Wildlife Rehab & Sanctuary Animal Care Specialist / CVT

Wildlife Rehab & Sanctuary Animal Care Specialist / CVT The Sanctuary at Solid Rock, a division of Solid Rock Community School is seeking an experienced Wildlife Rehabber and Animal Care Specialist/Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) to join our team. This position provides hands-on care for a wide variety of animals while also teaching and mentoring students participating in our animal care and veterinary pathway program. This is an assistant management position and requires extensive relevant experience, strong organizational skills, leadership ability, and relevant degrees/certifications. Applicants must be highly dependable, capable of multitasking, and comfortable helping oversee the daily operations of a busy sanctuary and wildlife rehabilitation environment. This is a hands-on position. Candidates must not be afraid to get dirty, clean enclosures, handle animal waste, assist with medical care, perform physically demanding tasks, and actively participate in all aspects of animal husbandry and sanctuary operations. We currently operate a 2-acre micro sanctuary that is part of our humane education program and are in the process of developing a 7-acre sanctuary in Tarpon Springs, Florida, located just down the street from our current campus. Our sanctuary houses a variety of farm animals and exotic species, including small primates, and also participates in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts in accordance with Florida Fish and Wildlife regulations. Because our animal sanctuary is integrated into our educational model, staff members naturally teach and model proper animal care practices to students throughout the day. Primary Responsibilities Management & Leadership Assist in overseeing the daily operations of the sanctuary, wildlife rehabilitation, and animal care departments Provide leadership, structure, and support to staff, volunteers, and students Help maintain schedules, operational systems, medical records, supply inventory, and care protocols Assist in covering management responsibilities while a current manager has temporarily reduced availability Help ensure consistency, professionalism, safety, and high standards of animal care across all departments Ability to multitask and manage a fast-paced environment with changing priorities Wildlife Rehabilitation & Medical Care Assist with intake, triage, rehabilitation, and ongoing care of injured and orphaned wildlife Administer medications and treatments as directed Assist with veterinary procedures, exams, wound care, and medical monitoring Monitor animals for illness, injury, stress, or behavioral concerns Maintain accurate medical and rehabilitation documentation Follow proper quarantine, sanitation, and biosecurity protocols Work closely with veterinary professionals and rehabilitation partners Sanctuary Operations & Animal Care Participate fully in all aspects of daily sanctuary operations Provide feeding, watering, enrichment, cleaning, and hands-on husbandry care Maintain enclosures, barns, habitats, and animal spaces Assist with transportation, handling, and movement of animals when needed Help maintain cleanliness and organization throughout the sanctuary This is a physically demanding, hands-on position that includes cleaning enclosures, handling animal waste, and performing labor-intensive tasks daily Educational Facility & Student Mentorship Supervise and mentor students participating in animal care and veterinary pathway programs Demonstrate proper animal handling, husbandry, sanitation, and safety procedures Model calm, compassionate, and professional behavior around animals and students Help students develop real-world vocational and animal care skills Maintain structure and safety while students are participating in hands-on learning Experience & Qualifications Required Experience Sanctuary, veterinary, wildlife rehabilitation, zoo, or related animal care experience required Experience working in fast-paced animal care environments required Experience supervising staff, volunteers, or students preferred Experience working with exotic species preferred Experience with primates strongly preferred Required Certifications / Education Applicants must have: A relevant degree in veterinary technology, animal science, zoology, wildlife biology, or related field OR Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) certificationPLUSA minimum of two (2) years of verifiable professional experience in one or more of the following areas: Wildlife rehabilitation Veterinary medical care and procedures Animal sanctuary management or operations Exotic animal care Work with primates preferred Equivalent management-level experience with strong knowledge in animal care, medical care, sanctuary operations, and wildlife rehabilitation may also be considered. Additional Requirements Strong organizational and leadership skills Must be comfortable with all aspects of animal care, including cleaning and physically demanding work Must not be afraid to get dirty or assist with unpleasant tasks Ability to lift, bend, work outdoors, and perform physical labor daily Must be reliable, dependable, and capable of functioning independently Must be comfortable working outdoors in heat, rain, humidity, and cold Ability to work weekends and holidays when needed Must have reliable transportation Must have verifiable professional references Must be able to pass a clean background check No smoking, vaping, illegal drugs, or felonies Willingness to obtain required vaccinations and permits if needed Our Culture We are seeking hard-working, highly motivated people who care deeply about animals and want to give them the best life possible. Unlike most sanctuaries that simply provide care, we are also demonstrating to our students what compassionate, ethical, and professional animal care looks like and why it is so vital. As a school that operates a sanctuary and participates in rescue and rehabilitation efforts, respect for animals is central to everything we do. Our organization operates as a plant-based, cruelty-free campus. No alcohol, illegal drugs, vaping, or cigarettes are permitted on campus. How to Apply If interested, please complete our application: You will not be considered without completing our application. Join our team and help care for animals while helping train the next generation of compassionate animal caretakers.

Job Types:

Full-time, Part-time Pay:

From $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee discount Flexible schedule Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Application Question(s): Are you 100% vegan or plant-based? Can you agree to eat plant-based while on campus? Are you willing to get any required vaccinations you may not already have?

Experience:

farm animal: 1 year (Preferred)

CVA or Wildlife Rehab:

2 years (Required) primate: 1 year (Preferred) medically treating rehab, sick, injured animals: 1 year (Required) working around school aged students: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

CVA or related college degree (Required) Ability to

Commute:

Tarpon Springs, FL 34688 (Required) Ability to

Relocate:

Tarpon Springs, FL 34688: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location:

In person