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+ Wags PupUp Brand Ambassador Internship

SUMMARY

Hamptons | June – Labor Day (Summer 2026)

Stipend Available | College Credit Eligible

Wags & Walks is seeking motivated, passionate, and community-oriented students to join our Wags PupUp Brand Ambassador Internship for Summer 2026. This role supports our seasonal Hamptons PupUp, a high-impact summer initiative focused on dog rescue, adoption, and community engagement throughout the Hamptons. This internship is ideal for high school students (17+) or college students who love animals, enjoy connecting with people, and want hands-on experience in nonprofit marketing, events, and brand activations.

Internship Overview

• Brand Ambassadors will play a key role in helping us bring Wags & Walks’ mission to life across the Hamptons through local events, outreach, and on-the-ground support. Interns will assist with promoting summer events, supporting adoption activations, and helping spread awareness about rescue dogs in need of homes.

• This is a partially in-person role and applicants must be local to the Hamptons for the summer (or have summer housing in the area). This is not a fully remote opportunity.

Time Commitment

• Duration: June through Labor Day
• Schedule: Flexible, with availability required for: Local events and activations (weekends and occasional weekdays)
• Some remote support (admin, coordination, outreach)
• Exact hours will vary week to week based on event schedule

Responsibilities

• Represent Wags & Walks as a Brand Ambassador at local events, puppy parties, adoption events, and community activations
• Assist with flyering, outreach, and grassroots promotion throughout the Hamptons
• Support on-site logistics at events (setup, breakdown, guest engagement, adoption support)
• Help spread awareness of Wags PupUp initiatives through word-of-mouth and community engagement
• Provide occasional remote support, including:
• Event coordination assistance
• Admin support
• Tracking outreach efforts
• Act as a positive, professional, and enthusiastic representative of the Wags & Walks brand
• Opportunity to grow into Adoptions and Foster support roles

Ideal Candidate

We’re looking for students and young adults who are:

• Extremely self-motivated and reliable
• Passionate about animal welfare, rescue, and community impact
• Comfortable talking to new people and engaging with the public
• Organized, responsible, and eager to learn
• Able to attend in-person events across the Hamptons
• Local to the Hamptons for the summer (or have summer lodging in the area)

Eligibility

• High school students 17+ or current college students
• Must be available June through Labor Day
• Must be able to commute locally within the Hamptons
• Having consistent access to a vehicle is a big plus
• Must be comfortable working in active, public-facing environments

Compensation & Benefits

• Summer stipend provided
• Eligible for college credit (school approval required)
• Hands-on experience in nonprofit marketing, events, and community outreach
• Meaningful involvement in a mission-driven organization saving dogs’ lives
• Networking opportunities within the Hamptons community and nonprofit space

Important Notes

• Wags & Walks does not provide summer housing
• This role is not fully remote and requires in-person participation

+ Office Administrator / Front Desk

SUMMARY

The Office Administrator / Front Desk is key in ensuring that all of the moving parts at Wags and Walks flow as smoothly as possible. They're responsible for overseeing the daily office and administrative functions of the Wags & Walks adoption center. Most importantly, this role serves as the face of the organization when the public walks into the adoption center over the weekend and candidates should be comfortable with the high volume of face to face interactions that comes with this. This is not your typical front desk job as you get the opportunity to work with dogs in a fast paced environment. This job requires an outgoing, enthusiastic and highly organized person to be the face of our organization. The ideal candidate has worked in people management positions in the past, especially in the retail, restaurant or in a fast paced office environment with a passion for dog rescue. The person in this position will do a number of customer service, administrative tasks, as well as keep the center clean and safe, assist any and all teams as needed, and provide support to all of the Wags & Walks departments.

