Animal Care Internship

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center • Girdwood, AK

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Animal Care Intern assists the year-round Animal Care team with husbandry tasks and supports the year-round Education team by facilitating animal encounters and daily programs as needed. The internship is intended for college students interested in working with wildlife and entry-level animal care professionals seeking additional experience. Interns work the days and hours assigned by the Animal Curator, up to 40 hours across five days per week, with a maximum of eight hours per day. The internship lasts up to 20 weeks, with a minimum available duration of 16 weeks for the right candidate.

The role involves working around animals in human care, interacting with the public, and performing outdoor and physically demanding work in changing and sometimes extreme weather. The position may require a highly variable schedule, including weekends, early mornings, and nights. Seasonal team-member housing is available on-site for a refundable deposit. Housing is dormitory style, with shared bedrooms and shared bathrooms, kitchen, living room, and laundry facilities; Wi-Fi is provided. Employees receive free admission to AWCC for friends and family and a discount at the Be Wild Gift Shop. Uniform requirements include items such as a jacket, rain jacket, mid-layer, and shirts; additional outdoor and off-duty clothing is the employee’s responsibility.

Requirements

• Ability to work in a team environment to help achieve AWCC’s goals and objectives.
• Professional, positive, and respectful attitude and a strong work ethic.
• Attention to detail and time-management skills.
• Ability to compromise, listen, learn, understand, and follow instructions.
• Comfort working around animals in human care.
• Ability to work outdoors in drastically changing weather, including extreme wind, temperatures, pouring rain, and winter conditions.
• Ability to work long hours on your feet and walk long distances over uneven terrain.
• Ability to perform physically demanding tasks, including cleaning and moving up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to work directly with the public and diverse audiences, providing information and assistance as needed.
• Ability to work a highly variable schedule as needed, including all weekends, early mornings, and nights.
• Current driver’s license.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.
• Must have received or be willing to receive a tetanus vaccination by the date of hire; proof of vaccination is required.
• Must be able to live courteously with other team members if using on-site housing.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred internship duration is 16–20 weeks, starting in May and ending in mid-September.
• Some college or graduate coursework in a related field, such as Education, Interpretation, Wildlife Biology, Environmental Studies, Natural Resources, Zoological Sciences, Ecology, or Animal Science.
• Application explains how the internship would be a career-building opportunity.
• Application demonstrates knowledge of AWCC programs.
• Experience with Alaska’s wildlife and environment.
• Rabies vaccination may lead to more animal care opportunities, depending on the animals in care during the internship.
• Fluency in multiple languages.
• First Aid and CPR certification.
• Eligible to earn academic credit through the University of Alaska system and several other universities; applicants interested in credit should inquire in their application packet.

Responsibilities

• Assist keepers with animal husbandry tasks, including diet preparation, browse collection, habitat cleaning, feeding, watering, enrichment, and dishwashing.
• Facilitate animal encounters with porcupines, Sitka black-tailed deer, reindeer, moose, and bears.
• Provide frontline interpretation, support positive guest interactions, and manage guest behavior and needs.
• Lead daily programs, talks, and tours with the Education team as needed.
• Assist with orphaned animal care as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• On-site dormitory-style housing is available for seasonal team members with a refundable deposit; Wi-Fi is provided.
• Free admission to AWCC for friends and family.
• Discount at the Be Wild Gift Shop.
• Occasional access to an AWCC vehicle for group grocery and supply runs may be available to on-site staff with a valid driver’s license and safe driving record.
• Eligible to earn academic credit through the University of Alaska system and several other universities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed