Schedule: This is a full-time, year-round position that follows a non-traditional work week of Tuesday - Saturday, including frequent work required on evenings and weekends.
Compensation: Hourly, non-exempt position starting at $20-$23/hr, depending on experience, with 80 hours of paid time off, 5 days of sick time, and holiday pay.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) is seeking a Wildlife Education & Ambassador Curator to lead our animal ambassador program, focusing on health, care, and training. In this role, you'll develop a targeted curriculum highlighting Lake Tahoe's wildlife and environment for various age groups. Additionally, you'll coordinate a team of volunteers to handle and train live ambassadors for educational outreach expertly. Join us in inspiring a connection between the community and Lake Tahoe's unique ecosystem while contributing to vital wildlife conservation efforts. This position reports directly to the Wildlife Care Manager and collaborates closely with the Executive Director.

WHO WE ARE:

Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Inc. (LTWC) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization whose mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and release orphaned and injured wild birds and mammals. LTWC operates under permits issued by California Fish & Wildlife and the United States Department of the Interior Fish & Wildlife Service. Our 27-acre location includes multiple wildlife enclosures and a new multi-purpose administration and animal care hospital building.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Animal Training

• Provide day-to-day care for ambassador birds and mammals, including, but not limited to, cleaning, feeding, watering, medicating, observing, and record-keeping
• Oversee animal diets and adjust as necessary.
• Facilitate training and enrichment programs for all ambassador animals
• Collaborate with Wildlife Care Manager to create health evaluations for animal ambassadors
• Monitor animal health and well-being, and report suspected or observed animal illness or injury to appropriate staff
• Assist as needed with administering medications, providing treatment and restraining, including maintenance of beaks, talons/claws, and feathers
• Develop and evolve policies to ensure safety and security of ambassador animals
• Maintain and promote safety of staff, volunteers and guests

Education Program Delivery

• Provide outreach and education for a variety of audiences during tours, programs, and presentations both in-person and virtually
• Develop detailed educational program outlines and guidelines for both on-site and off-site guests, ensuring alignment with LTWC's permits and mission statement.
• Work with local school districts, partner organizations, and other educational providers to develop and deliver personalized educational programs
• Correspond with interested parties to develop and schedule educational programs
• Promote and maintain competitive pricing for programs
• Act as an ambassador and spokesperson for LTWC and its mission as directed by the Executive Director or other organizational leadership

Volunteer Coordination

• Oversee the training and development of volunteers and interns within the education and ambassador program
• Help create and maintain a Wildlife Education Intern Program & Policy Packet
• Supervise volunteers while on shift and provide constructive feedback on an ongoing basis
• Collaborate in developing Ambassador Volunteer Handbook & Guidelines

General Administration

• Maintain timely and professional correspondence with LTWC’s staff and volunteers, partners, and the public via phone, email, and in-person interactions
• Assist in creating and refunding invoices for educational programs and events
• Oversee record keeping and preparation of all applications, renewals, and annual reports for agencies related to permits for education

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Bachelor’s degree in animal science, animal husbandry, biology, zoology, fisheries & wildlife science, or a related area
• At least three years of experience handling and training birds of prey, mammals and reptiles
• Working knowledge of approved animal handling/training techniques, focusing on positive reinforcement/choice-based training.
• Proven commitment to veterinary standards for quality of life, including responsible euthanasia when necessary.
• Alignment with LTWC’s philosophy on animal husbandry and training, including position statements from IAATE and the ABMA.
• Experience with curriculum development
• Strong verbal and public speaking skills.
• Excellent time management skills, detail-oriented, professional, and dependable.
• Successful applicants will be required to pass a background check, including motor vehicle records.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

Must be able to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs

• Must be able to hold a 5-10 lb. bird on the glove for 30 minutes
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time

LTWC will make reasonable accommodations for known disabilities as required by applicable law.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Training and/or certification from the ABMA, IATCB, or a similar organization
• Familiarity or experience working in wildlife education and/or rehabilitation
• Bilingual
• Proficiency in Canva, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft PowerPoint.