Rehabilitator
The Raptor Center - University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine is seeking a Rehabilitator to join the team. This position is responsible for overseeing the rehabilitative care of wild raptor patients admitted to The Raptor Center (TRC)’s veterinary hospital. The rehabilitator oversees the day-to-day care of the patients that have completed medical treatment and have entered the rehabilitation phase of care. The rehabilitator leads the daily care, management, flight reconditioning and pre-release preparations for each bird, ensuring a high standard of patient care is maintained for all individuals. The rehabilitator is also the lead for the care, management, renesting, and fostering of all juvenile raptors admitted during baby season.
Ability to work well with a team and strong communication skills are an important component of the position. The rehabilitator will routinely work with and train volunteers to complete patient care tasks, and will regularly interact with the general public, where clear communication and the ability to navigate challenging conversations is important. This position also involves interaction with and training of student employees. The rehabilitator is expected to contribute to the strong teaching and outreach mission of TRC by sharing our captive management, rehabilitation and reconditioning techniques via multiple venues, including onsite training of peer professionals, online professional courses, professional conferences, and public-facing media. This position will require flexibility in working hours as needed to cover patient care needs during periods of high caseload and holidays.
Responsibilities vary seasonally and will include:
60% - Patient care and clinic support work
Oversee and coordinate the rehabilitative care of all raptor patients that have completed medical care
Oversee and coordinate the care of all juvenile raptors during baby season
Assist with daily patient care needs, which may include supporting the veterinarians and veterinary technicians
Support day-to-day clinic operations by completing miscellaneous tasks as needed
20% - Volunteer training and engagement
Train, direct and supervise volunteers in the various aspects of rehabilitation such as reconditioning and renesting
Work with the clinic manager to develop and/or update the volunteer training program
Work with the clinic manager and clinic staff to provide volunteer engagement, such as patient updates and continuing education opportunities
15% - Teaching and outreach
Manage and contribute to the development and implementation of TRC’s clinical training offerings (online courses, in-person training, conference presentations, in-house protocols, volunteer training, etc.)
Represent TRC in a professional manner consistent with TRC clinic’s identified mission and goals
5% - Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
All required qualifications must be documented on application materials
Required Qualifications:
BA/BS degree or a combination of related education (ie CVT) and work experience to equal at least 4 years
At least 2 years of professional experience working in the wildlife rehabilitation field
Strong oral and written communication skills
Strong observational skills
Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively with others
Comfort in speaking in front of audiences
Physical abilities: must be able to regularly lift and move awkward objects up to 35 pounds, walk ¼ mile, stand for prolonged periods of time
Basic competency in the Microsoft suite: Word, Excel, Gmail, PowerPoint
Preferred Qualifications
Basic raptor knowledge
Experience working with raptors in a rehabilitation setting
B.S degree in animal-related field, biology, wildlife ecology/conservation
Experience working with volunteers
Experience teaching and working with students
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities/Selection Criteria
Ability to project a positive attitude towards co-workers, supervisor, volunteers, and the public
Ability to provide excellent customer service – in person, online and on the telephone
Ability to use time efficiently and take initiative to respond to departmental needs
Ability to communicate (speak, listen, write, and respond)
Ability to work as a team member
Pay and Benefits
Pay Range: $24.28 - $24.52; depending on education/qualifications/experience
Time Appointment: 75%-100% Appointment
Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff
Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.
The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
University HSA contributions
Disability and employer-paid life insurance
Employee wellbeing program
Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
Financial counseling services
Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area
How To Apply
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.
Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.