Assistant Director of Animal Care
Assistant Director of Animal Care, WildCare
WildCare is currently in a very exciting phase of our 50+ year history! After nearly half a century of repurposing and repairing our aging building, we are building a brand new facility to further realize our mission as a world-class wildlife medicine teaching hospital, wildlife advocacy organization, and environmental education center.
The scope of this $24M construction project includes the demolition of most of our current structures, restoration of WildCare’s historic museum, and the construction of a new, three-story wildlife hospital, state-of-the-art patient aviaries and cages, and a completely upgraded new habitats and courtyard to host our educational Wildlife Ambassador animals and educational programs.
In order for the existing facility to be demolished and the new facility be built, we are currently operating out of a temporary transition location. This location is one exit north of WildCare proper, and hosts a fully functioning wildlife hospital, including all of the necessary aviaries and cages. Our projected grand re-opening of the newly renovated hospital is 2027.
In order to meet the demands of staffing our transition location, as well as meet our long-term strategic goals for when we are in our new facility, we have opened multiple new Hospital staff positions! Our immediate goal is to hire and train our new staff members this January/February, to be ready for this spring’s baby season, with the longer term goal of having already created a solid, cohesive team to usher us into the new hospital once construction is complete.
With this project and timeline in mind, our ideal candidate is someone who can commit to a minimum 5 year term, but ideally stay with us for 10 years or even longer! WildCare invests heavily in the wellbeing of our staff, paying 100% of health benefits, and also provides competitive dental, vision and a 3% matching 401k retirement plan for full-time employees. Our generous vacation and sick time accrual, and 15 paid holidays per year is unmatched.
POSITION SUMMARY
This is not a seated desk position. The Assistant Director of Animal Care (ADAC) reports directly to the Director of Animal Care (DAC) and is responsible for overseeing and orchestrating numerous aspects related to running the Wildlife Hospital, including, but not limited to; providing direct, hands-on animal care during and outside of regular hours, overall animal care and medical protocol development, implementation and enforcement . The extensive managerial portion of this position requires duties such as staff support and management, as well as budgeting, scheduling and procurement.
The Assistant Director of Animal Care 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, and the public, in order to build and maintain a respectful and professional culture within rehabilitation functions and throughout all of WildCare.
Knowing that WildCare is operating out of our temporary location, then moving into a brand new facility within the next 2-3 years, we are in search of a leader who has excellent operations, logistical and planning skills. The ideal candidate must also be a motivational team builder who can help plan for, and successfully guide and support our team through these transitions.
SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS
● This position works Tuesdays through Saturdays as their regular schedule, with Sundays and Mondays off
● Work patient care shifts in both the Clinic and the Songbird Hospital
● Work 40 hours a week on-site, delivering hands-on patient care during “baby season” (April 1- Sept 1), with one dedicated office shift per week during the winter months when possible
● Work a variety of shifts; 7am-3pm, 9am-5pm, 1pm-9pm, depending on time of year
● Work some holidays
● Cover employee shifts in emergency situations
● Be on rotation with co-workers to provide after-hours (5pm-9pm) phone advice for WildCare Foster Care Volunteers, Marin Humane Officers and WildCare Emergency Line Volunteers, and/or provide emergency stabilizing care for Marin Humane Officers with wildlife emergencies (either at home or meeting at WildCare).
● Hospital schedules are created a minimum one month in advance during the off season, and the entire 5-month baby season schedule (April 1- Sept 1) is created in March, so everyone has the ability to plan holidays, vacations, etc. well in advance.
ANIMAL CARE RESPONSIBILITIES
● Provide hands-on patient care for new and existing patients, while maintaining 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.
○ Duties include but are not limited to: orchestrating the flow of volunteers, mentoring and training volunteers/interns, daily feeding, medicating and cleaning of patients, providing necessary medical treatments, and ensuring that preparation for the following day’s operations are complete by the end of the day
● In collaboration with the Director of Animal Care, Staff Veterinarian and Senior Medical Staff, develop and execute diagnoses and treatment plans for wildlife accepted under WildCare’s permits. Alter and amend treatment plans as needed throughout the course of care.
● Help plan and organize selection of release sites and coordination of patient releases
● Foster Care Team responsibility: Manage Raptor Reunite Team, including recruitment, training, organizing, managing nestling/fledgling raptor intakes to coordinate re-nesting and nest monitoring.
