Clinic Hospital Manager
Clinic Hospital Manager, WildCare
ORGANIZATION UPDATE
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
WildCare’s Wildlife Hospital is divided into two sections, the Songbird Hospital, where we treat only songbird patients (including pigeons and baby corvids), and the Clinic, which treats all the rest of our avian patients (raptors, water and shorebirds, adult corvids), as well as mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
The Clinic Hospital Manager (CHM) reports directly to the Assistant Director of Animal Care (ADAC) and co-manages the hospital alongside the Songbird Hospital Manager. The Clinic Hospital Manager’s main responsibility is the clinic, whereas the Songbird Hospital Manager’s main responsibility is the birdroom. This is not a seated desk position.
The Clinic Hospital Manager is responsible for overseeing and orchestrating numerous aspects related to running the Clinic side of the Wildlife Hospital, including, but not limited to; providing direct, hands-on animal care during and outside of regular hours, as well as managing all aspects of daily shifts such as animal care, both medical and husbandry and personnel management such as Wildlife Technician and Assistant, volunteer, and/or intern training and guidance to ensure that all tasks are completed well and in a timely manner.
The Clinic Hospital Manager 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 manager who not only has the requisite wildlife skills, but also excellent organizational, planning, team building and leadership skills.
SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS
● This position works Tuesday through Saturdays as their regular schedule, with Sundays and Mondays off
● During baby season (April 1- September 1), work 40 hours a week on-site, delivering hands-on patient care in the Clinic
● During off season, will work 32-40 hours a week delivering hands-on patient care, with the requirement that at least one shift being in the Songbird Hospital, and the possibility of one shift per week office time, staffing dependent
● The CHM is required to be able to successfully work and manage all aspects of Songbird Hospital shifts by the end of their first year. The Songbird Hospital Manager is expected to do the same in the clinic.
● Work a variety of shifts; 7am-3pm, 9am-5pm, 8a-4p, 10a-6pm, 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: Squirrel Team:
○ Manage intake, stabilization and placement of all baby squirrels and chipmunks throughout their time in foster care until release
○ Manage Squirrel Foster Care Team Volunteers including recruitment, training, compliance
○ Manage squirrel patient spreadsheet, ensuring tracking of and delivery of proper feeding and housing progression, routine deworming and medical care
○ Arrange and manage squirrel reunite, training Assistant Is and volunteers
○ Manage squirrel release plans, volunteers, locations, scout locations
○ Manage after-hours intake and care of baby squirrels
● Euthanize animals when necessary according to WildCare policy and AVMA, CDFW and USFWS standards
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
● Co-supervise (with Songbird Hospital Manager) and support the Wildlife Technicians and Assistants
○ Training and mentoring
○ Quarterly one-on-one check-ins
○ Annual reviews
○ Addressing any issues that arise in partnership with the ADAC
● Co-Supervise (with Songbird Hospital manager and Volunteer Manager) the Youth Volunteer Program, including orientation and day to day monitoring of participants to facilitate growth
● Maintain the Wildlife Rehabilitation Medical Database, including regular review of patient records, providing data as requested by Development and Communications departments, and creating required state and federal annual reports
● Managing food supply needs for clinic patients on days that ADAC is not in
● 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 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 5 years in the wildlife rehabilitation field providing hands-on medical care of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and aves, with at least 2 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
● 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 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 5 years experience, with competent 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
○ 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 basic 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
○ Preferred but not required, experience monitoring anesthesia for avian, reptilian, and mammal wildlife patients
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 Sundays through Thursdays as their regular schedule, with Fridays and Saturdays 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, $68,460/yr, 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