Zoo Rehab - Intern - Temporary

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Under immediate supervision of the Zoo Veterinarians and/or Bird Rehabilitation Zookeeper, the intern will learn to perform a variety of duties involved in the care and well-being of bird rehabilitation patients. Such duties will include learning to maintain medical and husbandry records, preparing diets for a variety of species, building habitats for a variety of species, and communicating with the public in regards to all aspects of Bird Rehabilitation. This position’s purpose is to prepare an intern for a job as a rehabilitator. Employees have access to controlled substances in the performance of their job duties. Therefore, employees are required to not have any previous felony convictions related to a controlled substance. SUPERVISION EXERCISED The Bird Rehabilitation Intern exercises no direct supervision over other employees but will work alongside Volunteers and Zoo Teens. IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES Learn proper handling and capture of a variety of bird species and how to enter enclosures with a wild bird. Become proficient in the basic husbandry for a variety of bird species.  Assist with the routine feeding, diet prep, and daily care of wild Bird Rehabilitation patients. Prepare Bird Rehabilitation diets each day using various grains, produce, bugs, whole prey items, live prey items, fish, and meat. This will include using knives. Help maintain all indoor and outdoor facilities at the Bird Rehabilitation Center by cleaning, disinfecting, and performing general maintenance as needed.  Assist with medical exams and triage care of Bird Rehabilitation patients. This may include medication or fluid administration, wound management, bandage application, and oxygen administration. Learn to respond to an animal emergency in a calm manner and prevent injury to self or others. Accession Bird Rehabilitation patients from the public and maintain medical records according to policies, including daily husbandry logs, medical records, and prescription logs.  Assist the Bird Rehabilitation Zookeeper and Veterinary Technicians to provide husbandry to any quarantined or hospitalized patients. Identify and communicate concerns (medical or otherwise) to the veterinarians or other management in a timely manner. Complete an intern project while here and present a PowerPoint presentation at the end of the internship. Operate a City vehicle on and off zoo grounds. OTHER JOB RELATED DUTIES Perform other job related duties and responsibilities as assigned. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Knowledge of: Safe driving principles and practices. General animal care and behavior Hazards and inherent dangers involved in working with zoo animals. Skill to: Operate a food grinder, lawn mower, and incubator. Safely operate a motor vehicle. Ability to:                       Learn the diet and nutritional requirements of various birds. Learn to respond to an animal or public related emergency to prevent injury.  Learn to open, enter, exit, and secure animal enclosures, and service areas. Learn to net, capture and/or restrain animals of extreme size, strength, and ability. Learn to handle, examine, and move without harming sick, injured, and/or struggling small animals. Follow and carry out specific oral and written instructions. Any combination equivalent to experience and training to provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be qualifying Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, both internally and externally. Follow and embrace the City of Abilene Core Values – Respect, Integrity, Service Above Self, and Excellence in All We Do. Perform as a team member in a manner that accomplishes the Division’s mission and treats team members with dignity, courtesy, and respect           Experience and Training Guidelines: For positions with more than one level, all listed requirements at the lower levels are required at the higher levels. Any combination equivalent to experience and training to provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be qualifying.  Knowledge, skills, and abilities may be obtained through: Experience: This is an entry level position Education/Training: High School Diploma or a GED     License or Certificate:            A valid Driver’s License, the ability to obtain one within ninety (90) days of employment, or a military waiver is required. Special Requirements: Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment: Exposure to cold, heat, outdoors, and chemicals, ability to travel to different sites. Requires the ability to work a flexible work schedule that includes nights, holidays, and weekends. With or without accommodation, the “X” indicates the overall strength demand of the position during a typical workday:             ___     Sedentary – lifting of no more than 10 pounds             ___     Light – lifting no more than 20 pounds; carrying up to 10 pounds             _X_     Medium – lifting no more than 50 pounds; carrying up to 25 pounds             ___     Heavy – lifting no more than 100 pounds; carrying up to 50 pounds             ___     Very Heavy – team lifting over 100 pounds; carrying more than 50 pounds Physical Demand Codes:  The following describes whether or not the position is expected to exert the physical demands listed during a typical workday as well as the overall frequency of the task: Codes for how often: N         =          No E         =          Extensive (100 – 70% of the time) M         =          Moderate (60 – 30% of the time) I           =          Infrequent (20 – 10% of the time) A         =          Almost Never (<10% of the time) Code / Task _E_     Standing _I_       Sitting _M_    Walking _I_       Lifting _I_       Carrying _I_       Pushing/Pulling _A_     Overhead Work _M_    Fine Dexterity _M_    Kneeling _M_    Crouching _A_     Crawling _I_       Bending _I_       Twisting _I_       Climbing _I_       Balancing _M_    Vision _M_    Hearing _M_    Talking ___     Other:  _____________________