Job Description

Full-Time | Tupelo-Lee Humane Society

Have you ever dreamed of turning your passion for animals into a career? Do you believe in saving lives, building partnerships, and giving homeless pets a second chance? Tupelo-Lee Humane Society (TLHS) is seeking a dedicated Placement Coordinator with a strong focus on animal transport.

This role is vital in ensuring dogs and cats in our care find loving homes through adoption, foster, and transport programs. It is not an easy job—days can be long, tiring, and physically demanding—but the reward of knowing you helped save a life makes it all worthwhile. Applicants must bring at least 2 years of hands-on animal-related experience (rescue, shelter, veterinary clinic, hospital, etc.).

Job Purpose

The Placement Coordinator oversees adoption, transport, and foster programs to increase life-saving outcomes. This position requires close collaboration with rescue partners, fosters, adopters, and shelter staff, as well as managing logistics for local and out-of-state transports.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Adoption Program

• Guide potential adopters through the adoption process with professionalism and compassion.
• Assist with adoption events, off-site activities, and post-adoption communications.
• Maintain accurate records and provide discharge instructions and medications for animals as needed.

Foster Program

• Recruit, train, and support foster caregivers.
• Respond to questions and concerns, ensuring fosters feel supported.
• Track foster progress, communications, and medical needs; schedule veterinary care as needed.

Transport Program (Primary Focus)

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with rescues and shelters nationwide.
• Coordinate transportation logistics while ensuring compliance with USDA and state transport regulations.
• Prepare animals for transport including health checks, certifications, and testing in collaboration with veterinarians and staff.
• Be available for early mornings to prepare and load animals for transport runs, including driving to meet partnering transport services for out-of-state rescues.
• Communicate with rescue partners in varying time zones, sometimes after normal hours, to secure placement opportunities.
• Maintain accurate transport records and promote transport programs.

General Responsibilities

• Provide excellent customer service through phone, email, in-person, and social media interactions.
• Accurately maintain digital and paper records; generate reports as requested.
• Assist with shelter operations and reception duties as needed.
• Collaborate with leadership to continually improve placement processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of animal-related experience required (rescue, shelter, veterinary clinic, or hospital).
• High school diploma or equivalent required; college coursework in animal science or related field preferred.
• Clerical/office experience and proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with adopters, fosters, rescues, and co-workers.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, emotionally challenging, and physically demanding environment.
• Valid driver’s license required; must be insurable under TLHS insurance to drive shelter vehicles and be 21 years of age or older.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Work may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Frequent exposure to animals who may be fearful, stressed, or fractious.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs (with or without assistance).
• Standing, walking, bending, and kneeling for extended periods, often on concrete floors.
• Tolerance of cleaning products, medical supplies, and shelter noise.

Why Join Us?

Working at TLHS is hard work—both physically and emotionally—but it is also deeply rewarding. Every transport coordinated, every adoption finalized, and every foster supported means another life saved. If you’re resilient, compassionate, and ready to make a real impact, we want you on our team.

Benefits

• Paid time off

Benefit details may vary based on position and eligibility.