Wildlife Response and Preparedness Specialist

Bird Rescue; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 120,000; Part time

Job summary

A nonprofit organization specializing in animal rescue is hiring a Senior Specialist for Wildlife Response & Preparedness in California, Missouri. This part-time role may become full-time for the right candidate and involves crisis management and leadership in wildlife emergencies. Responsibilities include engaging with stakeholders, participating in preparedness activities, and responding to wildlife incidents. Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree and seven years of relevant experience. Competitive compensation is offered.

Qualifications

• Must have a valid driver’s licence.
• Prior experience with wildlife, emergency response, and/or oil spill response required.
• Demonstrates leadership through proactive participation in public events.
• Experience with wildlife, emergency response, or oil spill response.

Responsibilities

• Represent the organization to industry and clients.
• Participate in preparedness activities including training and drills.
• Maintain situational awareness of regional wildlife incidents.
• Maintain readiness for emergency responses on short notice.
• Advise on safety, PPE, and biosecurity during operations.

Skills

Crisis preparedness

Excellent communication skills

Leadership

Teamwork

Ability to manage stress

Independent working

Knowledge of wildlife regulations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology or related area

Minimum of seven years of relevant experience

Job description

Senior Specialist for Wildlife Response & Preparedness

Reports to: Senior Director of Response Services

Status: Part-time, non-exempt (Full-time considered for the right candidate)

International Bird Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that specializes in the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured, and contaminated aquatic birds. Our mission is to inspire people to act towards balance with the natural world by rescuing waterbirds in crisis. Between our two wildlife centers in San Pedro and Fairfield, CA, we treat approximately 3,000 patients per year.

About the Position

To support, represent, and increase the organization’s Response & Preparedness Services profile and capabilities, and provide on‑call support in the event of a wildlife emergency response. A successful candidate has the potential to grow this position into a regular employee role.

The Opportunity

• Account Management and Engagement:
• Represents International Bird Rescue to industry, trustees, current and future retainer holders and other potential clients by attending periodic meetings, exercises, conferences and other in‑person or virtual opportunities.
• Works closely with management staff to support identification of new business opportunities, within the oil industry sector as well as outside of it.
• Assists in identifying potential new responders.
• Exhibits a strong commitment to safety in all actions (including biosecurity and exposure control protocols during preparedness activities and emergency response, including required use of PPE).
• Exercise sound professional judgment in identifying safety risks, escalating concerns appropriately, and supporting safe work practices for staff, volunteers, and partners during response operations.
• Participate in preparedness activities including training, equipment readiness, drills, and protocol development to support effective response operations.
• Maintains readiness and makes every reasonable effort to be available for emergency responses on limited notice.
• Maintains the ability and willingness to perform core field response functions during wildlife emergencies, which may include search and rescue, hazing and deterrence, field stabilization, and initial medical stabilization and triage prior to arrival of additional response personnel.
• Regional Expertise:
• Maintains situational awareness of significant regional and global incidents relevant to wildlife response and preparedness and communicates relevant events to management.
• Attends local and regional regulatory and industry events, area committee meetings, and the like.
• Other tasks as needed in support of Response Services.

Qualifications

• Lead by example; Builds good rapport with team members and builds team morale
• Crisis preparedness: Ready to lead a small team during a spill as a Coordinator (or willing to learn over the course of the first six months)
• Able and willing to obtain HAZWOPER 24‑hr, TWIC card, and other requirements of global wildlife emergency response.
• Demonstrates leadership through proactive participation in public events, press visits, and the like, or during extended periods such as emergency responses
• Champions continuous development within their area of expertise. Anticipates emerging needs and introduces creative solutions that can be scaled. Actively builds team capacity for adaptive problem‑solving.
• Emerging leader who fosters trust and collaboration. Encourages colleagues’ growth through example and constructive feedback. Helps resolve conflicts with empathy and fairness, earning respect across the team.
• Anticipates obstacles to collaboration and works to prevent them. Encourages teamwork across departments by modeling supportive behaviour. Helps foster morale by addressing friction with respect and empathy.
• Must have a valid driver’s licence.
• Has (or is willing to attain) knowledge of applicable regulations in target areas and regions.
• Works well independently and in collaboration.
• Ability to manage a heavy workload within reasonably established time frames, including during emergency response situations.
• Works efficiently and calmly under stressful situations.
• Prior experience required with wildlife, emergency response, oil spill response, and/or working knowledge of the oil industry.
• Possesses excellent communication, marketing, and engagement skills. Maintains a professional demeanor at all times.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental policy, or related area.
• Minimum of seven years of experience in wildlife response, emergency response, oil spill response, and/or a closely related field.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• Available to work, as necessary, during crisis situations, i.e., oil spills, which may mean putting in long hours and overtime with short notice.
• Ability to stand, speak, and listen for long periods of time (hours).
• Ability to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and ability to use hands/arms to palpate, handle, feel, reach, and lift/move up to 40lbs.
• Must be able to palpate and auscultate during animal exams.
• Must be able to move about the centre for hours, ascend/descend stairs, transport equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds, and position oneself into tight spaces, low areas, or on the ground to perform facility maintenance and animal care/husbandry.
• Must be able to handle and restrain various sized avian species.
• Must have good near, distance, colour, and peripheral vision, as well as good depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Indoor and outdoor conditions include temperatures of ~30‑110 °F, rain, strong wind, high heat and humidity, dry air, and allergens.
• Employees are exposed to moving parts, zoonotic diseases, aggressive/feral animals, toxic/caustic chemicals, and radiography equipment.

This is a position in an animal care facility. While performing the duties of this position the employee will be exposed to odors, noise, and in the vicinity of a variety of wild birds and hazardous material (such as petroleum products during an oil spill). Employees may also be exposed to moving parts, radiography equipment, and there is a risk of potential exposure to zoonotic diseases.

Additional Provisions

In the event of an oil spill or wildlife emergency, this position may be required to work outside of standard business hours, including evenings,, and holidays to support response operations.

Location

This position is hybrid and can include on‑site at one of our wildlife centres (located in Fairfield and San Pedro, CA, and Anchorage, AK). This position will include travel to conferences, training, and exercises.

Compensation, Benefits, and Start Date

This position could be part‑time or full‑time and offers a competitive rate commensurate with experience, variable schedule, a collaborative work environment, and other benefits. The position is open immediately.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume to [e-mail]. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the high number of applicants, only candidates under consideration will be contacted.