SCHEDULE

• Saturday: 9:45 am - 6:15 pm
• Sunday: 9:45 am - 6:15 pm
• One additional weekday between Wednesday - Friday with a preference for Friday: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Consistently represent the organization in a welcoming, professional, and empathetic manner in handling all of the face to face interactions in the adoption center.
• Work to maintain the flow of traffic during operating hours, greet visitors and direct them to the appropriate person and location.
• Have a strong pulse on how things flow, how long people have been waiting, and how to best build meaningful relationships along the way.
• Understands how each department operates to serve as an extension of volunteer adoptions, foster, medical, and development to confidently speak to the array of questions that cross the front desk.
• Provide support to all of our various teams both directly and indirectly: animal care, adoptions, foster, volunteers, medical and administrative. This may include everything from watching a dog behind the front desk to prepping foster bags to going over the basics of the adoption process.
• Ensure the adoption center is always extremely clean, safe and organized. This is a huge part of this role and this role should expect to be on their feet and moving around to organize, clean, mop, etc throughout the shift.
• Answer phones, take messages and handle all administrative duties in a timely manner. Be able to think quickly while keeping your poise during busy stretches.
• Receive deliveries, stock shelves, manage inventory and the reception and adoption areas are neat, presentable and stocked with supplies at all times.
• Assist adopters and fosters by answering their initial questions and starting them with the application processes.
• Scan, save and appropriately file all vet, shelter, and adoption related paperwork for each dog.
• Comfortable selling and restocking our retail store, ideally someone who has had retail/sales experience in the past can take over this entire function of our organization. Wags and Walks Merchandise is a big part of this role and helping with counts and keeping the retail space looking good is crucial.
• Handle shipping logistics for merchandise ordered online with additional support around the annual auction.
• Work with volunteers supporting at the front or in other areas of the center including the retail space.
• Work seamlessly with co-workers to pass off information from the weekdays to weekends.

QUALITIES

• Must be a dog lover and possess some knowledge of basic dog behavior and needs. Must be willing to get your hands dirty, be flexible and reliable.
• Must have excellent customer service experience, proven attention to detail, good organizational and time management skills.
• Must be a team player and have a positive attitude. Personable, professional, upbeat and energetic.
• Ability to communicate skillfully and effectively with a diverse community in a professional, pleasant, respectful manner and use good judgment.
• Must be gritty, exceptional with people and exhibit a calm demeanor during periods of stressful situations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have at least 3+ years of experience in a customer service position.
• Must have at least 2+ years of experience in a sales (or similar) position.
• Must be able to sit at a desk in front of a computer for several hours. Constantly operates a computer and other office machinery.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs to help move kennel crates, dog food, and other supplies.
• Must have proficiency with computers including word, excel, slack and google docs. Ability to learn new technology quickly.
• Must have a current and valid California Driver’s License.

BENEFITS

• Opportunity to join a fantastic team at an incredibly rewarding rescue organization
• Connections to Wags and Walks network of partners
• Competitive pay with sick time
• Snacks and drinks on site
• Full time only - Medial, dental, and vision benefits for you and eligible dependents, Holiday pay, and Paid Time Off

+ Adoptions Counselor

An Adoptions Counselor is responsible for summarizing applications for adoption, contacting and screening applicants both via phone and in person, conducting onsite meet and greets and adoptions, following up with adopters, matching applicants with the dog that best fits their home life, and all admin involved. This job requires a friendly, enthusiastic and highly organized person who is an excellent communicator and a skilled collaborator. The ideal person for this position is a passionate, outgoing, and intuitive team player. This is a fast paced environment and ideal applicants are comfortable with this as they bring a combination of customer service and sales experience to go along with their passion for rescue dogs.

