Job Title: Wildlife Assistant II
Department: Hospital
Supervisors: Hospital Manager, Assistant Director of Animal Care
WILDCARE – ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION
WildCare is a 501c3 non-profit wildlife hospital and nature education center located in Marin County, California. Our Terwilliger Nature Education Programs reach more than 40,000 Bay Area children and adults every year, and our wildlife hospital treats nearly 4,000 ill, injured and orphaned wild patients each year. Our 24 hour Living With Wildlife Hotline answers thousands of calls to help people through wildlife emergencies, and our WildCare Solutions service provides professional and humane expert solutions to those experiencing “nuisance” wildlife issues. Our advocacy programs enact positive change for wildlife and the environment on many levels. All of our success is due to our dedicated donors, staff and support group of over 300 volunteers who have made these and other valuable wildlife and environmental programs possible for over 40 years!
POSITION SUMMARY
The Wildlife Assistant II (WAII) reports to the Hospital Manager and Assistant Director of Animal Care 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, management techniques, supervision and training of volunteers and interns in the Clinic and Songbird Hospital and enforcement of existing protocols.
The WAII 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, medicating and cleaning of all patients, intake and physical exams of patients, administering necessary medical treatments, 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 PO, SQ, IM, and IV medications.
● Calculate and administer calorie and fluid therapy.
● Perform and have a basic understanding of interpreting radiographs.
● Ability to splint and wrap basic types of fractures.
● Capture and restraint of most avian, mammal, and reptile species.
● In collaboration with senior medical staff, develop and execute diagnoses and treatment plans for wildlife accepted under WildCare’s permits.
● With senior staff approval, euthanize animals when necessary according to WildCare policy and AVMA standards.
● Assist with selection of release sites and coordination of patient releases.
● Must be cross-trained in and comfortable working in both Clinic and Songbird Hospital.
● Must attend a minimum of one annual continuing education training in the field of wildlife rehabilitation or related medical/animal care field and present learned information to staff.
● Help maintain positive relationships with other agencies and wildlife hospitals.
MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
● Help ensure the highest quality and consistency of patient care by enforcing the implementation of WildCare patient care protocols by all medical staff members and volunteers.
● Actively train and mentor Hospital Interns and Volunteers
● Assist in teaching training classes for hospital interns and volunteers
● Attend staff meetings and volunteer huddles
● Build and maintain a collaborative, respectful and professional culture within rehabilitation functions, and help build and maintain the same culture across WildCare
QUALIFICATIONS
● The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2 years (“baby seasons”) providing hands-on husbandry for wild mammal and avian species in a wildlife hospital setting as well as having completed a medical, hospital internship program
● Specific experience required: must be able to syringe feed all ages of nestling songbirds
● Ideally be proficient at tube feeding pigeons but not required
● Basic wildlife intake and stabilization skills
● Due to nature of responsibilities with controlled substances, must pass state and federal background check and have no pertinent criminal history
● Must have or be able/willing to get rabies prophylactic vaccine and titer check every 2 years
● Ability to work flexible, constantly changing days and hours including nights, weekends and holidays from March through September
● 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.
DESIRED SKILLS & CHARACTERISTICS
● An outgoing, positive personality is a must
● Excellent team building and encouragement skills
● Great organizational skills
● Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
● Ability to prioritize well, multitask and work well under pressure
● Experience managing, teaching or mentoring, either in a group or individual context
● Ability and willingness to follow directions and ask for clarification or assistance when needed
COMPENSATION
● Pay for this position starts at $17.00 an hour, but is BOE
● Hours available are approximately 20-30 hours a week (2-3 10 hour days), but also depends on the candidate's availability. This is a seasonal position, April 1st through September 1st, with the opportunity for some hours during the off-season months
● 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.