Wildlife Operations Intern (Summer 2027)
About The Position
Build hands-on expertise in wildlife care, animal training, guest education, and conservation at Nemacolin. As a Wildlife Operations Intern, you will work alongside experienced wildlife coordinators while gaining practical experience caring for an extraordinary collection of animals and creating meaningful guest connections with wildlife. This paid, 12-week internship offers exposure to animal care, enrichment, habitat management, guest programming, and wildlife operations while giving you the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects and explore a future in animal science, wildlife management, zoology, conservation, or related fields.
Requirements
- High school diploma required
- Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a bachelor’s degree program in wildlife, animal science, or a related discipline
- Fluency in English required
- Ability to work varied hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, based on animal and resort operations
- Ability to adhere to established appearance standards
- Commitment to completing a consecutive 12-week internship
- Genuine respect for animals and curiosity about their behavior, welfare, habitats, and individual needs
- Strong work ethic, dependability, and attention to detail, with an understanding that quality animal care requires consistency and physical effort
- A professional, approachable presence and the ability to translate your knowledge into engaging conversations with guests
- Adaptability and composure in an environment where animal needs, guest requests, weather, and operational priorities can change quickly
- A collaborative mindset and willingness to learn from experienced professionals while contributing ideas and taking ownership of your development
- Sound judgment and a commitment to established care, safety, appearance, and service standards
- Pride in representing a luxury hospitality environment through professionalism, personal presentation, and thoughtful guest service
Nice To Haves
- Previous animal care experience preferred
Responsibilities
- Exceptional animal care through daily feeding, specialized diet preparation, enrichment, training, observation, and basic medical support
- Meaningful guest connections through Animal Ambassador Encounters, Guided Wildlife Tours, trail rides, pony rides, and engaging education about animals, habitats, and conservation
- Healthy, well-maintained habitats through enclosure cleaning, barn and facility upkeep, animal organization, and hands-on care such as clipping and bathing
- Continuity of care through accurate animal records and consistent adherence to established care practices and protocols
- Safe, seamless wildlife operations through tour and trail-ride scheduling, transportation support, and attentive assistance with horse mounting and dismounting
- A practical contribution to animal care or enrichment through an experiential project involving research, written work, and the development of a training plan, enrichment item, or habitat improvement
- A broader understanding of professional wildlife operations through training workshops, departmental initiatives, and exposure to the many disciplines behind animal care and guest experiences
Benefits
- Paid, 12-week internship
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
High school or GED
