Our seasonal staff rehabilitator role is perfect for someone who has a bit of wildlife rehabilitation experience already and is looking to continue developing their skills as both a rehabber and a leader. Our seasonal rehabber becomes a critical part of our "busy season" team and helps guide and mentor our interns and volunteers. This is a six-month, full-time position.  

Our ideal timeframe for our seasonal team member is from April 1st - October 1st, 2025.

Job Responsibilities and Duties:

Animal Care

• Provide excellent rehabilitative care to all animals at the Sanctuary.
• Perform daily cleaning and feeding of all animals housed at the Sanctuary, including our rehabilitation patients and our education ambassador animals. We have two indoor nurseries and over fifty outdoor enclosures, so we are quite busy during baby season!
• Monitor each animal’s health, attitude, weight, appetite, etc., and maintain written records of each animal’s progress.
• Assist with restraint, examination, diagnostic procedures and treatment of animals, as needed. 
• Admit new patients and complete associated records. Examine and initiate first aid to patients and new arrivals.
• Arrange transport of incoming animals to the Sanctuary and the transport of severely injured animals to the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness in our nurseries, kitchen, laundry room, and outdoor enclosures.
• Prepare specialized meals for a variety of species. 
• Assist with observations of patients to provide information for release considerations.
• Set a positive example of clear communication and a good attitude for interns, volunteers, and the general public.
• Be able to lead a shift independently without permanent staff supervision after a two week training period. 

Training/Education

• Train, supervise, and mentor rehabilitation interns and animal care volunteers.
• Answer the phone and respond to rehabilitation-related questions from the public.
• Assist in collecting photographs of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds for the website, Facebook, Instagram, newsletter, and presentations; abide by RWS social media policy. 
• Assist with outreach programs, as needed.

Office/Administrative

• Enter patients into WILD-One, our online patient database, and disposition patients from WILD-ONe as appropriate.
• Assist with data collection, as needed.
• Help with fundraising events, as needed.
• Other duties, responsibilities, and special projects, as requested.

What We’re Looking For:

• Time-efficiency. Our days are fast paced from sunrise to sunset. In order to feed, clean, and take care of all of our patients, it’s important that our rehabilitators move quickly without sacrificing thoroughness or their attention to detail.
• Accountability. Our seasonal rehabilitators will often be working long hours by themselves, so it’s important that they can work independently while maintaining our high standards for animal care.
• An appreciation for teamwork. Our team is small, with just four staff rehabilitators and three summer interns. While many of the day-to-day tasks are done individually, maintaining a good attitude and a commitment to a positive team dynamic is important at RWS.
• Enthusiasm! Our seasonal rehabilitators must be able to take on the more physically and emotionally challenging aspects of the job, whether it’s cleaning out and scrubbing enclosures in the hot sun, dealing with a stressful phone call from the public, or making the difficult decision to euthanize a patient. A good attitude can go a long way in achieving our mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing as many patients as we can.

Applicant Requirements:

• Applicants must be 18 years or older.
• Applicants must be up to date on the tetanus vaccination.
• Applicants must complete the rabies vaccination sequence prior to the start of the position. Funding is available for this important vaccination if your health insurance will not cover it.
• Applicants must be fully-vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Applicants must obtain a Category IV Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. This requires completing six hours of approved continuing education related to wildlife rehabilitation.
• As housing is not provided for this position, applicants must secure their own housing. There are often spring/summer sublet rooms available in surrounding cities due to high student turnover at universities.
• Applicants must have access to a car for transporting animals (and themselves) to the Sanctuary.
• Applicants should be able to lift 50 pounds and be enthusiastic about working long days in challenging outdoor conditions. Wildlife rehabilitation can be a dirty job!
• Applicants must be willing to work five days a week including weekends, with two consecutive days off (most likely Tues/Wed off). Shifts will primarily be from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, although opening shifts may be occasionally required as well. Those shifts are from 7 AM to 3 PM. Some overnight feedings of neonatal mammals may also be required, as permitted.
• Applicants should have prior wildlife rehabilitation experience.

Compensation:
$16/hour for 40 hours/week with overtime pay available at 1.5x/wage, from approximately April 1-October 1, 2025.