Wildlife Rehabilitator & Educator

Wildlife Rehabilitator & Educator

Schedule: This is an on-site, full-time, year-round position following a non-traditional work week of Wednesday through Sunday. Evening and weekend work is required, with evening shifts expected during the busy season.

Compensation: Hourly, non-exempt position starting at $20-$22/hr, depending on experience. The position includes 80 hours of paid time off (PTO), holidays pay, and 5 days of sick time annually.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) is seeking a Wildlife Rehabilitator & Educator. This hybrid position is designed to align with LTWC’s busiest operational periods, shifting focus throughout the year to best support education, ambassador animal care, and rehabilitation needs. From May through September, this role focuses primarily on leading youth education camps, delivering outreach and on-site programs, with continuing and training and handling LTWC’s animal ambassadors year-round. During this period, the position also provides assisted relief support to the Wildlife Rehabilitation team, including routine animal care, intake and humane euthanasia as needed during peak intake times. From October through April, the focus shifts toward education program development, curriculum planning, and ambassador training, while providing more consistent hands-on support to the Wildlife Rehabilitation department. This position reports to the Wildlife Care Manager and works closely with the Community Programs Coordinator to ensure seamless integration between education, ambassador animal care, and rehabilitation operations.

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, the United States Department of the Interior Fish & Wildlife Service and the United States Department of Agriculture. Our 27-acre location includes multiple wildlife enclosures and a new multi-purpose administration and animal care hospital building.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Animal Ambassador Care and Training

• Provide daily care for ambassador birds and mammals including feeding, cleaning, watering, medicating, observation, and record keeping
• Develop and implement training and enrichment programs using positive reinforcement and choice-based methods
• Monitor animal health and behavior and report concerns to appropriate staff
• Collaborate with the Wildlife Care Manager on health evaluations and long-term care plans
• Assist with administering medications, treatments, and safe restraint as needed
• Maintain ambassador diets and adjust as necessary
• Develop and uphold safety protocols for ambassador animals, staff, volunteers, and guests

Education Program Delivery

• Deliver engaging education programs for diverse audiences through tours, camps, presentations, and outreach
• Lead and coordinate youth education initiatives including seasonal camps
• Design age-appropriate curricula and program outlines aligned with LTWC’s mission and permits
• Collaborate with local school districts, partner organizations, and community groups to develop customized programs
• Support eco-tourism education initiatives such as nature walks, snowshoeing, kayaking, and hikes
• Assist with tabling events and community outreach as needed
• Assist with social media by creating educational posts and capturing photos of wildlife rehabilitation stages & ambassador animals

Wildlife Rehabilitation Support

• Assist with animal intake, care, feeding, enrichment, and medical treatments as needed
• Support the Wildlife Care Manager, Veterinarian, staff, interns, and volunteers with patient care
• Monitor animals for changes in condition and update records using WRMD
• Assist with releases and assess readiness for release under supervision
• Help maintain clean, safe, and sanitary animal care spaces
• Coordinate wildlife transportation as needed.
• Answer wildlife hotline calls and assist the public with wildlife concerns
• Assist with repairs and improvements to the center’s facilities, enclosures, and equipment.

Volunteer and Intern Coordination

• Train and support volunteers and interns within education, ambassador, and seasonal rehab roles
• Help develop and maintain education and ambassador volunteer handbooks and intern program materials
• Supervise volunteers on shift and provide ongoing feedback and mentorship

General Administration

• Maintain professional communication with staff, volunteers, partners, and the public
• Assist with invoicing and refunds for education programs
• Oversee record keeping and preparation of all applications, renewals, and annual reports for
• agencies related to permits for education
• Perform other tasks as needed to support the organization’s goals and mission.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in animal science, biology, zoology, or a related field
• At least three years of experience handling and training birds of prey, mammals, or reptiles
• At least one year of wildlife rehabilitation or similar experience
• Capable of humanely performing euthanasia and managing the emotional aspects
• Experience with curriculum development and public education
• Knowledge of positive reinforcement and choice-based animal training techniques
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking
• Ability to work collaboratively, manage time effectively, and adapt to changing priorities
• Willingness to obtain or maintain required certifications, including rabies vaccination and
• euthanasia certification
• Must be available for required weekend shifts and evenings
• Alignment with LTWC’s philosophy and policies on wildlife rehabilitation
• Required vaccinations: Covid-19 and tetanus
• Valid driver’s license, car insurance, and reliable transportation
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and timely performance

Physical Demands: 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:

• Walk and/or stand on your feet throughout a normal active workday.
• Engage in repetitive motions of legs, arms, and hands.
• Must be able to hold a 5-10 lb. bird on the glove for minimum 30 minutes
• Lift and move animals up to 50 pounds.
• Tolerate allergic conditions from working with animals.
• Sit at a desk for extended periods, twisting to reach equipment and operate office tools.
• Must be able to walk and lead ecotourism and educational programs on uneven terrain, including moderate hiking in outdoor environments and variable weather conditions.

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