Ambassador Program Manager

About WildCare

For 50 years, WildCare has provided a complete cycle of humane programs to help people throughout the San Francisco Bay Area live well with wildlife. Our full-service, open-admission Wildlife Hospital delivers exceptional medical care to 3,500 orphaned and injured wild patients from 200 species each year, and we engage over 15,000 children and adults in high-quality, standards-based environmental education. We also provide highly effective environmental advocacy and outreach to our communities.

Position Overview

WildCare is looking for an Ambassador Program Manager responsible for overseeing all aspects of WildCare’s Wildlife Ambassador Program including daily supervision of Wildlife Ambassador Volunteers, daily care of the Ambassador animals, and all educational aspects of the program as well as coordinating with all other WildCare Departments, especially Hospital and Development. 

Key Responsibilities

Animal Care

• Train and handle Ambassador Animals (non-releasable wildlife).
• Develop and implement enrichment plan for Ambassador Animals.
• Coordinate with the Director of Animal Care, Director of Education and WildCare’s Resident Veterinarian to arrange the procurement and evaluation for suitability of all Educational Animals.
• Coordinate with medical staff for any procedures, treatments, yearly physicals or other medical care of the Ambassador Animals.
• Responsible for the basic daily husbandry of the Ambassador Animals such as making and maintaining equipment, coping, etc.
• Ensure all permitting with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, CA Fish and Wildlife and USDA are up to date, all permits are readily available and that WildCare is operating in compliance with all of their regulations regarding housing, husbandry and animal use.
• Ordering of all Ambassador Program supplies including, but not limited to, mice, rats, fish, produce, training supplies and program supplies.
• With assistance from Medical Staff, develop protocols for and oversee the daily care of all Educational Animals including, but not limited to, diets, housing, enrichment and training.
• Set and enforce guidelines for all aspects of animal care and handling.
• Monitor and manage Ambassador Animals while being displayed in the Ambassador Zone, at programs and at any special events.
• Maintain up to date records on a weekly basis on all Ambassador Animals health, care and weight records.
• Perform basic facility maintenance of the Ambassador Animals’ housing, Ambassador Zone and basic aspects of the Learning Center, including maintenance of the pool pump systems and updating Ambassador signage.

Volunteer Management

• Recruit, train and oversee 25-30 Ambassador Volunteers, including scheduling, responding to interpersonal issues, providing basic and advanced training, maintaining records on skill proficiencies and addressing general day to day concerns.
• Provide interpretation training for volunteers to give them the skills to present informal Ambassador Zone presentations.
• Provide animal handling training and continued support to provide the volunteers with the skills required to handle Ambassador Animals during on and off-site programs.
• Make arrangements and schedule volunteer handlers for off-site programs, ensuring they have the skills required for the animals being presented.
• Be available to cover shifts left uncovered by volunteers due to holidays and weekends.

Education

• Develop and present off-site Wildlife Ambassador programs to area schools, libraries, camps, senior centers and any other organizations requesting a program within a one-hour radius of WildCare.
• Work with the Education Manager to schedule Wildlife Ambassador programs.
• Work with the Development Department for the use of Ambassador Animals at fund-raising functions and Donor Tours.
• Coordinate with the Camp and Ambassador Zone Tour staff to arrange for Ambassador visits and encounters.
• Construct or acquire all needed items for any Ambassador presentations.

Other duties

• Provide statistics on program usage for internal and external audits, tracking and grant writing.
• Represent WildCare at applicable organizations, events and other venues.
• Represent the Ambassador Animals and the program needs in the planning and development stages for WildCare’s new facility.

Qualifications

• Experience developing and managing Wildlife Ambassador education programs
• Volunteer management experience
• Strong interpersonal skills including collaboration, communication and conflict resolution
• Direct teaching experience in informal and formal classroom settings for elementary and high school students
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with and handling wildlife
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with raptors on the glove
• Experience with positive reinforcement training techniques
• Strong customer service skills
• Attention to detail
• Willingness to multi-task and work under pressure
• Ability to work without supervision
• Experience working with Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, and Excel
• 4-year degree or experience in applicable subject area

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Teaching credential
• Comfortable using tools for basic enclosure repairs and improvement

• Bilingual (fluent in both English and Spanish)WildCare does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, national origin, political affiliation or mental or physical handicap.

  WildCare is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in the conservation field.

  Apply Now

  Please send your cover letter and resume with the subject line: WildCare Ambassador Program Manager - [Your Name] to: Eileen Jones, Director of Education at eileenjones@discoverwildcare.org. 

  Candidate review begins on September 20th. No phone calls please.

  Conditions of Employment

  Hiring is contingent upon receipt of a DMV driving record and a FBI/California Department of Justice background check.