Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant

The International; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 27,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Wild Instincts is seeking a Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant to support the Director and Advanced Rehabilitators in emergencies, daily care, and hospital operations. You will coordinate rescues, plan diets, administer meds, and mentor interns and volunteers.

Spring and summer demand high patient loads; this is full-time, hourly with 1.5x overtime. Housing and experience influence annual compensation of roughly $26,500–$36,700.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in natural resources, biology sciences or animal-related major.
• At least one year of wildlife rehabilitation experience; two years preferred.
• Wisconsin Basic Wildlife Rehabilitator’s license within three months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct animal care including exams, medical procedures, handling, feeding, and assisting with euthanasia as directed.
• Maintain accurate patient records such as admission information, updating charts and case reports as directed.
• Assist supervising and training of interns and volunteers in all aspects of wildlife rehabilitation as directed.
• Assist in presenting educational programs and developing educational materials.
• Ongoing professional development and participation in safety protocols.

Skills

Wildlife rehabilitation experience

Team collaboration

Medical terminology knowledge

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in natural resources, biology sciences or animal-related major

Job description

Wild Instincts Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant

Start Date: Nov 1, flexible for the right candidate
Job Summary: Assists Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation and other Advanced Wildlife Rehabilitators in all phases/aspects of wildlife rehabilitation: emergencies, critical care, and daily husbandry of all hospital patients, coordinating rescues, treatment, diet plans, administering medications and fluids, assisting with the training and mentoring of interns and volunteers, education programs, help with facility up-keep, especially relating to wildlife rehabilitation and its functions. Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant (WRA) reports to Advanced Wildlife Rehabilitators, Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation. This is a full-time, hourly position and includes some holidays, weekends, evenings, events and on-call emergency hours. Spring and summer are particularly demanding seasons with large numbers of admissions and extended workloads during these periods. Hourly pay with 1.5x overtime. Compensation annually approx. $26,500 - $36,700 depending on patient load, housing and experience.

Essential Responsibilities/Duties

• Provide direct animal care such as exams, medical procedures, handling, feeding, and assisting with euthanasia as directed
• Provide indirect animal care such as cleaning/sanitizing enclosures and facilities, monitoring patients’ well-being as directed
• Maintain accurate patient records such as admission information, updating charts and case reports as directed
• Inventory activities such as restocking, monitoring supply levels and alerting supervisor when needed as directed
• Facility care such as enclosure construction &/or maintenance, snow removal, brush removal, other light maintenance as directed
• Assist supervising and training of interns and volunteers in all aspects of wildlife rehabilitation as directed
• Assist in ensuring interns/volunteers follow all safety protocol as directed
• Assist in ensuring interns/volunteers provide complete animal care as directed
• Assist in presenting educational programs
• Assist in developing educational programs
• Assist in fundraising and fundraising development efforts
• Assist in facility maintenance and monitoring as directed
• Ongoing Professional development such as attending conferences, classes, etc.
• Other tasks as assigned

Candidate Requirements

Possess a Bachelor’s Degree in natural resources, biology sciences or animal-related major
Have at least one year of experience in wildlife rehabilitation, two years preferred
Possess or obtain within three months of hire Wisconsin Basic Wildlife Rehabilitator’s license

Candidate Qualifications

• Thrive in a fast-paced and team-oriented environment.
• Experience capturing, handling, and restraining wildlife.
• Knowledge of rehab techniques, protocols, and medical records in a hospital setting.
• Understand or ability to learn basic medical terminology & math, animal physiology and anatomy.
• Effectively communicate information on an individual basis and group situations; strong interpersonal skills for interactions with employees, volunteers, and the public.
• Knowledge of or ability to learn natural history of a wide variety of Wisconsin native wildlife species (appropriate diets/nutrition, behaviors, habitats).
• Great time-management skills with the ability to plan, organize, and multitask.
• Self-motivated, confident and disciplined with excellent work ethic.
• Active interest in continued learning and self-study to evolve with changing rehab practices.
• Passion for wildlife rehabilitation and learning.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.