Title: Biologist II

Supervisors: Animal Care Director

Status: Full-time, 1.0 FTE Including alternating weekends

FLSA Exempt: Yes

SUMMARY:

Working with the Animal Care Director, Veterinarian(s), and other Animal Care staff, this position is responsible for all aspects of animal care and husbandry for seals and sea turtles, including maintaining the facility and life support systems and helping to train and supervise animal care volunteers and interns.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Animal Care (~0.8 FTE):

• Under the direction of the Animal Care Director, implement all aspects of animal husbandry at the National Marine Life Center.
• Handle and restrain seals, sea turtles, and native turtles.
• Prepare animal diets and feed, including tube feeding seals.
• Assist with medical care of patients, including administering oral, SQ, IM, and IV treatments; treating wounds; performing routine medical exams, blood work, and radiographs.
• All husbandry duties, including hospital cleanliness.
• Perform all related laboratory work, including water quality testing, in-house blood and sample testing, and sending samples out for analysis to outside laboratories per established protocols.
• Ensure proper record-keeping, including animal medical charts, water quality records, facility logs, drug logs, and other necessary documentation.
• Assist or perform necropsy examinations as assigned including scheduling, assisting, taking and managing samples, and photo and data management according to accepted protocols.
• Train, supervise, manage, and maintain good relations with and communication with animal care volunteers and interns.
• Assist with maintaining NMLC’s native turtle program, including volunteer scheduling and training, volunteer supervision, animal husbandry, and reporting.
• Assist with maintaining the supply inventory; order animal care, medical, husbandry, and facilities supplies as needed or directed.
• Assist with data collection for reports to appropriate agencies as assigned, including NOAA, USFWS, and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
• Data management for internal databases and external databases including the National Database (for marine mammal stranding information) and the STSSN Database (for sea turtle stranding information).

Marine Life Support Systems (~0.2 FTE):

• Manage the facilities and life support systems, including tank maintenance, hospital equipment maintenance, daily cleaning and upkeep of filtration systems, and general cleaning and restocking.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues.
• Schedule and coordinate contractors for installation, repair, and servicing of systems.
• Operate pump house equipment including drawing in sea water, discharging sea water and general upkeep.

Other Responsibilities (as needed)

• Manage and assist with facilities and maintenance projects such as painting, enclosure repair, and building new enclosures.
• Support obtaining photos and videos for social media or other organizational needs.
• Deliver on- and off-site educational programs to the public and to community groups.
• Represent NMLC at fairs, festivals, and other public events.
• Assist with general office and building duties, including cleaning.
• Additional duties as required. 

REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum 3 years full time staff level experience rehabilitating seals required.
• Minimum 3 years clinical experience triaging and rehabilitating sea turtles required. Mass casualty sea turtle experience preferred.
• Experience maintaining life support systems required.
• Bachelor’s degree in related field and/or veterinary technician experience required. High school diploma or GED required.
• Must be able to calculate drug doses, perform medical treatments, follow established medical protocols, and collect diagnostic samples and data.
• Must demonstrate ability to work well with others, including staff, board, volunteers, and interns.
• Must be available and willing to work weekends and holidays.
• Must demonstrate good written and oral communication skills.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Experience with stranding response and/or necropsies a plus.
• Experience with education and fundraising a plus.
• Must be comfortable using standard office computer software (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, e-mail, databases, and internet).
• Must be able to endure some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities; recurring lifting of moderately heavy items such as medical equipment and boxes of medical supplies. The work may require specific but common physical characteristics and abilities such as lifting up to 50 pounds, above-average agility, and dexterity.

To Apply:

Send your resume and cover letter to careers@nmlc.org. Position opened until filled, only qualified candidates will be contacted.