Native Songbird Care & Conservation (NSCC) is a state and federally licensed wildlife rehabilitation hospital and non-profit organization located in Sebastopol, California. We are dedicated to the conservation of native passerines through rehabilitation, release back to the wild, community engagement, and educational outreach. Each year our experienced staff and volunteers care for approximately 1,000 native passerines of more than 70 species. 

The Animal Care Assistant (ACA) is responsible for assisting the director with all aspects of daily operations, including patient care, training of volunteers, public outreach, record keeping and facility maintenance.  Applicants should possess excellent team-building skills. The ACA must be able to juggle a multitude of tasks with professionalism, flexibility, and a sense of humor. They will be working with volunteers, interns, partner organizations and the general public. A passion for songbirds and wildlife conservation is an essential element of this job.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

• Assist with the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned songbirds, including feeding, cleaning, diet preparation, housing set-up and maintenance, enrichment, intake and exams, preparing and administering medication
• Train new volunteers and interns on daily housekeeping tasks
• Maintain cleanliness & organization of the facility at all times
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• At least one baby bird season working hands-on with native songbirds at a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility. Volunteering or comparable experience in other wildlife-related work or study will be considered if applicable to this position.
• Able to work calmly and efficiently in busy, high-intensity situations. 
• Ability to endure long workdays in a physically and emotionally demanding setting while maintaining focus, accuracy, energy and physical activities required by the job. 
• Experience training and supervising volunteers, preferably in an animal care setting.
• Knowledge of natural history, particularly of local native songbirds.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions.
• Computer literacy & ability to learn our medical database system. 
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide. Ability to perform these operations using units of US currency, weight measurement and volume.   
• Some college with a background in wildlife biology or related animal science is desirable. 
• Upon hire, must pass a background check, be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and able to show COVID Vaccination Card as proof of vaccination.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described herein represent essential components of the job of working in wildlife rehabilitation. They include but are not limited to the following: able to lift or move up to 50 lbs, stand on a concrete floor for up to 8 hours a day; and kneel, crouch, stoop, crawl and reach to arm’s length.  Must have 20/20 vision and possess physical dexterity and coordination to use hands and fingers to handle, feel and feed tiny fragile patients as small as 2-3 grams. While performing the tasks listed elsewhere in this document, the incumbent is routinely exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, allergens such as dust and dander, zoonotic diseases, frightened animals, inclement weather conditions, and noise.

SCHEDULE

The schedule for this position begins by the third week of April 2023 and concludes early to mid August 2023.  There is some flexibility for start date and initial weekly schedule for working students and the right candidate.  This position is part-time, 24 hours per week.  Shifts are 6 to 8 hours and include weekends, holidays and some evenings.  Absolutely no time off from June 1 through the second week of July, the peak of our busy season.

COMPENSATION

$18.50 per hour.  This is a seasonal, temporary, non-exempt position.  

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcome a diverse pool of applicants. 

EOE/M/F/D/V/SO 

Review of applicants begins March 1, 2023.  The position is open until filled.