Retail Customer Associate Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

The Humane Society for Southwest Washington is currently seeking a ReTails Associate to join our team. We currently have full-time & part-time, FLSA nonexempt opportunities available.

Since 1897, HSSW has been the leader in animal welfare across Southwest Washington. With an annual operating budget of $15 million, we are the largest and most innovative animal welfare organization in the region. Our shelter campuses in Vancouver and Longview, WA serve more than 10,000 animals each year, providing high-quality care, medical services, and the compassion they deserve.

Our community-based approach helps keep pets and people together. Through the Nierenberg Community Veterinary Clinic, the Sandra Richardson Miller Mobile Veterinary Clinic, the Swigert Family Behavior & Training Center, and programs like free pet food and other essential resources, we serve more than 18,000 owned animals annually expanding access to affordable veterinary care, spay/neuter, training, and support.

We also own and operate ReTails Thrift Store, a top shopping destination named Best Thrift Store in Clark County for eight consecutive years, providing vital funding for our mission.

At HSSW, you’ll find an innovative, high-energy culture where your passion for animals and people can make a real difference. We’re looking for team members who want to be part of something bigger: supporting pets, strengthening families, and shaping the future of animal welfare in Southwest Washington. HSSW has been honored as Best Non-Profit for two years running—a recognition of our impact and leadership in the community.

ReTails Associate

As a ReTails Associate, you'll play a key role in receiving, processing, preparing, pricing, and selling donated goods. Your contributions will help keep our store running smoothly, whether you're assisting customers on the sales floor, operating the cash register, or working behind the scenes in our warehouse. Every day is a chance to make a meaningful impact, and with a positive attitude and strong communication skills in our team-oriented environment, you'll help drive the store’s success. Best of all, your hard work directly supports our mission at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington by funding the care and support for animals in need.

Duties and Responsibilities - ReTails Associate Level 1

• Provide excellent customer service, aiding customers within your scope of abilities and asking for back-up as needed.
• Answer phones and make store announcements in a professional and courteous manner.
• Maintain work areas and store appearance in a neat, clean, and organized condition at all times.
• Follow all safety procedures and report all safety hazards and accidents immediately to supervisor.
• Take immediate action to address any safety concerns or noncompliance of safety rules that could put an employee, volunteer, workforce partner, client, animal, or the organization at risk.
• Able to work independently within assigned department.

Follow procedures in assigned areas:

Cashier

• Ring up sales transactions and maintain cash register with integrity and accuracy.
• Assist with customer service calls, keep the sales floor clean and safe.
• Greet customers with full attention and a smile.
• Conduct transactions with efficiency, accuracy and focus on adherence to policies.
• Maintain elevated level of customer service; request back up help in timely manner.

Donations

• Receive donations in a courteous and professional manner from our valued donors
• Provide excellent, friendly customer service to all donors.
• Provide tax receipts to donors and assist in completion as requested.

Production

• Ensure all donated goods are properly sorted, priced, and staged for sale in a timely manner.
• Work with a sense of urgency to consistently meet production goals while ensuring quality
• Assist with customer service calls on the sales floor, price already sorted items and stock the sales floor.
• Sort items by subcategory and/or price.
• Clean items and affix price labels.
• Stock items on sales floor.

Customer Service

• Warmly greet and treat all customers and donors with respect, fostering an exceptional experience of radical hospitality.
• Customer service includes product carry-outs, answering questions and assisting customers with pricing and inventory questions.
• Maintain a safe, clean work and shopping environment.
• Report opportunities to better serve the customer.

Duties and Responsibilities - ReTails Associate Level 2.

All tasks pertaining to a level 1 associate.

• Cross-trained; this includes at least two production departments, one production department and cashiering duties or production/cashier and donations.
• Cashier: Accurately and efficiently ring customers, answer questions, process returns and assist with training and directing workforce partners and volunteers in their duties on the sales floor.
• Production: accurately and efficiently manage the assigned department flow, possess the ability to price incoming items along with sorting and stocking. Make independent decisions regarding incoming department donations. Support and assist with directing workforce partners and volunteers in their production duties.

Duties and Responsibilities - ReTails Associate Level 3.

