Location:Kanab, Utah (relocation assistance may be available)

Hiring Range:This position starts at $22.50 per hour + great benefits!

Recruiter phone screens will occur prior to the manager interviews

Position Summary: Lifesaving and Care Specialists work within a team setting to provide hands on daily care and medical support to the animals at the sanctuary. This position works directly with the public to create positive volunteer and visitor experiences and to find adoptive homes for parrots.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support lifesaving objectives of the department 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 conduct tours, speak about specific animals, the work of Parrot Garden 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. 

• Clean work areas and preserve physical appearance of parrot 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:

• Strong desire to work with birds. Previous experience a plus.

• 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, 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 parrot species. 

• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; ability to adopt 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 organization 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 and Other 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.

*During the selection process, candidates may be asked to participate in a 3 day onsite working interview.