What are the responsibilities and job description for the Animal Care and Enrichment Specialist position at W.O.L.F. Sanctuary?
Job Purpose
The position provides routine and specialized animal care, including enrichment.
Duties and Responsibilities
The primary job duties and responsibilities are:
Animal Care
- Assists with animal care related to diet, routine health, housing, level of human contact, and enrichment for each animal.
- Reports animal issues to the management, including behavioral changes.
- Provides input, as directed by management, and assists with maintaining animal care records, including incorporation of information provided by volunteers.
- Provides input, as requested by management, and assists with developing animal protocols and enrichment.
- Communicates animal protocols, enrichment, dietary, and other information to other staff, volunteers, and interns, as directed by management.
- Folllows habitat entry protocols for animals and ensures volunteers and interns follow them as well.
- Participates in the annual review of the evacuation protocol, as directed by management.
- Participates in evacuation drills with staff and volunteers on an annual basis, as directed by management.
- Participates in the review of staff and volunteer training materials, etc., as directed by management.
Other Duties
- Performs occasional additional duties as assigned by management on an as needed basis.
- Responds to emergency situations at the direction of the Executive Director and/or the Senior Director of Operations.
- Completes corrective/preventive actions identified in Incident Reports or by other means in a written format and submits to the Executive Director and/or the Senior Director of Operations for review and approval.
- Communicates consistently and regularly with management in the format specified, as requested.
- Demonstrates professional and respectful behavior associated with interactions with management, staff, volunteers, interns, Board members, donors, and visitors.
Qualifications
- Experience – Two (2) years' experience with animal husbandry.
- Preferred experience – Hands-on experience with animal husbandry and catch-up procedures for wolf dogs; experience and knowledge of unique housing and food needs of wolf dogs as well as companionship and enrichment needs.
- Specialized knowledge - Animal husbandry knowledge including expertise in diet, general health, enrichment, and management of animals in a captive environment.
- Skills – Advanced knowledge of canid behavior; strong computer skills.
- Abilities – Ability to provide leadership to animal staff and volunteers; ability to read animal body language and behavior; ability to work in a collaborative team approach; ability to successfully work with governmental and regulatory entities; ability to learn, implement, and use unique computer programs for animal care and medical charting.
- Other characteristics – Ethical and compassionate behavior related to animal care.
- Certification/License - Valid Driver's License.
