Intake and Adoption Specialist

Intake and Adoption Specialist

Salary

$46,259.20 - $53,206.40 Annually

Location

111 Gillingham Lane Sugar Land, TX

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

2400343

Department

Animal Shelter

Opening Date

09/29/2026

Closing Date

10/4/2026 5:00 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits

The City of Sugar Land is seeking a compassionate individual to join our team as an Intake and Adoption Specialist in the Animal Services Department.

This position is at the heart of the Sugar Land Animal Shelter, serving as a welcoming first point of contact for visitors, adopters, and community members. You'll help connect people and pets by supporting animal intakes, guiding potential adopters through the adoption process, coordinating applications, and ensuring accurate records and transactions - all while helping create a positive and engaging shelter experience.

About the City of Sugar Land

The City of Sugar Land serves over 110,000 residents and is known for its high quality of life and commitment to innovation. Our team is driven by service, collaboration, and a shared goal of making our community even better.

At the City of Sugar Land, we're building a high-performing, innovative community where employees are empowered to make an impact. You'll join a collaborative team, enjoy strong benefits from day one, and have real opportunities to grow your career.

We follow our BLAZE values by encouraging bold ideas, fostering a supportive and collaborative team, adapting to change, holding ourselves to high standards, and empowering employees to grow, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.

What We Offer

• A competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance package with coverage starting Day 1
• TMRS pension with 2:1 city match; 457(b) options
• Paid holidays, vacation, and paid parental leave
• Wellness programs, mental health resources, and an EAP
• Grow your career with professional development programs, training opportunities, and career advancement through our Gold Standard People Development Division.

What We Pay

The Intake & Adoption Specialist is a non-exempt position with a starting salary of $46,259 - $53,206 annually.

What You'll Do as the Intake and Adoption Specialist:

• Provide front-line customer service. Greet visitors, direct them, explain the meet-and-greet process and safety rules, and coordinate tours with staff.
• Counsel potential adopters. Advise on behavior and the shelter-to-home transition.
• Manage the adoption process. Prepare complete adoption packets and guide adopters through each step.
• Screen incoming animal intakes. Determine eligibility and redirect out-of-jurisdiction residents and animals.
• Verify documents. Review ID, proof of residence, and vaccination records.
• Support lost pet reunification. Work with owners on over-the-counter intakes to get animals home.
• Monitor the 311 and dispatch Teams channel. Follow up on Animal Services calls with accurate, professional responses.
• Run the sleepover program. Keep accurate records of animals out on sleepovers and follow up on time to finalize adoption or arrange return.
• Track rabies vaccination compliance. Follow up to verify rabies vaccination for animals adopted before they could be vaccinated.
• Process payments accurately. Handle cash, checks, and card payments, enter them in the shelter software and Tyler Cashiering, settle the card machine, and keep the change drawer accurate.
• Regular attendance is an essential function of this position. Required to work as an essential employee before, during and after an emergency or disaster, whether natural or acts of war.
• Stay abreast of, and comply with, all City and departmental policies and procedures.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by Director or his/her designee.

What You Bring:

Formal Education:

• High School diploma or equivalent GED supplemented with course work in typing, business processes and personal computer operations.

Relatable Work Experience:

• Minimum (2) two years of administrative and customer service experience required.
• Experience in an animal shelter or veterinary clinic preferred.
• Experience with animal database software preferred.
• Knowledge of animal shelter behavior management and shelter operations preferred.

Training (License and/or Certification):

• Valid Texas Drivers License or ID

The citizens of Sugar Land depend on City employees before, during and after an emergency or disaster to provide or restore essential public services for the health, safety and quality of life for our community. In the event of a wide scale emergency that could impact our community, all employees must be ready to assist in managing the crisis and will be considered essential for the continuity of governmental operations.

Our success is achieved by the courage to do things differently and accept that failure will occur on the path to innovation.

The City of Sugar Land is an equal Opportunity employer.

CITY OF SUGAR LANDs OVERVIEW OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS)

Employee contribution: 7%

City matches 2:1 with 5-year vesting

Retirement Eligibility:

1) Age 60 + vested; or

2) 20 years of service, any age

• HOLIDAYS

The City recognizes 10 Holidays per calendar year, which includes one floating Holiday. In lieu of a floating holiday,

firefighters will receive September 11th, Patriot Day, as a fixed holiday.

