Senior Wildlife Assistant

We are currently looking for a Senior Wildlife Assistant to join the team at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre, Fishcross, Alloa. If this sounds like a role you would be interested in, please read on for more information.

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

Salary: £25,369.50 per annum (FTE)

Contract Type: Permanent

About the Scottish SPCA

Since 1839 the Scottish SPCA has existed for one reason – to make Scotland the best place in the world for an animal to call home. We rescue, protect and lead the conversation on animal welfare. We are Scotland’s animal champions.

What does a Senior Wildlife Assistant do?

Our Wildlife Assistants are there to provide a caring and safe environment for all animals and maximise their comfort in the National Wildlife Rescue Centre. 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 all sorts of creatures including administering medications as required; and release of animals back into the wild.

Overview of main duties and responsibilities:

• Oversee any treatments, medications and general care of all animals within the NWRC as directed by centre management and/or the Society’s vets and ensure they are in line with NWRC protocols.
• Ensure that animal accommodation, isolation areas, pens, treatment rooms and exercise facilities are maintained to strict standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
• Attend to the welfare needs of all animals including food preparation, feeding routines and enrichment.
• Deputise for the NWRC Assistant Manager as required.
• Responsible for the Health and Safety of staff, volunteers and all visitors to the Centre in conjunction with the Assistant Manager/Centre Manager.
• 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.
• Maintain and monitor accurate animal records ensuring that each animal’s care plan is carefully documented and visible to colleagues using the NWRC’s various databases and information boards.
• Provide key holder duties for opening and closing of centre and support with provision of on-call cover as required.
• Driving, including transportation of animals, as required.

What makes a good Senior Wildlife Assistant?

• Minimum of 12 months practical experience working with animals across a variety of species.
• Ability to carry out own work whilst directing other staff.
• Excellent customer care and communication skills.
• Ability to work a shift pattern between 0630-2300 across all sections.
• Resilient and calm approach to the role.
• Ability to act with professional integrity.
• Subject to a Disclosure Scotland standard check.
• Able to work well within a team.
• A willingness to work within group shift pattern.

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.