Join Our Team

Job Title: Wildlife Assistant
Department: Wildlife Hospital
Supervisors: Assistant Director of Animal Care & Hospital Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

The Wildlife Assistant (WA) reports to the Assistant Director of Animal Care and the
Hospital Manager, and assists with animal treatment and volunteer management in both
the songbird and clinic branches of the hospital. The primary goal is to ensure the highest
quality and consistency of patient care through direct, hands-on care, supervision of
volunteers and interns in the clinic and birdroom and enforcement of existing protocols.

The WA must be able to work collaboratively with equal sensitivity to the care of the
animals and the needs and requirements of the volunteers and staff in order to build and
maintain a respectful and professional culture within rehabilitation functions and
throughout WildCare.

ANIMAL CARE RESPONSIBILITIES

It is understood that all of the responsibilities listed here are performed with the supervision of the staff Veterinarian, Director of Animal Care and Managers:

• Maintain smoothly operating shifts so that all of the tasks required to ensure excellent patient care and husbandry are completed by the end of each day for both songbird hospital and clinic animals.
• Duties include but are not limited to: orchestrating the flow of volunteers, daily feeding, and cleaning of all patients in your charge, administering medications, intake and physical exams of patients, maintaining adequate supplies and ensuring that preparation for the following day’s operations are complete by the end of the day.

• Must be able to calculate and administer medications and fluids.
• In collaboration with senior medical staff, develop and execute diagnoses and treatment plans for wildlife accepted under WildCare’s permits.
• Euthanize animals, with senior staff approval, according to WildCare policy and AVMA standards.
• Assist with selection of release sites and coordination of patient releases.
• Must have hands-on experience working with wild mammals, songbirds, waterfowl, raptors and ideally reptiles as well.

Willing to train the right candidate if they have less experience with some species than others but an overall competence in handling mammals and aves is required.

MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Managing each shift so that all daily tasks are completed as required.
• Training and managing volunteers and interns on your shift to ensure that protocols and procedures are being followed, and to enhance the volunteer and intern experience.
• Attend weekly staff meetings
• Work to maintain a collaborative, respectful and professional culture within the Hospital, across all of WildCare’s departments, and with our partner organizations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2 years (“baby seasons”) providing hands-on medical and husbandry care in a wildlife hospital setting.
• Due to the nature of responsibilities with controlled substances, must pass state and federal background check and have no pertinent criminal history.
• Ability to work flexible, constantly changing days and hours including varying nights, weekends and holidays.
• Computer literate, comfortable with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Outlook) and other basic programs.
• Must be able to lift/move 50 pounds, endure long workdays in a physically and emotionally demanding setting while maintaining focus, accuracy and physical activities required by the job.
• Must have reliable transportation, valid driver's license and vehicle insurance.

DESIRED SKILLS & CHARACTERISTICS

• Ability and desire to facilitate communication between all levels of hospital staff and volunteers by promoting a positive work environment and practicing professional conflict resolution skills
• Excellent team building and encouragement skills with people of all ages and diverse backgrounds
• Great organizational skills
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Ability to prioritize well and work well under pressure
• Experience teaching or mentoring, either in group or individual settings
• Ability to work independently with the willingness to follow directions and ask for assistance when needed

COMPENSATION

This position is a temporary, part-time seasonal position, roughly April 1- August 31, 2023.

Shifts worked are 10 hour shifts

$17.00 per hour

Hours available are 10-30 hours a week depending on candidate’s availability. Some weeks there is a possibility of up to 40 hours in the event emergency staff coverage is needed.

Flexibility to work opening shifts, closing shifts, weekend shifts, and holiday shifts.

No benefits other than sick pay earned

WildCare does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, national origin, political affiliation or mental or physical handicap.

TO APPLY

Send resume and cover letter, including 2 professional reference contacts (at least one of whom should be able to speak to your wildlife-specific medical experience) to:

Melanie Piazza, Director of Animal Care
melanie@discoverwildcare.org
Subject Line: Wildlife Assistant Application