Specialist

Location:Kanab, Utah

Hiring Range: The hiring range for this position starts at $22.50 per hour, plus benefits.

Manager interviews will occur until the positions are filled.

Position Summary: The Lifesaving and Care Specialist for Small Animalsworks within a team setting to provide hands on daily care and medical support to the Bunny House, Parrot Garden and Wild Friends departments at the sanctuary. This position works directly with the public to create positive volunteer and visitor experiences and to find adoptive homes for the animals in our care. 

Previous experience with small animals strongly preferred.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Support lifesaving objectives of the small animal departments by assisting with all aspects of the adoption process and providing superior customer service to visitors, volunteers, and adopters. 

• Serve as a sanctuary ambassador, representing Best Friends’ work to visitors and volunteers, and speaking to the sanctuary’s special role in Best Friends’ no-kill goals.

• Support a “volunteers-first” team giving every volunteer the opportunity to maximize their skills and value towards Best Friends’ lifesaving activities, and inspiring visitors to continue the work in their communities.

• Greet and conducttours, speak about specific animals, the work of the small animal departments and the sanctuary, answer questions and assist visitors with their needs. 

• Provide basic and routine care for animals per department guidelines including but not limited to diet preparation and distribution, cleaning of enclosures, creating and implementing enrichment and training plans.

• Support animals with medical issues, which may include zoonotic disease, by medicating, treating, preparing special diets, observing and reporting, and assisting in the maintenance of required veterinary records. 

• Assist with cleaning of work areas and preserve physical appearance of department buildings, aviaries, and grounds: scooping, raking, sweeping, shoveling, dusting, mopping, trash removal, scrubbing, weeding, etc., noting maintenance or repairs needed and reporting per protocol. 

• Demonstrate kindness and the golden rule in our everyday actions by practicing inclusion and respect for every person for the value they bring to the table. Treat others with compassion, empathy, and understanding.

• Maintain a safe workplace, valuing and modeling safe work practices, adhering to organizational safety practices and rules, and communicating about unsafe practices and conditions.

Skills and Experience:

• Previous experience with animals.

• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with an open adoption process, experience interacting with the public (customer service) preferred. 

• Ability to professionally speak about Best Friends activities and positions on issues.

• Ability to work with, carry, and handle birds and other small animals, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns including shyness, fearfulness, and aggression; and after a short training period, basic ability to identify and speak to medical needs, behavioral characteristics and individual requirements of different species. 

• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; ability to adapt to new work areas or processes; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until department goals are achieved. 

• Strong interpersonal skills, positive attitude, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds.  

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organizational skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands; with accurate, appropriate, clear and concise written and verbal communication skills; and strong listening skills. 

• Basic experience with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software (Best Friends uses Shelterluv), or desire to learn.  

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to: 

• Perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to, lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.

• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion.  

• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.

• Valid driver’s license, ability to qualify to be added to Best Friends insurance, ability to travel, including overnight stays, when needed.  

• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes weekends, nights and holiday work.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society.  Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, domestic partner status, or medical condition.