Rescue and Response Associate

The Marine Mammal Center•Sausalito, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Rescue and Response Associate plays a vital role in supporting The Marine Mammal Center’s rescue and response operations for stranded marine mammals. Serving as the first point of contact for the public via the Center’s hotline, this position is responsible for receiving, assessing, and triaging reports of distressed marine mammals. The Associate provides immediate support and education to callers, evaluates each situation based on the animal’s condition, safety concerns, available volunteer resources, and public perception, and initiates appropriate response actions accordingly. This role involves remotely assembling volunteer teams, maintaining real-time communication and logistical oversight, and ensuring accurate and detailed documentation through data entry of each interaction. The Rescue and Response Associate collaborates closely with internal staff across departments to facilitate animal transport and releases throughout the California coastline.

Requirements

Any combination of education and experience equivalent may be enrolled in college or has an associate or bachelor’s degree in marine science or related field; and at least one year of experience in marine mammal rescue or rehabilitation, volunteer management, or another related field or equivalent experience.
Valid driver license with acceptable motor vehicle record to maintain standards of insurability.
Must be 21+ years old as frequently driving company vehicles is required for this position.
Passion for marine and environmental conservation and the mission of The Marine Mammal Center.
Skills coordinating complicated rescue logistics for marine mammals or other wildlife strongly preferred.
Ability to keep a sense of calmness and composure while handling fast-paced, high call volume involving stressful situations with sick and injured marine mammals while providing support to concerned members of the public.
Ability to learn skills navigating multiple complex decision-making scenarios involving numerous stakeholders and time-sensitive, life-or-death situations.
Ability to convey information effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions and priorities as set by management.
Ability to work collaboratively and maintain open communication in a team environment.
Ability to learn from change, challenges, and feedback.
Organizational skills or ability to learn attention to detail, multi-tasking, and time-management.
Data entry skills with attention to detail.
Skills or ability to learn using Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Word) and videoconference technology (Slack, Teams, Zoom), and custom computer applications unique to the Center.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, which may include staff, volunteers, training participants, and members of the public.
Ability to practice self-awareness and respect while engaging with staff, volunteers, training participants, and members of the public.
Willingness to support and participate in The Marine Mammal Center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Ability to work at a desk for extended periods using a computer.
Ability to work in an open-cubicle office space environment with many distractions.
Skills to or ability to learn to operate equipment safely and competently to carry out duties.
Ability to drive/operate a vehicle for extensive periods of time, this includes the ability to operate or learn to operate large trucks to assist with transporting animals between sites.
Ability to safely walk on beaches of varying terrain to assist with animal rescues in various locations across California.
Ability to walk up to 2 miles during a shift on a frequent basis.
Ability to spend extended periods on your feet, walking, standing, crouching, and climbing stairs (potentially in inclement weather conditions).
Ability to perform physical work which requires manual dexterity, agility, strength, and coordination, including the ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. (This includes the ability to restrain large marine mammals and walking on varying terrain while carrying large animal carriers, loading carriers and other rescue equipment into vehicles including large trucks.)

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of California marine mammal species preferred.
Bilingual abilities a plus (preference for Spanish speaking).

Responsibilities

Answer calls from the public, partner agencies, and others reporting distressed animals.
Gather detailed information from callers about species, location, and situation.
Enter data for stranded animal calls, responses, patients, and others into the Center’s custom-built animal database, remaining up to date on system best practices to ensure accurate use.
Collaborate with callers, team members, volunteers, veterinary team, and others to assess animals remotely and determine need for a rescue.
Transfer appropriate calls to the Center’s Field Offices in Castroville and Morro Bay as needed, and support Field Office teams with threatened species permit reporting and filed office response communications as needed.
Educate the public about the Center’s work and represent the organization positively.
Answer calls about volunteer opportunities, donations, and other general inquiries, and redirect as needed.
Provide support to volunteers, apprentices, and interns with answering the hotline and entering stranded data.
Responsible for safe and efficient management of stranded animal responses, including supporting response volunteers and personnel through stressful and sometimes dangerous environmental and wild animal rescue situations.
Remotely assemble teams of volunteers to complete stranded animal assessments, responses, and rescues.
Provide remote support to volunteers, assist in assessing the animal’s condition, determine whether a pickup is needed, and determine the best course of action in collaboration with volunteers.
Coordinate multiple responses across California simultaneously.
Support onsite volunteers with response equipment, vehicle needs, and other various in-person training and support as assigned.
Coordinate logistics with staff across field office locations to complete transport of animals across the response range to the main hospital in Sausalito.
Support coordination of health animal releases back to the wild after rehabilitation.
Participate in responses, release, or transports as assigned.
Assist with vehicle and equipment maintenance and maintain supplies as directed.
Perform special projects, programs, and research as assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned.