Animal shelter boston adoption center animal welfare specialist

Boston Adoption Center - Animal Welfare Specialist

Posted: December 23, 2025

Locations

Showing 1 location

MSPCA Headquarters
Boston, MA 02130, USA

• On-site
• Rate: $20 USD per hour
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: BOSTO003941
• Match Score:

Description

This is a full-time 40 hour a week position, with required weekend days.

THE POSITION:

We are looking for a candidate who can deliver compassionate client service in a fast‑paced environment for people looking to adopt or surrender. In the AWS role, you are often the first point of contact for pet families in need. You will spend part of your day hands‑on with the animals at the adoption center and part of the day assisting the public with adoptions and surrenders.

The Animal Welfare Specialist position at MSPCA‑Angell offers a clear path for professional development through three progressive levels: AWS, AWS 2, and Lead AWS. Each level reflects increased knowledge in animal care and behavior, greater ability to support more complex client interactions, and opportunities to mentor and assist in training new team members. Advancement through these levels is tied to both responsibility and hourly compensation, providing meaningful opportunities for growth within the role, all while contributing to our compassionate, mission‑driven culture.

Some job responsibilities include:

• Caring for animals at the adoption center, including the provision of exercise, food, water, enrichment and medications.
• Cleaning the adoption center rooms and cages.
• Participating in trainings and team discussions on behavior plans for all animals.

Providing in‑depth adoption counseling through thoughtful conversations with potential adopters to ensure the best match and outcomes for the animal and owner.

• Providing judgement‑free, empathetic surrender counseling to owners, and discussing alternative paths to surrender whenever available.

ABOUT THE BOSTON ADOPTION CENTER:

The MSPCA is the largest animal welfare organization in the state – caring for and placing over 11,000 animals annually across our four adoption centers. The Boston Adoption Center is home to our low‑cost community clinic and a robust community outreach program. We also care for and place into homes over 2,000 animals each year with a 92% live release rate. Take a virtual tour!

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS:

We are looking for applicants with at least one year of experience in a customer service/client care position. Previous animal experience is a plus! Applicants should also demonstrate excellent judgment, interpersonal skills and an eagerness to support the human‑animal bond.

Applicants with a proficiency in Spanish are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please detail your customer service experience and any animal care experience you have in your cover letter.

WHO WE ARE:

The MSPCA is one of the oldest and most venerable humane organizations in the world. We work together as a community to deliver on our mission of advancing the health and welfare of animals. Sharing in this vision provides meaning to our employees and adds an important dimension to our work.

The MSPCA‑Angell believes that the lives of all creatures – human and non‑human – are inextricably intertwined; that our actions impact all; and that our fate is linked to theirs as interdependent inhabitants of the same planet. We believe that our shared commitment to our organizational values of Compassion, Collaboration, Integrity, Service, Positivity, and Excellence contribute to a compassionate and just society in which all people and animals are treated with care and respect.

OUR BENEFITS:

Our compensation package includes health, dental and life insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, paid holidays, sick, and vacation time, employee discounts for pet health care, and free on‑site parking.

Qualifications

Skills (Preferred)

Some knowledge.

Experience (Required)

1 year: Experience in a client care or customer service position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.