All tasks pertaining to level 1 and 2 associates.

• Additional training/certification such as forklift, donations truck.
• Keyholder duties: opening/closing of the store, access to store alarm, access to the store safe, opening/closing of the cash registers, other duties as assigned.
• First-line trainer for store associates, workforce partners and volunteers.

Compensation

The hourly pay range for this position is $17.16 to $ 19.47 per hour and in accordance with associated position level. The starting pay within the following ranges is dependent upon experience.

• ReTails Associate – Level 1: $17.16 to $17.82 per hour.
• ReTails Associate – Level 2: $17.82 to $18.36 per hour.
• ReTails Associate – Level 3: $18.36 to $19.47 per hour.

Employee Benefits and Perks
In addition to serving in an organization with a compassionate and strategic purpose, eligible employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package and a variety of employee perks.

Benefits include:

• Health insurance effective the first of the month following hire (full-time employees).
• Dental and vision insurance effective the first of the month following hire.
• Matching percentage 401(k) retirement plan beginning the first month after hire, with a 3-year graded vesting schedule and ROTH contribution option.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available to all employees and household members.
• Section 125 FSA Cafeteria Plan for out-of-pocket health and/or dependent day care expenses.
• Access to affordable life, disability, and accidental supplemental insurance.
• Numerous employee discounts and discounts with partner organizations.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer: To learn more about this Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, go to https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation.

Paid Time Off (PTO)

This position accrues PTO at a rate of 1.6 hours for every 40 hours worked.

Additional Paid time includes:

• Floating Holidays (full-time employees).
• Bereavement leave
• Pet bereavement leave

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Interest, enthusiasm, and affinity for working in retail sales and assisting people.
• Demonstrates an attitude of being in service to all stakeholders; using good judgment; maintaining a positive outlook; and, ideally, a sense of humor.
• Works well in teams and demonstrates an attitude and commitment to collaboration.
• Committed to achieving excellence individually and as a part of the team.
• Ability to read, understand, comprehend, and follow instructions & SOPs.
• Flexible working schedule including days, evenings and weekends or long shifts, if needed.
• Goal Oriented: Work with a sense of urgency, striving for efficiency that consistently meets production goals.
• Organized: Maintain a neat, clean, and organized workspace that is safe, easy and enjoyable to work in.
• Self-Motivated: Ability and desire to become more proficient and efficient in meeting and exceeding daily production goals. General knowledge of the value of household items is a plus.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to see, distinguish color, hear, speak, bend, lift, and move up to 35 pounds on a regular basis.
• Stand on one's feet with appropriate breaks for an entire shift, often in a stationary position.
• Operate pallet jack and/or forklift safely as trained. Certification is required for this duty.
• Manipulate tagging and pricing guns in a repetitive manner.
• Ability to reach into the bottom of a Gaylord box.
• Able to go up and down stairs.
• Tolerant of changes in temperature and humidity

Work may be performed with exposure to animals and high noise levels, exposure to zoonotic diseases, animal bites and scratches, cleaning chemicals and allergens. Potential exposure of infectious diseases to owned animals.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be 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.

Culture

Vision: A community where everyone loves and cares for animals.

Mission: Rescue. Return. Restore. Rehome. Reconnect. One animal at a time

Values: Compassion. Collaboration. Excellence. Service. Integrity.

The ultimate team player:

• Displays interest, enthusiasm, and an affinity for working with people.
• Demonstrates an attitude in being of-service, using good judgment, maintaining a positive outlook, and ideally, a sense of humor.
• Works well in teams and demonstrates an attitude and commitment to collaboration with a sincere interest in helping others succeed.
• Is committed to achieving excellence individually and as a part of the team.
• Exhibits adaptability, curiosity, flexibility to change, open to new ideas, and encourages others to recognize changes in work tasks, situations, and environment as an opportunity for transformation.
• Is committed to personal and professional development through life-long learning.

How to Apply

Does HSSW sound like the right place for you?

Does this job sound like a great fit & do you meet the qualifications for this position?

If so, then click the Apply button to begin your journey to join our team today. HSSW participates in E-Verify.

For more information visit https://HSSW.org/careers/ .

Application Deadline: Open until filled.