Wildlife Rehabilitation

Job Title: Senior Wildlife Rehabilitator
Organization: Toronto Wildlife Centre
Location: Currently located in Downsview Park (North York) with plans to move to the Rouge National Urban Park (Scarborough)

• Status: Permanent, Full-time
• Start Date: November 1, 2024
• Compensation: $21/hour commensurate with experience

About Toronto Wildlife Centre

Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC) is a registered charity that provides rescue, medical care and rehabilitation to sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife as well as public education about wildlife issues. TWC is the busiest wildlife centre in Canada, admitting approximately 6,000 patients annually, with more than 300 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians represented. For more information, please visit our website: torontowildlifecentre.com

Job Summary

Senior Wildlife Rehabilitators oversee the daily needs of all wild patients at the centre. This position rotates between patient admissions and floor supervision. Whether caring for sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife that are newly arriving or already being rehabilitated, Senior Wildlife Rehabilitators ensure the patients receive the highest standard of care while providing supervision to the Junior Wildlife Rehabilitation team.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensures a positive, professional, and safe working environment at all times, with a focus on both human and animal safety.
• Coordinates and supervises Junior Wildlife Rehabilitators, and as needed other wildlife care staff/interns/volunteers/co-op student:
  • Oversees the Zone Leaders and Junior Advanced Care Team (ACT) members, ensuring they are following the established structure, training plans and protocols.
  • Assists with minor conflict resolution.
  • Addresses minor performance and attendance issues, bringing ongoing or larger issues to the attention of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager.
  • Supports the Zone Leaders and ensures they are overseeing the wildlife care personnel in their zones.
  • Ensures the Zone Leaders and Junior ACT members complete their daily tasks in a timely manner.

• Assists with daily patient care:
  • Regularly assesses patients in care, and ensures their housing, nutrition and enrichment needs are being met.
  • Tracks and moves animals through the rehabilitation process in a timely manner.
  • Runs morning and afternoon shift meetings.
  • Ensures that cages and patient care rooms/areas are cleaned and maintained daily (or more frequently if needed) and plays an active role in maintaining a clean and organized working environment centre wide indoors and outside.

• Works as part of the triage team assessing new arrivals:
  • Performs initial physical examinations based on established policies and protocols, sharing workload with the assessment room veterinarian.
  • Helps with species identification, age determination and rehabilitation issues of new patients.
  • For the animals examined, and following the approved medical protocols, assists with diagnostic procedures (such as radiographs without anesthesia, in-house blood tests, fecal examination and crop swab examination), performs emergency stabilization procedures (such as oxygen therapy, wound management and fracture stabilization) and administration of treatments OR performs humane euthanasia as required.
  • For animals admitted to TWC, creates a rehabilitation plan or is available to the veterinary team for consultation on a rehabilitation plan.

• Performs duties as a Senior member of the Advanced Care Team (ACT):
  • Coordinates the daily activities of the ACT and supports Junior ACT members.
  • Performs advanced care procedures such as administering medications, subcutaneous fluids and gavage feeding patients.
  • Reassesses animals in care, including determining when animals that have been medically cleared are ready for release.
  • Makes and adjusts rehabilitation plans as needed.
  • Assists Nursery Coordinators by reassessing orphan baby care plans as needed.
  • Coordinates and assists with bathing of oiled wildlife.
• Liaises and works collaboratively with other TWC staff and volunteers.
• Actively participates in continuing education, TWC’s internal training, and stays current in the field of wildlife rehabilitation.
• Assists with public relations, media, fundraising, and other duties as needed as it relates to the position and the needs of TWC.

Qualifications

Position Requirements:

• Minimum 1 year professional experience within a licensed wildlife rehabilitation centre or similar animal facility; working with native wildlife is required.
• Minimum 1 year managing and supervising staff and/or volunteers is an asset.
• Other animal care experience is an asset.
• Must be able and willing to work weekends and holidays.
• Pre-exposure Rabies vaccine with copy of current titre or willingness to obtain the vaccination highly preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well with a large and varied team.
• Strong attention to detail and organization skills.
• Ability to follow instructions and protocols well.
• Skilled in organization, problem solving and delegation.
• Able to work with minimal supervision.
• Knowledge of wildlife rehabilitation principles, and demonstration of advanced wildlife rehabilitation skills including physical examination, injections, gavage, fluid therapy, wound management, hematology knowledge, and familiarity with common wildlife parasites and diseases.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift, carry or otherwise move a minimum of 25 kilos (55 lbs.)
• Must be able to regularly stand, sit, walk, stoop, crouch, kneel, and twist.

Working Conditions:

• Fast-paced office/hospital environment, with noise and the possibility of frequent interruptions
• This position requires working near materials and animals that may trigger allergic reactions

How to Apply

Send cover letter and resume to: hr@torontowildlifecentre.com , with the subject line “Senior Wildlife Rehabilitator”. 

Please indicate you saw this posting at GoodWork.ca.

We would like to thank you for your interest in this position. Unfortunately, due to the anticipated number of candidates only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your understanding.