Wildlife Technician
Wildlife Technician, 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 2 year term, but ideally stay with us for 5 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
The Wildlife Technician (WT) reports to the Clinic Hospital Manager (CHM) and Songbird Hospital Manager (SHM) with animal treatment and volunteer management in both the songbird and clinic branches of the hospital.
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 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 WT 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, Assistant 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.
● Administer and monitor patients under anesthesia.
● Calculate and administer calorie and fluid therapy.
● Preform and have a solid understanding of interpreting radiographs
● Ability to splint and wrap various types of fractures
● Capture, handling and restraint of most avian, mammal, and reptile species
● Basic understanding of most veterinary drugs (controlled and not) and their uses
● 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
● Assist with foster care patients
● Must be cross-trained in and comfortable working in both Clinic and Songbird Hospital
● Must attend a minimum of 12 hours 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 3 years (“baby seasons”) providing hands-on husbandry for wild mammal and avian species in a wildlife hospital setting as well as having completed 3-6 months of a hospital internship program or similar work experience
● Must be able to competently syringe feed all ages of nestling songbirds
● Must be proficient at tube feeding various bird species
● 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
● Ability to work flexible, constantly changing days and hours including nights, weekends and holidays from April 1- September 1
● 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
● Ability to prioritize competing demands, multitask, and work well under pressure
● Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
● 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 ranges from $19-$21/hr., depending on experience
● Shifts/Hours:
o April 1 - Sept. 1 “Baby Season:” Eight hour shifts working both Fridays & Sundays, 16 hours a week guaranteed, with additional shifts available up to 40 hrs per week covering staff vacation/holidays.
o Sept. 2- March 31 “Winter Season:” guaranteed minimum one, 8 hours shift per week, with opportunity for additional shifts, up to 40 hours a week, covering vacations/holidays
● No benefits other than sick pay earned
● There is a 30 day probationary period
● The position is open to begin training as of February 1, 2025, with the official start of position April 1, 2025.
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