Rehabilitation & Life Support Systems Assistant (part-time)
The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation and Life Support Systems Assistant supports the daily husbandry and medical care of sea turtle patients undergoing rehabilitation, and supports the daily operations and maintenance of the life support systems. Working under the supervision of the Rehabilitation Manager, this position assists with patient admissions, approved medical treatments, animal records management, and coordination of care with volunteers and interns. The position also assists with water quality monitoring and life support systems maintenance, provided coverage as needed, and coordinates with and supports the Water Team volunteers and interns.
This is a part-time position working 24 hours per week.
Functions & Responsibilities
Essential Functions
Sea Turtle Rehabilitation:
• Assist with all aspects of the daily care and husbandry for sea turtles in rehabilitation at KBSTRRC’s sea turtle hospital including food preparation, feeding, changing water, scooping and cleaning tanks, holding and restraining both small and large turtles, weighing and measuring turtles, moving turtles, doing dishes and laundry, and cleaning and disinfecting the general facility.
• Work in coordination with the daily volunteer Team Leaders, Medical Leads and Medical Team, interns, and Water Team.
• Admit sea turtles to the sea turtle hospital. Conduct admission evaluations, collect biometrics and diagnostic information, record data in RaptorMed as well as paper charts, communicate findings with the Veterinarian(s), Rehabilitation Manager, and Executive Director, and implement veterinary orders.
• Collect diagnostic information, including temperatures, heart rates, respiration rates, bloodwork, and radiographs, to facilitate veterinary decision making.
• Provide basic non-surgical medical care to stranded sea turtles in rehabilitation. Calculate medication doses, administer medication and fluids by PO/SQ/IM routes, treat wounds, assist feed, remove hooks (when possible, by non-surgical means), provide physical therapy, provide cold laser therapy, and other treatments as needed.
• Cover and ensure medical coverage for weekends and holidays according to on-call schedule. Cover and ensure coverage for new turtle admissions after hours.
• Assist with transport of patients for off-site diagnostic procedures, as needed.
• Follow established animal husbandry and facility protocols, as well as federal and state permits, guidelines and regulations,
• Assist with maintaining inventory of medicine and supplies. Manage receipt of donated medicine and supplies.
• Maintain electronic medical records database of sea turtle patients using RaptorMed.
• Participate in monthly Team Leader and staff meetings.
Water Quality and Life Support Systems:
• Demonstrate safe and proper operation, maintenance and/or needed repairs of biological, mechanical, and chemical aquatic life support water filtration systems, in coordination with the Life Support Systems Coordinator. Currently includes ozone generation equipment, biological filters, carbon filters, UV sterilization, protein fractionators and heater/chillers.
• Perform routine LSS activities, including mixing salt water and setting up/operating/ removing temporary pumping systems, etc.
• Assist Life Support Systems & Facilities Coordinator with performing routine water quality analysis on all systems. Conduct daily, weekly, and monthly tests to assess parameters including salinity, temperature, pH, nitrites, nitrates, ammonia, and coliforms.
• Maintain LSS daily system logs and records accurately.
• Provide coverage for Water Team volunteer members, as needed.
• Assist Life Support Systems Coordinator with other plumbing, LSS facilities upkeep, and maintenance projects, as needed.
Other Duties & Responsibilities
• Give educational presentations to visitors, assist in the Gift Shop.
• Support the KBSTRRC mission by participating in sponsored programs and events.
• Participate in special projects such as assisting interns with projects.
• Assist the Executive Director, Board, and other staff with special projects such as large renovation and expansion projects.
• Assist the Medical Director, Rehabilitation Manager, Executive Director, and any other authorized researchers with clinically-applied research on sea turtles in rehabilitation.
• Other duties as required.
Skills & Experience
Knowledge & Skills
• Must be able to calculate drug doses, perform medical treatments, follow established medical protocols, and collect diagnostic samples and data, after training period.
• Proficiency in internet and standard office computer software (MS Office, G-Suite).
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Must be available and willing to work Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shifts, with occasional after hours and holiday coverage required (as scheduled).
• Must demonstrate good written and oral communication skills.
• Must demonstrate ability to work well with others, including staff, board, & volunteers.
Education & Experience
• Must have earned a Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Must have a minimum of 1 years’ experience working in an animal care position (cumulative volunteer and/or intern experience acceptable).
• Experience working with aquatic filtration systems is desired.
Job Requirements
Physical Requirements
• Ability to lift a minimum of 40 pounds.
• Ability to stand on a concrete floor for an extended period of time.
• Ability to sit at a computer for an extended period of time.
• Capable of physical exertion such as bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities.
• Ability to lift moderately heavy items such as sea turtles, tanks, boxes of medical supplies, boxes of salt, etc.
• Ability to withstand exposure to strong odors including cleaning products, seafood, and animal waste.
