PAWS is looking for a motivated, welcoming, and organized Veterinary Receptionist to join our 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 in-house, foster, and client-owned animals. Our Veterinary Receptionists are the backbone of our public-facing operations and participate in all aspects of daily customer service.
An integral member of the PAWS team, the Veterinary Receptionist is responsible for maintaining the integrity, welcoming environment, and smooth operation of the front office of PAWS’ Grays Ferry Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic. This includes, but is not limited to, scheduling appointments, providing accurate, efficient, and courteous customer assistance in person and by phone and email, providing clients general information on all of PAWS’ services, data entry, and record-keeping. The Veterinary Receptionist interacts with the public – adopters, foster parents, and clients – on a regular basis and strives to provide a positive, inclusive, and accessible experience at all times.
Benefits for Veterinary Receptionists 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:
- Provide exceptional, welcoming, accessible, and inclusive customer support in person and via phone and email.
- Answer questions and direct the public in a pleasant and efficient manner and provide accurate and helpful information whenever possible.
- Perform administrative and clerical duties including, but not limited to, data entry of medical records, patient and client information, and sales, scheduling of clinic, vaccination, and spay/neuter appointments
- Uphold PAWS' policies, procedures, and services, including listening to customers, empathizing or sympathizing, and providing effective responses and remedies to their questions and needs.
- Ensure a rapid and courteous response to telephone calls and emails.
- Perform retail sales and handle payment for various services and products and assist in the accurate collection of fees (making changes, issuing receipts, balancing daily reports).
- Maintain accurate patient files and records and utilize Clinic HQ and ShelterLuv software to keep animal- and client-related records.
- Assist in keeping inventory of office, retail, and other supplies to ensure that the front desk is always stocked and in working order.
- Treat all animals humanely, properly and with compassion at all times, including those that are sick, injured, fearful, stressed, feral, or aggressive.
- Assist staff and volunteers whenever necessary to ensure a welcoming environment for the public and safe, respectful handling of their pets.
- Maintain a calm, pleasant, tactful, and professional demeanor at all times, even in stressful situations.
- Assist in maintaining healthy, safe, sanitary, pleasant, and clean facilities for the customers and animals under the care of PAWS. This includes keeping the front desk and lobby area clean and organized.
Education and Experience Required:
- High school diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor’s Degree or some college preferred.
- Minimum 1 year public contact/customer service experience required.
- Minimum 1 year experience working a veterinary practice/animal shelter strongly preferred.
Specific Job Skills Required:
- Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills. Ideal candidate is organized, personable, outgoing, patient, professional, able to get along well with a variety of people, innovative, flexible and motivated to develop and implement the goals, objectives, and policies of the organization.
- Affection and compassion for animals, concern for their welfare, and a willingness to accommodate animals in the workplace.
- Strong sense of initiative, motivation, and ability to problem-solve, identifying tasks that need to be accomplished and prioritizing appropriately, working independently with minimal supervision and direction.
- Ability to work effectively as a member of a collaborative team.
- Maturity, good judgment and a professional personal appearance.
- Ability to read, write and understand English.
- Flexibility, ability to manage multiple tasks and accommodate varied work assignments and schedules.
- The ability to ask appropriate questions to gather information along with the ability to feel and show empathy for others.
- The ability to turn people down, firmly when necessary, without becoming aggressive or unpleasant.
- Comfort and ability to work with animals of unknown disposition and those who may exhibit medical and other problems, as well as fearful or reactive tendencies.
- Ability to communicate skillfully and effectively with a culturally diverse staff, volunteers and community in a professional, pleasant, respectful, courteous and tactful manner at all times.
- Computer proficient in Microsoft office and internet based software such as GMail/GSuite.
Work Location/Schedule/Compensation:
- Compensation commensurate with experience.
- This position is located at PAWS’ Low-Cost Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic at 2900 Grays Ferry Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19146.
- This is a full time position (40 hours per week).
- PAWS is open seven days a week. Candidates must be available for regular shifts on Fridays and Saturdays - ideal candidates are available for regular shifts on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Daily schedule and hours may vary according to the needs of the organization.
Benefits of PAWS employment:
- Medical, dental, and prescription insurance coverage
- 401(k) plan with employer matching
- 9 paid holidays per year
- Generous paid time off (PTO)
- Free and heavily discounted clinic services, lab work, prescription diets, and medications for your personal pets
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Voluntary benefits (long- and short-term disability, life, and accident insurance)
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. PAWS is the city’s largest rescue partner and provider of affordable, basic veterinary care for pet owners and rescue organizations that cannot otherwise access it. Through its three no-kill shelters, foster care network, and special events, PAWS finds loving homes for thousands of animals each year. PAWS’ two spay/neuter and wellness clinics serve tens of thousands of pets each year who would not otherwise receive care. By keeping families together, reducing the number of pets entering shelters, and saving those with nowhere else to go, PAWS is working to make Philadelphia a no-kill city where every savable pet is guaranteed a home.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work setting:
Application Question(s):
- What interests you about working at PAWS specifically?
Ability to Commute:
- Philadelphia, PA 19146 (Required)
Work Location: In person