionnaire. Candidates have 3 days to complete the required questionnaire. The five top ranking candidates, based on the final grade, will be certified to the Department Director/Appointing Authority who will make the final decision. All applicants conditionally offered a merit position will be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Screening will be performed by a reputable clinical laboratory. The cost of screening will be covered by the County. St. Louis County offers its employees many excellent benefits with paid medical insurance, 20 days of PTO (paid time off) the first year and increasing with seniority, and 11-12 paid holidays. Employees hired for full time employment will participate in the St. Louis County retirement plan where they contribute 4% of their salary to the defined benefit plan with vesting after 7 years.

Other benefits include:

paid life insurance, a credit union, 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, pre-tax premium pay plan, dependent care and medical expense reimbursement plans, and short and long term disability insurance. In addition to these benefits, as of January 1, 2023, St. Louis County approved up to 480 hours of paid parental leave for eligible employees welcoming new children, either by birth or adoption. The employee can also take up to 80 hours of leave for prenatal care and up to 80 hours for care of the child within the first year.