Schedule

• Full Time applicants preferred with both weekend days required. Open to either a Thursday - Monday or Wednesday - Sunday schedule.
• Part time applicants that can commit to full shifts on the weekend and shorter shifts on two additional days are encouraged to apply.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Review and respond to adoption applications via call and text. This role works within a team to divide up applications and walk-ins in a thoughtful but timely manner.
• Manage a portfolio of pending applications and keep a strong rapport going with applicants as you work to find the right match.
• Stay up to date and informed about the 150+ dogs that are regularly in our care, so you can best provide updates to our team and prospective adopters.
• Educate adopters about the process and commitment of adopting a dog and then matching them with the right dog that is best for each unique applicant, and our organization.
• Help with donor development by communicating with the development team about adopters (as they are some of our best contributors.)
• Maintain applicant correspondence via text and email; label and sort messages accordingly and keep replies within a 24 hour window.
• Conduct onsite meet and greets, and adoptions; handle dogs of all sizes at appointments safely, confidently, and with care.
• Take management’s guidance along with initiative to absorb relevant dog behavior and handling information to continually develop hands on skills.
• Troubleshoot behavioral and medical issues and facilitate connections between clients and the medical/ behavioral departments accordingly.
• Communicate clearly and efficiently across teams via slack and google spreadsheets; upkeep information re: pending/ upcoming appointments and dog availability in a consistent and timely manner on all shared docs.

Qualities

• Must be comfortable with dogs of all breeds and sizes, along with confidence in safely managing behavior during introductions to new people and other dogs. Hands-on experience preferred. ● Problem solver and quick thinker
• Excellent communication skills
• Thrives in a team based environment and brings a cooperative, supportive approach to working with others.
• Friendly demeanor and positive attitude
• Enjoys working in a fast paced and dynamic environment
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Is very detail oriented
• Is very proactive and a self-starter
• Is flexible and willing to ride the roller coaster of rescue

Qualifications

• Must have a College Degree
• Must be able to work weekends consistently
• Must have experience in a customer service setting
• Experience in a sales strongly preferred
• Experience with nonprofits, fundraising and events preferred
• Computer proficient (Google docs, ability to learn new software, etc)
• Must have a current and valid California Driver’s License
• Must be comfortable standing for long periods and lifting up to 30 lbs

Benefits & Compensation

• Join a passionate team in a rewarding field
• Plenty of quality time with amazing rescue dogs
• Strong health, dental, and vision benefits
• PTO that increases every year
• Snacks, drinks, and monthly team lunches
• Hourly rate of $19.50 - $21.50 based on experience

+ Director of Development

Summary

The Director of Development is a senior leader responsible for designing and driving Wags & Walks’ overall fundraising strategy to ensure sustainable, mission-advancing revenue growth across all locations. This role leads individual giving, major donor development, foundation and grant strategy, and corporate sponsorships, while building and managing a high-performing development team.

The Director of Development owns the annual revenue plan and works collaboratively with the Founder, Executive Director, Head of Partnerships, and Head of Marketing to cultivate meaningful donor experiences that fuel lifesaving rescue work. This leader will steward existing relationships, expand our donor base, and build the infrastructure needed to support a rapidly growing organization. This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic, relationship-driven fundraiser who is passionate about rescue dogs and energized by building something impactful during a critical growth phase.

Candidates should thrive in a fast-paced environment, bring fresh ideas, and feel confident leading both strategy and people.

Candidates are asked to submit a cover letter describing why they are inspired by this role and our mission.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Revenue Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy that achieves annual revenue goals across individual, major, corporate, and foundation giving
• Build and manage the annual development plan and revenue forecast
• Identify new revenue streams and opportunities for long-term sustainability
• Serve as a senior voice in organizational planning and strategic decision making

Major Donor & Individual Giving

• Maintain and grow a portfolio of mid- to major-level donors, cultivating long-term, values-aligned relationships
• Identify, qualify, and steward new major donor prospects
• Create thoughtful cultivation and stewardship plans, ensuring personalized engagement and impact reporting

Legacy and Foundation Giving

• Define the roadmap for the organization’s first formal legacy giving program and roll out the program within the first six months of hire
• Build out a strategy for growth around increased foundation outreach and stewardship and oversee the execution of the program

Development Operations & CRM Management

• Learn & understand the adoption of a new CRM platform
• Develop processes for donor pipelines, touchpoints, and reporting across all departments
• Use data to drive strategy, track progress, and improve donor retention and acquisition

