Reports to:  Associate Veterinarian
Position Classification:  Full-time
Benefits:  Health, Dental, Vision, 401K, paid sick, vacation and PTO 
Salary:  $55,000 - $69,000 

ROLE DESCRIPTION:  
The Marine Mammal Responder will be part of a five-member (3 full-time and 2 part-time) response team whose primary mission is to respond to and rescue marine mammals in distress along the Los Angeles County coastline.  The Marine Mammal Care Center is a key partner in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) national marine mammal stranding network, authorized to respond to and care for pinnipeds, cetaceans, and sea turtles as provided under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.  

Tasks will include assessing animal health, wildlife capture and release, and engaging with the public and those who report marine mammals in distress. The Marine Mammal Responder will play a critical role in ensuring the health and safety of marine mammals in Los Angeles County and will gain experience working on one of the busiest stretches of the West Coast.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Respond promptly and effectively to calls for distressed wildlife 
• Assess the health of stranded marine mammals using MMCC guidelines and protocols 
• Work independently and in small teams to safely and humanely capture and handle wildlife 
• Safely transport animals to MMCC and assist the animal care team with unloading and intake 
• Coordinate assistance from lifeguards, first responders, and volunteers 
• Safely utilize specialized rescue and transportation equipment 
• Work comfortably on beaches, docks, boats, jetties, cliffs, urban areas, and other uncommon stranding locations 
• Operate a 4WD vehicle for long hours on highways, beaches, and uneven terrain 
• Collect key data to be stored in the national stranding database 
• Perform general vehicle, boat, and equipment maintenance 
• Communicate effectively amongst team members. 
• Contribute to regularly scheduled meetings focused on continuous improvement. 
• Participate in educational outreach, media, and fundraising opportunities 
• Represent MMCC at all times while working in a professional and positive manner 
• Assist with patient husbandry when needed 
• All other duties as assigned  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Experience handling or caring for wildlife 
• Experience managing stressful and dynamic environments that require problem-solving and creativity  
• Experience working and communicating with a diverse group of stakeholders, including members of the public, donors, lifeguards, law enforcement, and other government agency representatives 
• Have a strong passion for marine wildlife conservation 
• Situational awareness, observational skills, and attention to detail 
• Strong oral and written communication skills 
• Comfortable working on boats 
• Knowledge about and ability to identify marine wildlife 
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Four-year degree in biological, veterinary, animal husbandry, or related fields or equivalent experience 
• Field or lab work experience with marine mammals 
• Marine mammal or other large and dangerous animal capture and handling experience 
• Skill trailering and operating small boats 
• Skill operating a 4WD vehicle on uneven terrain 
• First aid or EMT training 
• General mechanical, electrical and carpentry skills 
• Training or familiarity working within an incident command system 

ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS  

• Mostly outdoors on potentially slippery, steep, and uneven surfaces while bending, stooping, squatting, lifting, and carrying animals in hot, wet, dry, and inclement weather  
• Wearing personal protective gear as required. 
• Physically demanding work involving large animals and heavy equipment. 
• Weekend, early morning, evening, and holiday work may be required with the busy season (February – July) hours being longer and unpredictable. 
• Fluctuating, seasonal demands with highly variable workloads and assignments. 
• Sick and injured animals are unpredictable; serious injury and exposure to zoonotic diseases are inherent risks. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to perform the essential functions of the role.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY 
The Marine Mammal Care Center actively engages individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to embracing diversity within our organization because we firmly believe that diverse employee teams help us achieve our best organizational outcomes and provide the most effective support to the communities we serve.