Director of the VINS Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation

REPORTS TO: Senior Director of Operations and Exhibits
UPDATED: January 2026
Responsibilities
The Director oversees all operations of the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation (CWBR). This member of the VINS Leadership Team is responsible for the overall health and well-being of all birds that are brought to VINS, as well as ambassador animals that reside at the Nature Center. The Director hires and manages CWBR staff, leads clear communications across the department, maintains all permits and submits necessary reporting. Other responsibilities include:
● Take responsibility for decision-making about the care and release of wild birds;
● Collaborate with other rehabilitation staff on husbandry, treatment and release decisions for patients;
● Ensure the coordination of all CWBR volunteers;
● Participate actively in the creation and management of the annual budget for CWBR;
● Ensure the provision of all needed supplies for CWBR;
● Supervise any projects related to CWBR, including renovations;
● Collaborate with the Director of Marketing on data sharing and story-telling; and
● Make occasional reports to the staff leadership team and Board of Trustees regarding CWBR.
Experience and Skills
The Director of CWBR has a minimum of five years of experience working with wild avian patients including raptors, passerines, woodpeckers, doves and waterbirds. This leader is skilled in overseeing and administering proper medical care of all permanent resident and rehabilitation animals, including basic examination and triage of new patients, diagnostics including fecal tests, bloodwork and radiographs, determination and annual review of treatment protocols, administration of treatments and medications, and determination of proper care timelines and transitions. The following skills are also very important:
● Organizational skills that assist in the design and management of staff workflow, the keeping of daily medical charts and other detailed records, and the efficient facilitation of many birds through the rehabilitation process from intake to release.
● Communication skills that assist in the presentation of topics to the public, teamwork among the staff and volunteers, partnerships with veterinarians and other experts in the field, and collaborations with staff outside of CWBR to tell the story of patients.
● High, ethical standards of care for the treatment of birds and the cleanliness of the facility.
● Familiarity with species and taxa-specific husbandry, injuries and illnesses of a wide range of northeastern birds, and ability to research or collaborate with other rehabilitators when dealing with new or unusual species.
● Commitment to staying up to date on current best practices for avian rehabilitation, and to continued learning and growth for themselves and CWBR staff.
● Humor and empathy to support staff through the successes and challenges of rehabilitation.
● Humility and wisdom to assist in determining when to ask for support and further expertise.
The Director of CWBR is a leading voice in the care of birds not only at the Nature Center, but throughout the community. Though focused in the Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation, the Director’s leadership will directly impact all staff at the Nature Center. Together the Director of CWBR and other members of the leadership team will continue to hone and expand the fulfillment of the VINS mission: to motivate people to care for the natural world.
Start date and compensation
The Director of CWBR will begin work in the spring or summer of 2026, allowing time for orientation and overlap with Bren Lundborg, the outgoing Director. Starting salary is available upon request. Benefits included.