Animal Ambassador Manager

Title: Animal Ambassador Manager
Supervisor: VP of Learning and Engagement
Classification: regular/full time/exempt
Schedule: M-F, some evenings and weekends, expected 40 hours per week

Compensation: 18-19.50/hour
Benefits:

Summary of Position:
Kalamazoo Nature Center’s (KNC) animal care program’s primary goal is to ensure high quality management for the safety, and well-being of all animals in our care as well as to provide the best animal experiences for members and visitors, connecting people with nature through our Animal Ambassador connected programming. Animals in the nature center’s care are with us to support learning. Our planning, care, and training are focused on maximizing safety and facilitating comfort and health in our animals to allow accessibility for visitors and support availability in educational programs. The animal care manager will lead management and care of KNC animal collections and serve as lead on foundational animal programs, facilities, and collaborative exhibit planning. Our Animal Ambassadors are educators and support public engagement with our regions ecosystems and increase understanding of human impact on our natural world.

Management Responsibilities:
-Maintain high quality care for all KNC animals (including Birds of Prey, indoor/outdoor exhibit animals, and other ambassadors as they are added to our collections)
-Manage diet and nutrition needs keeping communication with veterinary consult, food ordering and purchasing, and upkeep of all care and feed supplies
-Ensure adherence with guidelines described by federal, state, and local regulators and appropriate staff members are trained in these procedures
-Coordinate and train program staff, animal care staff, and volunteers in all necessary Animal Ambassador routines and KNC standards of practice with all Animal Ambassadors; providing consistent support and guidance.
-Supervise and manage animal care staff and volunteers
-Maintain onsite presence 30 hours a week minimum and serve as main point of contact for ongoing needs and/or issues and emergencies as they arise
-Lead animal acquisition, training and socialization
-Work with supervisor and the Learning and Engagement (LE) team to develop and implement, and manage short- and long-range plans and budgets
-Serve as the liaison between wildlife rehabilitation, veterinarians, the State of Michigan, and other organizations or individuals as necessary
-Manage wildlife licensing, permitting, transfers, and reporting
-Manage the transport and collaboration with veterinary care, perform medical grabs, exams and manage health maintenance reports

Program Responsibilities:
-Serve as Lead Animal Ambassador programmer in collaboration with Program and Rental teams with up to 15 hours per week spent in direct programming.
-Coordinate scheduling for animals participating in educational programing.
-Support training, tracking, feedback, and support of education staff for all Animal Ambassadors

Facility Responsibilities:
-Manage the refresh of enclosures, consistent cleaning, routine engagement installments, and movement of animals and exhibits as needed
-Perform light maintenance on exhibits/enclosures and small construction projects. All large construction will be done in collaboration and with the support of facilities management staff
-Coordinate exhibits and signage for current and new ambassador animals in collaboration with the exhibits and marketing team

Customer Service Responsibilities:
-Maintain positive working relationships with community members, partners, and staff
-Manage and adhere to approved operational budgets
-Serve as a representative for Animal Ambassadors within our community and staff
-Attend MSF, Earth Day, attend all staff meetings and all staff workdays

Preferred Skills/Abilities:
-High quality verbal and written communication
-Strong interpersonal and customer service skills
-Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
-Proven time management skills and ability to meet deadlines

Education and Experience:
-Bachelor’s degree in a related field (zoology, biology, veterinary science, etc) and/or minimum of 3 years’ experience working in wild animal care and management
-Experience working with Birds of Prey, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals
-Experience leading education programs for all ages
-Experience in developing and maintaining living and nonliving exhibits
-Must pass a pre-employment background check
-Must have a valid driver’s license and ability to be insured under KNC’s automobile policy

Working Conditions:
-Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at a time
-Must be able to hold up to a 20lb animal up to an hour
-Must be comfortable with significant time outdoors in a variety of weather conditions

The Kalamazoo Nature Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.