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About Oregon Humane  

Founded in 1868, Oregon Humane is the Northwest's oldest and largest animal welfare organization with one of the highest adoption rates in the nation. We are working toward our vision of a world where all animals are treated with compassion, kindness, and respect. With campuses in Portland and Salem, Oregon Humane is an Oregon-based nonprofit that relies on donor support for its adoption, education, medical and humane law enforcement programs. Visit oregonhumane.org to learn more about how we’re creating an ecosystem where all of us – animals and humans – feel safe, valued and part of something bigger. 

The Team 

Oregon Humane's Best Friends Corner (BFC) provides the Portland-metro community the opportunity to help support the animals of Oregon Humane through monetary and in-kind donations and purchases in the retail store. The BFC team provides excellent customer service to our constituents whether someone is making a purchase or donation. 

The Position 

The BFC Associate helps the public in all aspects of the retail environment and supports the BFC leadership team in the daily operations of the store, including but not limited to: ringing transactions, stocking the sales floor, sorting/organizing donations and yearly inventory. The Associate demonstrates, mentors and fosters Oregon Humane's values, principles, and culture.  

Eligible Benefits 

We are committed to creating a better future for pets, and we work hard to achieve our goals while offering a rewarding workplace including competitive benefit packages to our employees.   

• Paid Time Off + Sick time 

• 401(k) with employer match 

• Professional Development Opportunities 

• One free OHS adoption / year 

• Perks & Discounts 

Essential Responsibilities 

PERSONAL LEADERSHIP 

• Consistently strives to exceed expectations; demonstrates flexibility, resilience, and the ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstances. 

• Maintains high ethical standards, including exhibiting behaviors and actions that embrace and align to the organization and customer service values, while treating all people with respect and dignity.  

• Demonstrates an awareness of individual personal strengths and development needs, modeling non-defensive behavior and openness to feedback; builds a culture of feedback and learning. 

LEARNING 

• Contributes to regular dialogue and accountability with the leadership team and across the organization to review progress and course correct if necessary. 

• Utilizes data and insights to identify, understand and articulate the key inputs and metrics that tell the story of the organization/team strategy and its progress. 

• Builds appropriate feedback loops to measure if we are meeting key milestones and if the impact planned is being felt across the organization. 

• Assist in the development and maintenance of training for staff, including in-person and online trainings. 

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION 

• Communicate effectively to executive and other stakeholder groups to ensure they are informed and able to actively engage. 

• Liaise with and maintain productive relationships with all stakeholders, including other departments, and donors; build mutually rewarding professional relationships inside Oregon Humane at all levels. 

• Leverage our best practices externally and grow Oregon Humane’ reputation as a leader in the animal welfare space. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Interacts with customers, donors, staff, and volunteers in a friendly and professional manner.  

• Assists in receiving and processing donations and merchandise purchases.  

• Maintains a comprehensive level of understanding of store products. 

• Acts as a cashier, following proper cash-handling procedures. 

• Engage with BFC volunteers to foster and maintain engagement with the store products, processes and updates to each. 

• Set up displays and merchandise and maintain BFC in an organized, efficient and safe manner that promotes sales interest. 

• Clean assigned areas of BFC, providing a safe and pleasant environment for customers, staff, and volunteers.  

• Adheres to safety standards and security of assets policies and procedures.  

• Completes all tasks to open and close the store as needed.  

• Other duties as assigned. 

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY 

Supervises: None 

ACCOUNTABILITY 

Reports Directly To: Supervisor, Best Friends Corner

Often Engages Directly With: BFC staff, Volunteers, and Portland Campus staff.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills 

We are interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We welcome applicants who bring a diversity of identity, culture, experience, perspective and thought. We encourage you to apply, even if you do not believe you meet every one of the qualifications described. You are also encouraged to address how your professional and lived experience, scholarship, mentorship, and/or service will contribute to Oregon Humane.

• Previous experience working in a retail environment. Previous experience in sales or marketing may take the place of retail experience.  

• Able to work varying shifts including weekends as needed.  

• Able to use a cash register. 

• Basic math skills 

• Able to support and speak to Oregon Humane's policies and positions regarding animal welfare subjects.  

• Able to exercise sound judgment and maintain a professional demeanor during all interactions with the public, partner agencies, donors, staff and volunteers. 

• Proficiency using the Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, and Excel. 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills - able to communicate with a diverse population in a consistently informative, respectful and professional manner. 

Preferred 

• Bilingual English & Spanish. 

• Experience working with volunteers. 

Work Environment Conditions & Physical Requirements 

This position interacts and collaborates will all levels of the organization, including Oregon Humane staff, executive team members, donors, general public, external vendors, volunteers, and supporters. Contact and communication is carried out through face-to-face, telephone and digital interactions. Excellent customer service skills are essential to success. Communication must be clear, understandable, professional and respectful in all circumstances. 

WORKING CONDITIONS  

• Work is performed in an office and medical center/animal shelter environment. 

• Travel between the two campuses is required on a bi-weekly or monthly basis.  

• Working at both campuses is required.  

• Occasional weekend and evening work may be required. 

• Animal contact and related injuries may occur. 

• Noise exposure varies and sometimes includes uncontrolled barking and other animal vocalizations. 

• Pace of work is active and demanding, requiring the ability to adapt to changing priorities while managing concurrent projects/tasks to completion. 

• Contact with angry or emotional people may occur.  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Occasional lifting and moving of inanimate objects weighing up to 100 lbs. 

• Occasional pushing and pulling of carted items weighing up to 150 lbs. 

• Occasional moving items above shoulder level.  

• Occasional use of hands and arms at or above shoulder level.  

• Prolonged standing, sitting and/or stooping may occur.  

• Occasional climbing and bending. 

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods. 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and address and overcome complex challenges and barriers. We strive for a culture of integrity, respect and compassion where every member of our community contributes their perspectives and authentic selves and where everyone reaches their potential as individuals and teams. We recognize that striving for diversity, equity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Oregon Humane is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained impact. 

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group. 

At-Will Employment 

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.