Wildlife Technician Assistant

The Wildlife Technician Assistant must adhere to College Districts Policies, employee handbook, and Institutional Advancement Division Protocols.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities

1. Assists the Wildlife Technicians with indoor/outdoor maintenance and reporting of all exhibits, including feed logs, maintenance log, and health care logs.
2. Cares for plant and animal species used in living exhibits and rehabilitation care. Must be proactive in the learning of husbandry for new animal species.
3. Maintains freshwater/saltwater aquariums and enclosures for fish and other aquatic species along with mammals, reptiles and avian species.
4. Responsible for becoming familiar with the 31 Texas Administrative Code §69 Subchapter C, Subchapter J and Park and Wildlife Code Chapter 43 Subchapter C along with knowledge of animal behavior and the requirements for maintaining healthy animals.
5. Assists with the inventory management of animal care supplies, medications, and operational materials to ensure daily readiness and proper stock levels. This includes re-stocking of any items that are needed such as handtowels, napkins, hand soap, gloves, gowns, and cleaning supplies.
6. Assist with aquatic animal husbandry, including water changes, filter maintenance, substrate replacement, feeding, and habitat setup for aquatic species.
7. Supports daily feeding, enrichment activities, enclosure maintenance, substrate replacement, and habitat re-organization for mammals, avian, and reptilian species.
8. Prepares daily operational and animal care reports documenting feeding schedules, cleaning activities, maintenance tasks, and additional assignments from supervisory staff.
9. Maintains ponds and aquatic systems through cleaning, vacuuming, filter pumps inspections, and routine maintenance procedures.
10. Performs groundskeeping and enclosure maintenance, including mowing, trimming vegetation, edging, and maintaining safe and clean outdoor environment within animal habitats and public areas.
11. Assist in the development of beautification and conservation projects within the complex and El Paso del Indio Trail featuring native vegetation and educational landscaping for students and community visitors.
12. Maintains cleanliness and safety of sidewalks, pathways, enclosures, and outdoor common area through sweeping, trimming, painting, and general upkeep.
13. Sanitizes and maintains animal care facilities, reptile room, food preparation areas, visitor spaces, and restrooms using manual and powered cleaning equipment.
14. Assist with the development of new exhibits as the need arises for reptiles, mammals, avian species and water animals.
15. Attends mandatory College District and/or departmental professional development workshops, trainings and conferences including the safety of animal handling.
16. Performs additional duties as assigned by LBVEC Director and VP of Institutional Advancement.

Qualifications/Certifications/Licenses/Skills

NOTICE: Required Documents

To be considered for this position, you are required to upload your high school diploma or unofficial transcript or GED certificate. If recommended for this position an official transcript(s) will be required, if applicable. If a license or certificate is required for this position, upload proof of your current license/certificate.

Required:

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Minimum two-year wildlife handling experience.
• International Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition Basic Training Certificate. (LC may provide support to obtain this certification).
• Must have CPR/AED certificate and CPR/First Aid for mammalians or must be received within 9 months of hire.
• Must obtain Food Handler Certificate from the City of Laredo.
• Must have a valid Drivers License and current car insurance to travel. In accordance with CJ (Local) while driving on College District business, employees are required to abide by all applicable laws, rules, regulations ordinances, policies, and procedures.

Preferred:

• Associate degree in wildlife management, zoology, biology, or related field.
• Three years wildlife handling experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Animal care and husbandry.
2. Aquarium and facility maintenance
3. Customer service and community relations
4. Bilingual communication
5. Microsfot Office & Digital Platforms
6. Organization and multitasking
7. Team supervision
8. Problem-solving
9. Attention to detail
10. Sanitation and cleanliness standards
11. Time management
12. Fast-paced work environments

Additional Information

Introductory Review PeriodAll hires are subject to a 90 day introductory review period.

Supervision Exercised
Supervises volunteer workers and work-study students.

Supervision Received
Reports to the Director, Wildlife Education Coordinator, and/or Vice President of Institutional Advancement.

Physical Requirements
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit.
The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move items weighing up to 50 pounds.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment
Work is performed in a standard office environment.
Work inside a well-lighted and air-conditioned area most of the time.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

Safety
Required to work safely and follow safety rules.
Report unsafe working conditions and behavior.
Take reasonable and prudent actions to prevent others from engaging in unsafe practices.

Special Conditions
Immediate supervisor may assign other duties.
May be required to work outside regular working hours, as needed.
May be required to work at a different college work site or campus as needed.

EEO Statement
In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Laredo College is open to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, or national origin who are otherwise eligible for admission as students. Furthermore, Laredo College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and no applicant or employee will be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability or national origin. This institution will not enter knowingly into any contractual agreement for services or supplies with any firm failing to follow fair employment practices.

Foreign Degrees
Foreign degrees require an evaluation for United States equivalency from an approved stated education agency or having membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Transcripts issued outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached to your online application at the time of applying. For your convenience, we have provided the following links to assist you in complying with this requirement. However, you may use any other certified transcript evaluation service. http://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Certification/Out-of-state_Certification/Foreign_Credential_Evaluation_Services/ http://www.naces.org/members.htm

Disclaimer
The above description is an overview of the job. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities of the job, nor is it intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Duties and responsibilities may change with business needs. LC reserves the right to add, change, amend, or delete portions of this job description at any time, with or without notice. Employees may be required to perform other duties as requested, directed, or assigned. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made by LC as its discretion to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.