Specialist, Lifesaving & Care - Wild Friends

Location: Kanab, Utah. Hiring rate: $22.50 per hour plus benefits. Schedule: Thursday–Monday, 8 am–5 pm.

About the role

Lifesaving and Care Specialists work within a team to provide hands‑on daily care and medical support to animals at the sanctuary. Wild Friends Specialists work with native wildlife in the rehabilitation clinic and education program, as well as various adoptable exotic species. The role involves direct public interaction: creating positive volunteer experiences, providing educational resources, and finding adoptive homes.

Culture statement: We believe in treating everyone with kindness and compassion, building trust through authenticity and follow‑through. We prioritize well‑being alongside our mission, fostering strong relationships through open communication and transparent feedback. Diversity and inclusion are integral to our culture, enriching team dynamics by valuing diverse perspectives. Each team member is responsible for creating an inclusive environment where all voices are respected and contributing to a workplace that embodies our shared values and commitment to progress.

Responsibilities

• Support lifesaving objectives by performing 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 role in no‑kill goals.
• Support a “volunteers‑first” approach, giving every volunteer the opportunity to maximize their skills and value toward lifesaving activities, and inspiring visitors to continue the work in their communities.
• Greet and conduct tours, speak about specific animals, the work of Wild Friends and the sanctuary, answer questions, and assist visitors with their needs.
• Provide basic and routine animal care per department guidelines, including diet preparation and distribution, cleaning of enclosures, and 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.
• Provide enrichment and exercise for animals as outlined by leadership; identify animal issues and share observations with team members and leaders.
• Clean work areas and preserve the physical appearance of buildings, habitats, and grounds (scooping, raking, sweeping, shoveling, dusting, mopping, trash removal, scrubbing, weeding, etc.), noting maintenance or repair needs and reporting per protocol.
• Demonstrate kindness and the golden rule in everyday actions by practicing inclusion and respect for every person.
• Treat others with compassion, empathy, and understanding.
• Maintain a safe workplace, valuing and modeling safe work practices, adhering to organizational safety rules, and communicating about unsafe practices and conditions.

Requirements

• Previous animal handling experience required; experience with wildlife or non‑domestic animals strongly preferred.
• Wildlife rehabilitation experience a plus.
• Ability to work with, crate, and handle various species, including those with health and/or behavior conditions (shyness, fearfulness, aggression); basic ability to identify and speak to medical needs, behavioral characteristics, and individual requirements of different wildlife and domestic animal species.
• 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.
• Resourceful, get‑it‑done attitude; ability to adapt 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, team player, personable, professional, and able to work 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; accurate, appropriate, clear, and concise written and verbal communication skills; strong listening skills.
• Basic experience with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software (Best Friends uses Shelterluv) or desire to learn.
• Travel up to 10%.
• Valid driver’s license for at least 3 years, ability to qualify for Best Friends insurance, ability to travel including overnight stays when needed.
• Schedule includes weekends, nights, and holiday work; daily hours and days may vary according to department needs.

Physical requirements

• Perform daily strenuous activity including lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.
• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion.
• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.
• Daily exposure to wildlife and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status.