Adoption Shift Supervisor

Lead the team that helps pets find loving homes. 

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking a confident and compassionate Adoption Shift Supervisor to support daily adoption operations and help create positive, thoughtful experiences for adopters, visitors, volunteers, staff, and animals. This role provides shift supervision for adoptions, animal transport, off-site adoption events, staff scheduling, team coaching, and customer support.

This is a great opportunity for someone with supervisory, customer service, animal welfare, retail, hospitality, shelter, adoption, or team leadership experience who enjoys leading people, solving problems, supporting animals, and working in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Schedule

• Full-time, salaried position
• Typical schedule is Sunday through Thursday
• Schedule may vary based on adoption operations, staffing needs, events, and organizational needs

About the Animal Rescue League of Iowa

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal welfare organization, helping animals and the people who love them through sheltering, adoption, veterinary care, animal services, community programs, and pet support resources. Across multiple locations and programs in the Des Moines metro, the ARL works every day to provide compassionate care, practical support, and trusted resources for animals and families in our community.

What You’ll Do

• Provide daily shift supervision for adoption operations, including on-site adoptions, off-site adoption events, and animal transport.
• Lead, coach, train, schedule, and support Adoption Assistants across ARL adoption locations.
• Help create positive adoption experiences by supporting adopters, visitors, staff, volunteers, and animals.
• Assist with animal introductions, adoption conversations, and customer questions.
• De-escalate challenging customer situations with professionalism, empathy, and sound judgment.
• Coordinate safe animal movement between ARL facilities and partner locations, including clinics and pet stores.
• Step in to support adoptions, animal transport, and daily department needs as needed.
• Process financial transactions, balance cash drawers, and maintain accurate records and data.
• Collaborate with volunteers and support their training, engagement, and contributions to adoption goals.
• Follow and model ARL policies, safety standards, OSHA requirements, animal handling procedures, and customer service expectations.

What We’re Looking For

• High school diploma or GED required.
• One year of supervisory, lead, training, or team leadership experience preferred.
• At least two years of professional customer service experience preferred.
• Animal welfare, shelter, adoption, retail, hospitality, or related experience preferred.
• Valid driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record required.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to stay calm, professional, and welcoming in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfort working with animals, adopters, volunteers, staff, and community partners.
• Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office.
• Ability to handle financial transactions accurately and maintain strong attention to detail.
• Passion for animal welfare and helping pets and people make successful matches.

Benefits for Full-Time Employees

The ARL is proud to offer competitive, market-driven compensation and a mission-focused culture. In addition, a variety of benefits are available to full-time employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Supplemental insurances, including short-term disability, supplemental life insurance, accident, and critical illness insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with an employer contribution
• Veterinary benefits
• Work-life balance through our expansive holiday and paid time off policies

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

This position works in an active animal shelter, adoption, and community environment and may require prolonged standing, walking, bending, lifting, safely handling animals, transporting animals, supporting events, and sitting for extended periods. Candidates must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.

The role may involve exposure to animal odors, animal waste, moderate noise, cleaning products, zoonotic diseases, and the possibility of bites or scratches while following established safety procedures. This role may also involve emotionally challenging or fast-paced customer interactions that require professionalism, adaptability, and a steady presence.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Why Join the ARL?

As an Adoption Shift Supervisor, your work helps guide the people, processes, and daily experiences that connect animals with loving homes. You will support the team members and volunteers who make adoptions possible while helping create positive outcomes for animals and adopters.

If you are a compassionate leader who enjoys supporting people, solving problems, and helping pets find the right homes, we would love to have you join our team.

Employment in this position is at-will, meaning either the employee or the ARL may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, as permitted by law.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. Applicants and employees are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations as needed.