National Marine Life Center (NMLC) is hiring!

Title: Animal Care Director
Supervisor: Board of Trustees
Status: Full-time, 1.0 FTE
FLSA Exempt: Yes

SUMMARY:

Working with the Veterinarian(s) and leadership, the Animal Care Director is responsible for managing all aspects of animal care, wellness, and husbandry, for leading and managing staff and volunteers, and for managing all aspects of the hospital facility and life support systems. The position also assists with fundraising, helps to deliver education programs, represents the organization at events, and helps with general office and organizational duties.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES – ANIMAL CARE & LIFE SUPPORT:

Manage all aspects of marine animal husbandry, wellness and enrichment.
Lead, supervise, and train, the staff Biologists, animal care interns and volunteers.
Serve as primary liaison between animal care staff and the veterinarians, ensuring that veterinary medical and diagnostic orders are implemented fully with consideration for each animal patient, the human caretakers, and organization resources.
Schedule and coordinate diagnostic tests, procedures, and surgeries.
Manage the facilities and life support systems, including tank maintenance, hospital equipment maintenance, and general cleaning and restocking.
Handle and restrain animals, including seals, sea turtles, native turtles, etc.
Prepare animal diets, feed, and clean and manage animal enclosures.
Provide or assist with medical care of patients, including administering medications, vitamins and fluids; treating wounds; helping with routine medical exams, blood work, radiographs, surgeries; and performing necropsies.
Perform animal-related and facility-related laboratory work, including water quality testing, in-house blood and sample testing, and sending samples to outside laboratories.
Maintain diagnostic equipment including radiology equipment, iStat blood gas analyzer, Abaxis blood analyzer, and other medical equipment.
Establish and ensure compliance and best practices with animal husbandry and facility protocols, as well as federal and state guidelines and regulations.
Ensure proper record-keeping, including animal medical charts, facility logs, drug logs, volunteer logs, and other necessary documentation.
Identify and implement ideas to improve husbandry, animal care, and facility operations.
Organize and manage animal releases.
Serve as the organization’s safety officer.
Serve as the Greater Atlantic Region Consortium representative and liaison to NOAA Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and MA Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES – VOLUNTEER COORDINATION:

Manage all aspects of NMLC’s volunteer and intern programs.
Recruit, train, manage, and schedule volunteers for festivals, educational presentations, Discovery Center, animal care, administration, mailings, etc.
Recruit, train, manage, and complete necessary school paperwork for paid and unpaid interns, work-study students, etc.
Maintain and update volunteer policies, manuals, orientations, and trainings.
Maintain volunteer records and hours.
Manage the volunteer recognition program.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES – EDUCATION, MARKETING, FUNDRAISING:

Participate in fundraising activities such as grant writing, special events (Feet for Flippers 5K, etc.), and solicitation of donations.
Deliver on- and off-site educational programs to the public and to community groups.
Assist with managing NMLC’s social media, newsletters, and other marketing.
Assist with general office and building duties, including cleaning chores.
Additional duties as required.

REQUIREMENTS:

Experience with rehabilitating sea turtles at a staff level, minimum of 5 years required. Experience with triaging and rehabilitating cold-stunned sea turtles preferred.
Experience with rehabilitating seals at a staff level, minimum of 5 years required.
Experience maintaining life support systems a plus.
A Bachelor’s degree in related field and/or veterinary technician experience preferred.
Must demonstrate excellent leadership, team building, and supervisory skills.
Must exhibit ability to work well with others, including staff, board, and volunteers.
Must be available and willing to work weekends and holidays.
Must demonstrate good written and oral communication skills.
Must maintain good relationships with the Animal Care and Veterinary staff and provide regular animal health updates.
Must be able to calculate drug doses, perform medical treatments, follow established medical protocols, and collect diagnostic samples and data.
Experience with fundraising a plus.
Must be comfortable using standard office computer software (MS 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.
Must possess a valid driver’s license.

To Apply: Send your resume, cover letter, and one letter of reference to careers@nmlc.org. Position open until filled. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Best,

Jackie Driscoll, PHR, SHRM-CP

HR Advisor

NMLC Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees