Admissions Specialist (Program Specialist I), Grade 18

Montgomery County Government • Derwood, Maryland, United States • $62.33k - $98.32k / year • 1d ago

About the Position

Admissions Specialist

“Please note: The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $62,328 to $83,497, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.”

WHO WE ARE

At the Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center (MCASAC), we believe that every animal deserves compassion, safety, and a second chance. As the County’s only open-admission municipal shelter, we provide lifesaving sheltering and care for homeless, abused, and neglected animals, while protecting the health and safety of our community. Each day, we serve as a place of hope — for the animals who arrive at our doors and the families who welcome them home.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Office of Animal Services (OAS) is seeking an Admissions Specialist who is more than an animal caregiver — we are looking for someone who wants to be a difference-maker. The ideal candidate is compassionate, resilient, and dedicated to helping animals and people alike. This is a role for someone who can stay calm under pressure, think clearly in difficult situations, and show kindness to both the pets and people who come through our doors.

If you can:

Turn empathy into action,
Balance compassion with professionalism,
Communicate with clarity and care,
And bring courage when handling animals in need —

then this is the role where your passion becomes purpose.

What You'll Be Doing

As an Admissions Specialist, you are the first touchpoint of care for every animal that enters our shelter. You will:

Greet families and individuals surrendering their pets with understanding, respect, and dignity, while providing accurate information and resources.
Complete intake procedures, ensuring every animal is recorded, photographed, medically treated, and given the first steps toward healing.
Administer vaccinations, deworming, and flea/tick treatments — laying the foundation for a healthier future.
Provide thoughtful care and enrichment: feeding, watering, cleaning, exercising, and socializing animals every day.
Observe animals closely, catching the first signs of stress, illness, or behavioral needs to ensure their well-being.
Handle animals of every size and temperament with skill, patience, and safety in mind.
Support your team by stepping into other areas of the shelter as needed — veterinary care, adoptions, or animal care — wherever help is most needed.
Participate in the euthanasia process with compassion and professionalism, ensuring animals are treated with dignity at every stage of life.

Every day, you will touch lives — both animal and human — and help turn moments of hardship into possibilities for new beginnings.

Interested candidates should have the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Animal Welfare and Handling:

Animal Handling: Proficient in safe and compassionate handling of domestic animals of various temperaments and medical conditions.
Animal Health Assessment: Ability to conduct initial health and behavior assessments to identify signs of distress, illness, or injury.
Knowledge of Animal Care: Strong understanding of basic animal care, including nutrition, hygiene, and enrichment.

Client and Community Support:

Crisis Intervention: Skilled in providing immediate, empathetic support to pet owners in crisis, including those facing financial hardship, housing instability, or personal emergencies.
Case Management: Ability to develop and manage individual cases, connecting pet owners with internal and external resources to address underlying issues affecting pet retention.
Resource Navigation: Extensive knowledge of and ability to connect clients with community-based resources, such as pet food banks, low-cost veterinary care, and temporary pet housing.
Needs Assessment: Proficient in conducting thorough assessments to understand the social and economic factors impacting a pet owner's ability to care for their animal.
Empathetic Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate with empathy and cultural sensitivity, building trust and rapport with pet owners from diverse backgrounds.

Problem-Solving and Program Management:

Creative Problem-Solving: Adept at developing creative and practical solutions to help families keep their pets, such as creating customized care plans or arranging for temporary foster care.
Conflict Resolution: Skilled in de-escalating emotional situations and mediating conflicts to achieve positive outcomes for both pets and their owners.
Data Management: Proficient in using shelter management software to maintain accurate records of intake, client interactions, and services provided.
Community Outreach: Experience in engaging with the community to promote pet retention programs and build partnerships with other social service organizations.

Essential Personnel

The individual selected for this position will be considered an “Essential Employee.” Essential employees must report to work during a period of general emergency or liberal leave.

Background Statement:

A criminal background and credit history check will be conducted on the selected candidate prior to appointment and will be a significant factor in the hiring decision.

Medical Protocol:
The selected candidate will be required to have a core physical exam with a drug and alcohol screen. Information regarding the exam will be provided to the selected candidate.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: At least one (1) year of professional experience in animal handling and care. Experience in a shelter, veterinary clinic, or kennel is strongly preferred.
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree. A degree in animal science, social work, or veterinary technician is strongly preferred.
Equivalency: Unless otherwise stipulated, an equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
License: Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class “C” (or equivalent) driver’s license from your state of residence.
Medical & Background: Must successfully complete a medical clearance and background check prior to appointment.

Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

The application of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent, relevance of training, and experience in the following areas:

Experience with handling and restraining animals
Knowledge of common animal diseases and illnesses
Ability to work weekends, days, nights, and holidays
Ability to work with scared, fractious, vicious, and or dangerous animals
Certified in humane euthanasia
Experience with various species of animals

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

Related Jobs

SNF Case Manager

Dca Hadley Snf Llc • Full-time • Washington, DC, US • $56.29k - $83.56k / year • 5h ago

Social Work

5h ago

Apply

Voter Education and Training Specialist (Program Specialist I, Grade 18)

Montgomery County Government • Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States • $62.33k - $98.32k / year • 1d ago

Social Work

1d ago

Apply

Clinical Social Worker I

University of Maryland Medical System • Full-time • Alexandria, Virginia, United States • $33 - $50 / hour • 2d ago

Social Work

2d ago

Apply

Clinical Social Worker I

University of Maryland Medical System • Full-time • Alexandria, Virginia, United States • $33 - $50 / hour • 2d ago

Social Work

2d ago

Apply

AHR 1 - Case Manager

Shelter House • Full-time • Fairfax, Virginia, United States • $52k - $56k / year • 3d ago

Social Work

3d ago

Apply

Shelter Monitor, Harriet Tubman Women's Shelter

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington • Full-time • Remote (Washington, DC, US) • 3d ago

Social Work

3d ago

Apply

Family Services Specialist I

City of Alexandria, VA • Full-time • Alexandria, VA, US • $57.46k - $76.97k / year • 3d ago

Social Work

3d ago

Apply

Occupancy Specialist I (Southern Hills)

WinnCompanies • Full-time • Washington, District of Columbia, United States • $21 - $26 / hour • 4d ago

Social Work

4d ago

Apply

Occupancy Specialist I (Southern Hills Apartments)

WinnCompanies • Full-time • Washington, District of Columbia, United States • $21 - $26 / hour • 4d ago

Social Work

4d ago

Apply

Program Assistant

Greenspring Village by Erickson Senior Living • Springfield, Virginia, United States • $17 / hour • 4d ago

Social Work

4d ago

Apply