Wildlife Assistant in Taunton

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, 10 days in 14 to include evening and weekend working on a rota basis.

Salary: £24,784.50 per annum (FTE).

Contract Type: Permanent.

What does a Wildlife Assistant do?

Our Wildlife Assistants provide a caring and safe environment for all animals and maximise their comfort in the National Wildlife Rescue Centre during their rehabilitation prior to release. Working with many different types of animals, no day will ever look the same. The role requires:

• Feeding; cleaning animal accommodation, isolation areas, pens, treatment rooms and exercise facilities;
• Hands-on treatment, care and monitoring of all sorts of creatures including administering medications as required;
• Release of animals back into the wild where possible.

Overview of main duties and responsibilities:

• Admitting, caring for, preparing for release and monitoring wildlife casualties and involvement in the release of animals back into the wild.
• Ensuring that animal accommodation, isolation areas, pens, treatment rooms and exercise facilities are maintained to strict standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
• Notifying management and our on-site vet team as soon as possible if an animal will not be fit for release so that, if appropriate, an animal can be euthanised to prevent further suffering.
• Identifying animals in care that require to be moved to a different enclosure or animals that may be ready for release.
• Where appropriately trained, ensuring medication prescribed is correctly administered, overseeing the safe handling of drugs and accurate record keeping.
• Working to help raise awareness of each species and educate about the possible risks/numbers declining for any species.
• Training society staff, volunteers and representatives of other agencies to the standard specified in the centre protocols and procedures.
• Demonstrating excellent customer care skills by dealing professionally and competently with members of the public both by telephone and in person including educational tours of the centre.
• Maintaining the database so that it accurately reflects all existing wildlife in the care of the NWRC and assisting in the collation of statistics.
• Assisting with the functionality and maintenance of all areas and facilities. Supporting with the improvement of these areas where necessary.
• Driving, including transportation of animals, as required.

What makes a good Wildlife Assistant?

• Team-working including colleagues and Society volunteers.
• Follow instructions and work to set processes.
• Excellent customer care and communication skills.
• Good attention to detail in a fast-paced role.
• Treats others with professionalism, courtesy, and respect at all times.
• Capacity to adapt, recover and move forward.
• Flexibility to cover shift pattern which includes weekends.
• Drive to improve personal development.
• A willingness to work within group shift pattern.
• A passion for animal welfare including Scottish wildlife.

We are fortunate that some of our roles attract a high level of interest therefore, we may have to close roles earlier than advertised. Early application submissions are highly recommended. This also means that we cannot provide individual feedback to unsuccessful candidates due to receiving high levels of applications.

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to achieving our core mission.

Scottish Charity No SC 006467