Specialist, Lifesaving & Care - Wild Friends

Best Friends•Kanab, UT

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Specialist, Lifesaving & Care works as part of a team to provide daily hands-on care and medical support to animals at the sanctuary. In Wild Friends, the role supports native wildlife in the rehabilitation clinic and education program, as well as adoptable exotic species. The position also works directly with the public to support volunteers, provide educational resources, and find adoptive homes. The specialist supports the department’s lifesaving objectives by carrying out the adoption process, providing customer service, serving as an ambassador for Best Friends and its no-kill goals, and helping visitors and volunteers engage with the sanctuary’s work. Animal care duties include routine husbandry, enrichment, training, and medical support, including care for animals with zoonotic diseases. The role also helps maintain clean and safe work areas, habitats, buildings, and grounds. The anticipated hiring rate is $22.50 per hour. The listed schedule is Thursday through Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; however, daily hours and days may vary with department needs, and the position includes weekends, nights, and holidays. Travel may be required, including overnight stays, and travel is up to 10%.

Requirements

Previous animal-handling experience is required.
Ability to work with, crate, and handle various species, including animals with health or behavioral concerns such as shyness, fearfulness, or aggression.
Basic ability to identify and discuss medical needs, behavioral characteristics, and individual requirements of different wildlife and domestic animal species.
Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues.
Ability to speak professionally about Best Friends’ activities and positions on issues.
Resourcefulness, problem-solving ability, flexibility, and willingness to adapt to new work areas or processes and persist toward department goals.
Strong interpersonal skills; positive attitude; ability to work as a team player and get along with people from different backgrounds.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, organize competing tasks and demands, and communicate clearly and accurately in writing and verbally; strong listening skills.
Basic experience with Microsoft Office products.
Ability to perform strenuous daily activity, including lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.
Ability to perform repetitive tasks for extended periods, including typing, sitting, walking, and arm and hand movements.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varied weather, including extreme heat and cold, and to have daily exposure to wildlife and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical conditions.
Valid driver’s license held for at least three years; ability to qualify to be added to Best Friends’ insurance and travel, including overnight stays, when needed.
Ability to work weekends, nights, and holidays; daily hours and days may vary according to department needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience handling or working with wildlife or non-domestic animals is strongly preferred.
Wildlife rehabilitation experience is a plus.
Experience interacting with the public in a customer-service setting is preferred.
Familiarity with an open adoption process.
Familiarity with shelter software such as Shelterluv, or desire to learn.

Responsibilities

Perform all aspects of the adoption process and provide superior customer service to visitors, volunteers, and adopters.
Represent Best Friends as a sanctuary ambassador and explain the sanctuary’s role in Best Friends’ no-kill goals.
Support a volunteers-first team by helping volunteers maximize their skills and contribute to lifesaving activities, and inspire visitors to continue the work in their communities.
Greet visitors, conduct tours, discuss animals and the work of Wild Friends and the sanctuary, answer questions, and assist visitors with their needs.
Provide routine animal care according to department guidelines, including preparing and distributing diets, cleaning enclosures, and creating and implementing enrichment and training plans.
Support animals with medical issues by administering medication and treatment, preparing special diets, observing and reporting changes, and helping maintain veterinary records.
Provide enrichment and exercise as directed by leadership; identify animal issues and share observations with team members and leaders.
Clean work areas and maintain buildings, habitats, and grounds; identify needed maintenance or repairs and report them according to protocol.
Model kindness, compassion, empathy, inclusion, and respect in interactions with others.
Maintain a safe workplace by following organizational safety practices and communicating unsafe practices or conditions.