Campaigns, Events Corporate Giving

• Partner closely with Marketing and Events teams to plan, promote, and evaluate fundraising campaigns
• Support cross-market fundraising efforts in Nashville, LA, and New York

Grants & Monthly Giving

• Expand foundation and grant submissions in partnership with leadership
• Grow Pup Club (monthly giving program) through targeted recruitment and stewardship strategies

Team Leadership & Culture

• Recruit, train, manage, and inspire development staff and key volunteers
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, mission-driven development culture
• Communicate fundraising goals and equip staff and volunteers to support development efforts

Reporting & Budget Management

• Oversee the development budget and revenue tracking
• Provide monthly reporting, insights, and recommendations to leadership
• Ensure financial categorization and fundraising data are accurate and up to date

Success In This Role Looks Like:

• Year-over-year revenue growth
• Increased major donor engagement and retention
• Growth in monthly giving membership
• Successful CRM adoption and improved fundraising efficiency
• Clear stewardship and donor experience touchpoints
• A motivated and cohesive development team
• Strong cross-department collaboration

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred
• 5+ years nonprofit fundraising experience
• 3+ years development leadership/management experience
• Proven track record cultivating major donor relationships
• Experience with CRM systems (Salesforce, Kindful, etc.)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work evenings/weekends for events as needed
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and fundraising software

QUALITIES & COMPENSATION

• Must be a dog lover!
• Strategic thinker with strong execution ability
• Inspiring and supportive team leader
• Exceptional relationship builder and communicator ● Proactive, resourceful, and solutions-oriented
• Highly organized and detail-driven
• Data-informed decision maker
• Positive, collaborative, and mission-focused
• Thrives in a fast-paced and evolving environment
• Exceptional donor stewardship and customer service mindset
• Annual salary between $90,000 - $110,000 based on experience

+ Individual Giving Lead

SUMMARY

The Individual Giving Lead is joining Wags at a crucial period as it transitions into a new CRM and looks for the right person to execute strategic initiatives while also maintaining and building lasting relationships in their own donor portfolio. This role will work closely with the VP of Strategic Development and the Executive Directors in both Los Angeles and Nashville. The organization seeks a self-starter that’s comfortable ultimately being responsible for developing touch points and asks for different supporter types. To execute the touch points effectively, the role will need to align with the cadence and messaging already in place as they collaborate to grow the organization’s connectivity to the community.

The Individual Giving Lead has a solid foundation to work from as the organization is fortunate to have dedicated teams in all locations building meaningful relationships with their volunteer, adopter, and foster networks.

Success in this role is contingent upon one’s ability to connect with stakeholders at all levels while always thinking about creative ways to build long term relationships. The ideal candidate is passionate about rescue dogs and can find joy in the direct impact their fundraising efforts have on the organization’s growth.This is truly a unique opportunity for someone who aligns with the organization’s mission and has fundraising and/or sales experience, including process building, to get in at a time when they can make a meaningful difference.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Joins the team prepared to hit the ground running to form new individual donor relationships. Understands that while the organization has built an amazing base, there’s no playbook and it’s on this individual to constantly be taking initiative.

• Works with the VP of Strategic Development and Executive Directors to identify a portfolio, along with KPIs, that consists of 150 existing Los Angeles based donors.

• Works with the VP of Strategic Development and Executive Directors to identify goals around adding an additional 50 new donors to the portfolio.

• Hits quarterly revenue goals for the two portfolio segments highlighted above.

• While the donors are Los Angeles based, this role will check in with the Nashville Executive Director regularly to share strategies that can be replicated in Nashville while also getting organizational guidance.

• Goes on a deep dive of all the organization’s external touch points and maps them out as they build internal relationships with relevant department leads.

• Jumps into learning the organization’s new CRM platform (Virtuous) with the goal of becoming the organization’s “power user” within 45 days of starting.

• Builds out a roadmap for maximizing Virtuous within the first 90 days of starting. *This may adjust based on the team member’s start date and what the organization has built out before hire.

