Wildlife Care Center Seasonal Assistant

Portland Audubon has been a leading voice in conservation for over a century. Through conservation advocacy, environmental education, and wildlife rehabilitation, we promote the understanding, enjoyment, and protection of native birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. We are located in a 172-acre wildlife sanctuary next to Forest Park, just minutes from downtown Portland. The Portland Audubon Wildlife Care Center is Oregon’s oldest and busiest wildlife rehabilitation facility, treating 4,000+ animals and responding to approximately 10,000 wildlife related inquiries annually. The Wildlife Care Center is supported by permanent and seasonal staff, interns, and about 200 volunteers.

The Wildlife Care Center Seasonal Assistant is responsible for assisting the Wildlife Care Center Manager and staff with all aspects of daily operations, including treatment and care of injured and recovering wildlife, supervision and training of volunteers, public outreach, record keeping and facility maintenance. Applicants should possess excellent team building skills. The Care Center Assistant must be able to juggle a multitude of tasks with professionalism, flexibility, and a sense of humor. This roll will work with volunteers, stakeholders, membership groups, resource agencies, and the general public in office and field settings. A passion for wildlife conservation and engaging diverse groups of people are essential elements of this job.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Assists with the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife, including cleaning, diet preparation, habitat set-up and maintenance, enrichment, baby bird feeding, and medical care.
• Provides consultation in person and over the phone on urban wildlife issues
• Assists in the training & supervision of the Wildlife Care Center’s volunteers and interns
• Maintains cleanliness & organization of the facility
• Participates in occasional off-site wildlife pick-up, rescue, and releases
• Coordinates after-hours patient care & completes closing duties nightly
• Other duties as assigned

Preferred Skills & Experience

• At least 1 year of experience working for or volunteering in a wildlife rehabilitation facility, or comparable experience in other wildlife-related work or study
• Basic wildlife rehabilitation skills including animal handling, feeding, examination, injections, basic wound management, and medication dosing
• Experience working with and/or supervising volunteer efforts, preferably in an animal care setting
• Knowledge of natural history, particularly of the fauna of the Pacific Northwest
• Excellent communication skills, on the phone and in person
• Computer literacy & ability to learn our medical database system and volunteer software
• Experience and enthusiasm for working with diverse communities
• Able to work calmly and efficiently in busy, high-intensity situations
• Strong organizational and time management skills

Working Conditions

The ability to perform tasks in conditions as described below is essential to successfully perform the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the necessary functions of the role.

• Occasional flexibility of schedule
• Work is performed both inside and outside in all weather
• Work requires standing and walking for long periods of times, carrying & lifting up to 25 lbs, crouching, kneeling, bending, and pulling.
• Work involves significant fine motor control and repetitive hand motions

Cultural Competencies
Portland Audubon is committed to maintaining an anti-racist organizational culture. We are committed to training all staff on cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion. We see staff with a high degree of cultural competency or lived experience working with communities of color, people who are disabled, and people from all socioeconomic backgrounds, as vital for all positions in our organization. We seek staff with comfort and curiosity in conversations around identity, belonging, and systemic oppression.

• Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
• Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
• Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement

How To Apply

ONLINE SUBMISSIONS PREFERRED

Apply online at https://portlandaudubon.bamboohr.com/jobs/

To submit via US Postal Service, please send your resume, cover letter and the application found on our website to:

Human Resources
Portland Audubon
REF: Wildlife Care Center Seasonal Assistant
5151 NW Cornell Road
Portland, OR 97210

Portland Audubon does not discriminate on the basis of race; creed; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity; age; religion; marital status; national origin or ancestry; political affiliation; citizenship; lawful immigration status; or mental, physical or medical disability; Veteran status; or liability for service in the United States Armed Forces. Applicants of color, immigrants, and other underserved persons are encouraged to apply.

Diversity Statement

Portland Audubon believes that inspiring all people to love and protect nature is best achieved when we embrace diversity as a value and practice. In the same way an ecosystem needs many types of plants and wildlife, an organization thrives when it includes a diversity of people and perspectives. We recognize that inequities are widespread and create gaps between our present reality and our aspirations. Audubon is committed to:

• Reflecting the diversity of the community in our board, staff, volunteers, and members.
• Ensuring our internal culture, business practices, and programs are welcoming and
advance our diversity goals.
• Empowering people to make positive changes in their community and environment.

In the coming years, under the leadership of our new Executive Director Stuart Wells, Portland Audubon is deepening our commitment to environmental justice and equitable access to the outdoors. In service to this mission, we’re expanding our development team to grow the organization’s capacity to address critical conservation throughout the state, deepen relationship-building with frontline communities, strengthen equity-focused environmental education programs, and complete our Wildlife Care Center.