● Euthanize animals when necessary according to WildCare policy and AVMA, CDFW and USFWS standards
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
● Supervise and support the Clinic and Songbird Hospital Managers. Oversee their supervision of the Wildlife Technicians and Assistants
● Supervise and support the Volunteer Manager to ensure proper management of the Hospital Volunteer Programs (adult and student)
● In partnership with the DAC, create and maintain the annual Hospital staffing schedules, incorporating approved time off requests
● In partnership with the DAC, create and monitor annual Hospital staffing budget
● In partnership with the DAC, assist with annual hiring and training of seasonal Hospital staff
● Maintain, order Hospital patient food supplies (Costco, local grocery, mice, etc.) ensuring that the Clinic and Songbird Hospital have the supplies needed for current patient load.
● Maintain and create relationships with other wildlife hospitals and relevant organizations in order to collaborate on patient care as well as best care practices
● Provide analytics, data, etc. as requested for grants, fundraising efforts, budgets, annual reports.
● Provide patient updates, stories and photos as appropriate, as requested by Communications Director
● Participate in donor events as requested by Development department
● Attend annual Hospital Volunteer orientation and teach training classes
● Attend the required minimum of 12 hours of CA Fish and Wildlife approved and annual continued education courses. Help identify continuing education opportunities and
support Hospital staff in meeting their annual requirements as well.
● Actively identify ways to help grow and improve WildCare’s patient care, protocols and procedures, and volunteer and staff experience
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE
● Minimum of 8 years in the wildlife rehabilitation field providing hands-on medical care of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and aves, with at least 4 years in a supervisory position
● Must have, or be able to obtain within 60 days of hire, a valid California driver’s license and auto insurance
● Demonstrated experience managing projects with multiple logistical considerations (such as a facility move)
● Demonstrated experience creating and implementing protocols
● Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator, Registered Veterinary Technician, degree in biology, zoology, or related field preferred but not required
● Excellent written and oral communication skills
● Due to nature of responsibilities with controlled substances, must pass state and federal background check and have no pertinent criminal history
● Must have up-to-date rabies prophylactic vaccine/titer
● Experience with, and a passion for, training, mentoring, teaching and creating basic and advanced skills classes
● Technologically literate with basic programs including Google and Microsoft Suites. Experience with Wildlife Rehabilitation Medical Database preferred.
● 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.
WILDLIFE REHABILITATION-SPECIFIC SKILL REQUIREMENTS
● Must have minimum 8 years experience, advanced skill level in the following areas:
○ Handling and restraint skills of the majority of the 200 species of California wildlife species (or equivalent) that WildCare treats annually
○ Monitoring anesthesia for avian, reptilian, and mammal wildlife patients
○ Diagnostic skills including running and interpreting fecals, cytology, bloodwork, radiographs
○ Performing different modalities of euthanasias
○ Calculating drug dosages, fluid replacement requirements, kCal needs, and compound medications
○ Administering medications PO, IV, IC, IM, and SQ
○ Splinting fractures and wound care
○ Interpreting advanced diagnostics and create appropriate medical and husbandry treatment plans
○ Knowledge of veterinary drugs (controlled and not), as well as most up to date pain management techniques and medications
REQUIRED SKILLS & CHARACTERISTICS
● Positive and collaborative team player
● Great organizational skills, ability to see the big picture, plan ahead and multitask
● Ability to prioritize multiple competing priorities
● Excels at working under pressure in emergency situations
● Attention to detail
● The ability to work alone, but the judgment to know to ask for assistance when necessary
● Strong conflict resolution skills
● The ideal candidate would reside in, or relocate to, Marin County, CA
COMPENSATION
● This position works Tuesdays through Saturdays as their regular schedule, with Sundays and Mondays off. 40 hours a week on-site, delivering hands-on patient care during “baby season” (April 1- Sept 1), with one dedicated office shift per week during the winter months when possible
● Salaried position, $71,000-$73,000 based on experience, plus the following benefits
● This is a full-time, exempt position including 100% health insurance coverage options, supplemental dental and vision insurance, a 3% matching 401k plan, generous vacation and sick time accrual, and 15 annual paid holidays
● There is a 6 month probationary period
● The position is open as of January 1, 2025 with review of applicants and interviews to begin immediately
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
Email resume and cover letter, including 2 professional reference contacts to: Melanie Piazza, Director of Animal Care
Melaniepiazza@discoverwildcare.org