• Maximizing Virtuous to its full potential includes collaborating with the relevant teams to build out touch points such as:

• Seamless relationship building with foster, adopter, and volunteer applicants with a strong giving history

• Supporting the Adoptions team on an automated post adoption flow build out

• Understanding individual giving impact as it relates to email campaigns through Virtuous

• Serves as the project manager for the organization’s large annual auction. This includes cold outreach to procure items, working with interested volunteers and organizing the efforts of the Development Coordinators on the logistics involved with uploading and redemption.

• Works with the VP of Strategic Development and the Executive Director to set campaign specific goals. Main campaigns include: Giving Tuesday, Gala, Neighborhood Social.

• Attends relevant on / off site events to support the development team and build relationships. Ensuring that deliverables are meeting donor expectations is crucial.

• At least three on site weekend days per month are required to help to develop relationships with new adopters.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have a college degree
• Must have a proven track record of building relationships that lead directly to donations.
• Must have experience in a fast paced environment.
• 2-5+ years of fundraising / individual giving experience
• Experience planning and working with donors into a large scale event is preferred
• Non-profit experience is preferred but not required.
• Startup experience preferred but not required.
• Comfortable with a consistent commute to West LA 4 days a week (1 remote day available after training period). At least 3 weekend on site days per month.
• Flexible schedule that allows for support as needed (while also finding time to disconnect and enjoy time with your pup!)
• Limited travel to Nashville / New York once or twice a year

QUALITIES

• Must be a dog lover!
• Comfortable talking to anyone in an appropriate and goal oriented manner
• A knack for reading the room
• Not afraid of the ask
• Comfortable building the tools that can help execute the game plan while also executing the game plan
• Problem solver and quick thinker
• Excellent communication skills
• Analytical and results driven
• A team player who works well with others
• Friendly demeanor and positive attitude
• Enjoys working in a fast paced and dynamic environment
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Is very detail oriented
• Is very proactive and a self-starter

BENEFITS

• Join a passionate team in a rewarding field

• Plenty of quality time with amazing rescue dogs

• Strong health, dental, and vision benefits

• PTO that increases every year

• Snacks, drinks, and monthly team lunches

• Compensation for this role starts between $70,000 - $75,000 per year

+ Vet Technician & Coordinator

SUMMARY

The Veterinary Technician & Coordinator will be a key member of our medical team and have a unique opportunity to make a major impact on a growing department. This role will be responsible for supporting the execution of routine medical care and monitoring the health and welfare of Wags & Walks dogs both on-site at our adoption center and off-site in foster homes.

This role is 70% hands on care of our dogs and 30% coordination of external appointments / medical notation.

SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS

Full Time: Sunday - Thursday 11 am - 7 pm OR Tuesday - Saturday 11 am - 7 pm

**Preferred schedule of two non-consecutive days off can be accommodated as well

Duties & Responsibilities

● Supports with on site medical evaluations and preventative care.

● Helps to administer oral, topical, and injected medications to animals in our care.

● Helps ensure medical updates / intake paperwork are entered into W&W’s internal systems and communicated to appropriate teams in a timely manner.

● Schedules vaccinations, dental cleanings, tests, etc. with fosters.

● Helps schedule appointments and procedures with partner vets.

● Assures that the medical area is kept clean and presentable at all times.

● Helps monitor inventory of medications and supplies.

● Help to oversee and maintain the highest standards of animal care and welfare at all times in accordance with Wags & Walks policies.

● Embodies the core value of collaboration to help establish best practices and protocols for the expanding medical department.

● Perform regular wellness exams at the adoption center and help to care for dogs with medical needs in isolation.

● Potential to support a vet with off-site surgeries if experienced / interested.

Qualities

● Must be a dog lover and possess some knowledge of basic dog behavior and needs.

● Must be willing to get your hands dirty, be flexible and reliable.

● Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with a diverse group of employees and volunteers.

