Seasonal Raptor Rehabilitation Technician

Job Summary:
World Bird Sanctuary is looking for a seasonal rehabilitation technician to assist with patient load during our busiest time of year. This position is guaranteed to be at least 12 weeks in length and can start as early as April 1st. The position has the potential to extend past the 12 weeks or become a permanent position. This is a full-time position consisting of four 10-hour work days/week. Salary is $600/week and includes on-site housing.

Rehabilitation technicians are responsible for all aspects of daily patient care and operation of the rehabilitation hospital. They report directly to both the Rehabilitation Director and Staff Veterinarian. Duties include handling, feeding, medicating, assessing, and treating the injuries of wild raptors that are admitted to our rehabilitation hospital. Rehabilitation technicians are also responsible for training volunteers and interns, assisting with surgeries, facility and enclosure cleaning, lab work, rescues & releases, and any other duties that pertain to the care of injured raptors and maintenance of the related facilities. Rehabilitation technicians are also expected to assist with the medical care of ambassador animals for both annual exams and for any health issues that arise.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
Oversee daily hospital treatments, prioritize tasks, and ensure that daily tasks get done in a timely manner.
Catch and restrain patients for care
Perform daily husbandry tasks such as food prep, cage cleaning, and facility cleaning.
Prepare and administer medications, fluids, and tube feedings.
Provide medical treatments such as bandage changes, wound cleaning, and physical therapy for both wild patients and collection animals.
Monitor patients for any potential health problems and report them to the Staff Veterinarian.
Assess patients’ progress to determine when they are ready to move to the next stage of rehabilitation.
Perform intake exams on new patients and triage them.
Collect samples and perform lab diagnostics such as fecals, basic blood work, CBCs, and chemistries.
Assist staff vet with surgeries and anesthesia.
Perform radiographs and read radiographic images.
Enter patient data into computer records. Make detailed records of all patient care.
Perform maintenance on outdoor enclosures and perches.
Coordinate rescue attempts of potential new patients with the finders and rescue group.
Assess patient readiness for release and coordinate releases with banders, finders, and transporters.
Direct, train and supervise volunteers and interns on a variety of tasks.
Assist with the medical care of WBS’s 200+ permanent resident animals
Communicate effectively with fellow technicians, rehabilitation director, and staff veterinarian regarding patient health problems, resident animal concerns, daily operations, supplies needed, etc.
Work on projects to improve patient care and hospital operation
Other duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
6+ months experience in wildlife rehabilitation with at least some of it being in raptor rehabilitation(volunteer and intern experience is acceptable but must be equivalent to 6 months at full time)
Must be knowledgeable in appropriate methods of catching and restraining raptors and capable of both performing them and teaching them to others.
Must be familiar with avian anatomy and capable of examining and assessing injuries as well as coming up with a treatment plan for them.
Must be capable of calculating and administering IM, SQ, and PO meds, fluids, and tubing diets to birds of prey.
Experience with bandaging and wound cleaning techniques.
Must be comfortable working long hours on feet in a variety of weather conditions.
Must have good observation and communication skills.
Must work well with others and be comfortable training and supervising volunteers and interns.
Must possess a valid US driver's license and be comfortable driving a van on highways and city streets.
Must be self-motivated and disciplined to perform in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.

Preferred Qualifications:
Completed degree in veterinary or biological sciences or related field.
Familiarity with taking and reading radiographs.
Familiarity with basic lab diagnostics such as fecal floats, CBC, PCV, and TS.
Experience with running anesthesia equipment and assisting with surgeries
Experience performing gross necropsies.