• VACATION - Other than Public Safety

0 -2nd Year 10 days per year

3 -10 Years 15 days per year

11+ Years 20 days per year

• VACATION - Public Safety

First Year 10 days per year

2-10 Years 15 days per year

11+ Years 20 days per year

• SICK LEAVE - Other than Firefighters

8 hours per month, to a maximum of 1,040 hours

• SICK LEAVE - Shift Firefighters

12 hours per month, to a maximum of 1,456 hours

• SICK LEAVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM

Annual conversion of sick leave to vacation

Sick Days Used from 01/01 to 12/31 Eligible Sick Days for Conversion

1 day or less taken 3 days

Up to 2 ½ days 2 days

More than 2 ½ days and up to 4 days 1 day

More than 4 days 0 day

• LONGEVITY PAY

After one year of employment, employees will receive an annual payment of $4.00 per month of employment with the City for the first 25 years of continuous employment (maximum of $1,200 annually). Qualified employees receive longevity payments each December.

• 125 CAFETERIA PLAN

Premium contributions for the medical and dental plans as well as Flexible Spending Accounts and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts are available to all full-time employees through this arrangement.

• GROUP HEALTH & DENTAL

The City contributes to employee and dependent coverage in the HMO, HDHP and dental plans offered.

Medical HSA KelseyCare Gold KelseyCare Blue Employee Only $101.44 $19.56 $0.00 EE + Spouse $346.60 $144.55 $96.48 EE + Child(ren) $257.51 $106.09 $66.79 EE + Family $454.39 $202.24 $141.00 Dental DPPO DHMO Employee Only $7.35 $3.14 EE + Spouse $18.49 $5.89 EE + Child(ren) $17.90 $8.45 EE + Family $31.41 $10.33 Vision Plan Employee Only $7.35 EE + Spouse $18.49 EE + Child(ren) $17.90 EE + Family $31.41

• VISION CARE PLAN

Employees can voluntarily elect to purchase vision care insurance for themselves and their eligible dependents.

• AFLAC PLANS

Employees can voluntarily elect to purchase through payroll deduction: Accident, Cancer, Critical Illness, and Hospital policies for themselves and their eligible dependents. (Rates are age-banded. Employee must contact representative directly for rates and enrollment.)

• BASIC LIFE and AD&D

The City provides all employees annual salary of life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage of one-time annual salary with a minimum of $50,000.

• LONG TERM DISABILITY

The City provides employees with Long Term Disability in the amount of 60% of your salary (depending on position category) to a maximum of $7,500 per month. Benefits begin after 90 days of disability and may continue to Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA) if you qualify. LTD is designed to replace a reasonable portion of your income in case of

serious injury or sickness whether on or off the job. Benefits will be offset by any payments from SS, Workers Comp and other income offsets.

• SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE and AD&D

Employees can elect supplemental life insurance and AD&D coverage up to $750,000 for themselves and up to $250,000 for their spouse; as well as $15,000 of life insurance for child(ren).

• SHORT TERM DISABILITY

This optional benefit allows employees to receive 70% of their weekly salary, to a maximum of $1,500 per week (tax free), following either Option A: a 30-calendar day elimination period; or Option B: a 7-calendar (injury) or 14-calendar (illness) elimination period, for a maximum of 90-calendar days from on-set per qualifying incident.

• PRE-PAID LEGAL PLAN

Employees can voluntarily elect to participate in a legal access/assistance plan at a base cost of $7.87 per pay period. Optional plans are also available. (Employee must contact representative directly for rates and enrollment.)

• DEFERRED COMPENSATION

Employees are allowed to contribute to this optional program at a minimum set by the plan administrator and a maximum set annually by the IRS. Currently the City contracts with 2 administrators for this program: Dearborn & Creggs ($50 per month minimum contribution); and ICMA-RC ($1.00 per month min. contribution). The maximum contribution for 2023 is $19,500

and $6,500 for age 50 + catch-up.

• CREDIT UNIONS

Houston Federal Credit Union: (866) OUR-HFCU

Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union: (855) 391-2149

• EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE

The EAP is designed to provide employees and their dependents with professional, cost-effective assistance in resolving difficult personal problems. Individual, voluntary involvement in the EAP is confidential. The Citys EAP administrator is Alliance Work Partners (AWP) at 1-800-343-3822. Registration code: AWP-COSL-3822

Employer City of Sugar Land

Address 2700 Town Center Blvd., N

Sugar Land, Texas, 77479

Phone (281) 275-2735

Website http://www.sugarlandtx.gov