● Must have excellent customer service experience, proven attention to detail, good organizational and time management skills.

● Must be a team player and have a positive attitude. Personable, professional, upbeat and energetic.

● Must be comfortable working with ambiguity and assisting in moving W&W forward.

● Able to work independently and with minimal supervision; must also work well with a team.

Qualifications

● Veterinary Technician Certification and/or Licensure and/or 3+ years of hands on experience.

● Tech savvy and comfortable with evolving technology.

● Must be able to stand for the majority of the shift.

● Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs to help move kennel crates, dog food, and other supplies.

● Must have a current and valid California Driver’s License.

● Full Time must be comfortable working: Sunday - Thursday 10 am - 6:30 pm OR Wednesday - Sunday 10 am - 6:30 pm

Schedule requests for two non-consecutive days off can be accommodated as well

Part Time must be comfortable working Saturday and at least one other day Sunday - Wednesday

BENEFITS

● Opportunity to join a fantastic team at an incredibly rewarding rescue organization

● Connections to Wags and Walks network of partners

● Competitive pay with time off (full time only)

● Medial, dental, and vision benefits for you and eligible dependents (full time only)

● Holiday pay (full time only)

● Snacks and drinks on site

+ Animal Caretaker

SUMMARY

We're looking for hard working dog lovers that have experience in animal welfare. Wags and Walks has rescued 14,000+ dogs to date and it's the amazing hands on work from the Animal Care team that makes it possible. You'll work at our West LA location helping to care for the 20 - 30 dogs on site at any given time.

It's an exciting opportunity to be a part of a fast paced and hard working team in a rewarding environment. This is a great way for an interested candidate to get exposure to medical, adoptions, and other departments in a fast paced but rewarding setting.

SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS

Part Time: 3 days a week

Full Time: 4-5 days a week minimum

Shifts start at 6 am and 2 pm.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Follows cleaning, feeding and watering protocols to maintain the health of all animals.

Ensures every dog in our care is walked every four hours at a minimum. Keep boards and kennel cards updated in real time.

Adheres to isolation and quarantine protocols when handling new or contagious animals.

Keeps the facility clean, safe, organized, sanitary, and presentable at all times.

Abides by intake protocols and procedures when processing new dogs.

Assists adoptions and foster staff with meet-and-greets, supply preparation, and pick-ups/drop-offs.

Trains and supervises volunteers to ensure safety procedures are followed. Informs volunteers of necessary tasks in a friendly, welcoming manner.

QUALITIES

Must be willing to get hands dirty, be flexible and reliable. There will be deep cleaning, scrubbing, and some messy kennel situations involved.

Must enjoy working independently but also collaborating.

Must have excellent customer service experience, proven attention to detail, good organizational and time management skills.

Must be a team player and have a positive attitude. Personable, professional, upbeat and energetic.

Ability to communicate skillfully and effectively with a diverse community in a professional, pleasant, respectful manner and use good judgement.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must be able to be on your feet for most of the shift.

Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs to help move kennel crates, dog food, and other supplies.

Must have customer facing experience

Must have a valid California Driver's License

1 year of professional experience working with dogs in a kennel environment required.

Shifts are 6 am - 2 pm and Noon - 8 pm. Weekend availability is a must.

BENEFITS

Opportunity to join a fantastic team at an incredibly rewarding rescue organization

Connections to Wags and Walks network of partners

Competitive pay with time off (full time only)

Medial, dental, and vision benefits for you and eligible dependents (full time only)

Holiday pay (full time only)

Snacks and drinks on site

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $17.50 - $18.00 per hour

Schedule: Expected hours: 37 per week 8 hour shift Weekends as needed

Experience: Professional experience working with dogs in a kennel environment (1 year) required.

Work Location: In person

+ General Application

Interested in joining the Wags and Walks team but not seeing the role that speaks to your skill set? Feel free to submit a general application, at the bottom of the page, as our team is always looking to connect with talented candidates that share our passion for rescue dogs.