1. Animal Care Manager
Job Summary
City Wildlife, Washington, DC’s only wildlife center, is seeking an experienced and dedicated Animal Care Manager to lead wildlife rehabilitation on-site. This is a key leadership role responsible for guiding the animal care team and ensuring that we consistently maintain our high standards of medical treatment, animal care, rehabilitation, and successful release.
This hands-on position reports to the Clinic Director and works closely with animal care staff, interns, volunteers, and the front desk team to keep daily operations running smoothly and support excellent outcomes for every patient in our care.
Key Responsibilities
Animal Care, Rehabilitation and Release Leadership
- Lead all non-veterinary animal care and animal husbandry, rehabilitation and release.
- Work directly with animal care staff, volunteers, and interns to ensure that all daily tasks are completed.
- In conjunction with the team, develop and implement protocols that ensure that our patients receive nutritious food and husbandry practices appropriate for their natural history.
- Develop animal care plans based on age, injury, and development with the goal of successful releases in consultation with the Clinic Director.
- Oversee new enclosure set-up, maintain cleanliness, create enrichment and species appropriate habitats.
- Evaluate patients for release and coordinate with the Operations Manager to arrange release.
- Help maintain complete and accurate case records of all patients.
- Review, expand, update, and enforce animal care protocols and cleaning procedures.
- Develop, improve and manage the internship program.
- Arrange wet labs, conduct mid- and end-internship reviews, and review internship survey feedback.
- Keep current on new and emerging information on wildlife rehabilitation, use research to improve animal care and work with other animal care staff to increase their knowledge of the species treated at City Wildlife.
Treatment Support (Scheduled/As Needed)
- Cover treatment for the Clinic Director at least once per week; perform examinations and monitor incoming patients and triage for return to wild, treatment at the center, or euthanasia according to Clinic Director protocols.
- Following instructions of the Clinic Director, perform and assist with medical treatments (e.g., medications, bandaging, therapy, supportive care).
Administrative & Program Support
- Scheduling and leading events and meetings as needed.
- Organization and record keeping including organizing daily work and tasks online and on boards within the center.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in wildlife rehabilitation and/or animal care leadership in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong hands-on husbandry skills and commitment to humane, evidence-based care.
- Demonstrated ability to supervise, train, and support staff, interns, and volunteers.
- Clear communication, strong judgment, and ability to prioritize.
- Experience developing and updating protocols, training materials, and cleanliness/biosecurity standards.
- Previous rehabilitation license in another state or jurisdiction and/or Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator certificate through IWRC.
Permits / Requirements
- Will obtain a District of Columbia Wildlife Rehabilitator Permit (City Wildlife will support this process).
- Valid driver’s license
How to Apply
Please submit a resume and a brief cover letter describing your wildlife rehabilitation/animal care experience and your approach to team leadership to Dr. Sarah Sirica, our Clinic Director at sarah.sirica@citywildlife.org. The closing date for applications is February 27, 2026.
City Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and identities.
2. City Wildlife — Part-Time Operations Manager
Job Summary
The Operations Manager plays a critical leadership role in ensuring the smooth, efficient, and compliant daily operation of City Wildlife, Washington, DC’s only dedicated wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release center. This position is responsible for the systems, infrastructure, supplies, records, protocols, and operational workflows that allow the animal care and veterinary teams to do their work effectively.
The Operations Manager oversees staff scheduling, operational logistics, facilities, equipment, inventory, data systems, and compliance processes, ensuring that the center runs safely, cleanly, efficiently, and in accordance with best practices and regulatory requirements. This role is both strategic and hands-on, supporting a fast-paced, mission-driven clinical environment caring for thousands of wild animals each year.
This is a part-time position (starting at a minimum of 20 hours per week) with a flexible schedule, though on-site presence is essential and occasional weekend or seasonal support may be required.
Key Responsibilities
- Set up and manage staff and volunteer/intern schedules to ensure consistent coverage, including adequate staffing during patient intake surges.
- Monitor stock levels; order and maintain supplies (medical, food, PPE, cleaning, general).
- Coordinate pick-up/delivery with distributors and donors
- Maintain and regularly update operational protocols/SOPs with clinical and animal care leadership, including emergency response plans.
- Ensure housing, enclosures, and equipment are maintained, clean, and functional; coordinate repairs and maintenance schedules for our facilities.
- Ensure timely, accurate WRMD entries and complete intake/treatment/transfer/release documentation, audit data quality and release records.
- Support patient tracking and readiness-for-release documentation; maintain accurate release records and logistics as needed.
- Assist with permit-related documentation, reporting, and operational readiness.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
- 3–5+ years operations experience in wildlife rehab, veterinary/animal care, sheltering, or similar high-volume environment.Demonstrated experience with inventory, facilities/equipment upkeep, and operational systems.
- Strong attention to detail, organization, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced setting.
- Database/recordkeeping proficiency (WRMD or similar).
- Comfortable with physical work and animal-care environments; occasional weekends/holidays as needed.
Requirements
- Valid driver’s license preferred (for releases/transfers, if applicable).
How to Apply
Please submit a resume and a brief cover letter describing your relevant experience. Please send your application to our Executive Director, Dr. Lorraine Docherty at lorraine.docherty@citywildlife.org. The closing date for applications is February 27, 2026.
City Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and identities.
3. City Wildlife — Assistant Animal Care Manager
Job Summary
City Wildlife, Washington, DC’s only dedicated wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center, is seeking an experienced and dedicated Assistant Animal Care Manager to support daily wildlife rehabilitation operations. This hands-on role is designed to support and step into the Animal Care Manager role when the Animal Care Manager is not on site or unavailable.
The Assistant Animal Care Manager plays a key leadership and continuity role, helping ensure that animal care, rehabilitation, and release activities run smoothly and consistently. This position reports to the Animal Care Manager and works closely with the Clinic Director, animal care staff, interns, volunteers, and the front desk.
Key Responsibilities
Animal Care, Rehabilitation & Release Support
- Support daily animal care, husbandry, rehabilitation, and release activities and vet help every other week.
- Manage animal care activities when the animal care manager is not on site or unavailable.
- Work directly with animal care staff, interns, and volunteers to ensure daily tasks are completed to City Wildlife standards.
- Assist with developing and implementing animal care plans based on species, age, injury, and developmental stage, in consultation with the Animal Care Manager and Clinic Director.
- Support enclosure setup, cleanliness, enrichment creation, and maintenance of species-appropriate habitats.
- Evaluate patients for release and coordinate with the Operations Manager to arrange releases as needed.
- Maintain complete and accurate patient records and case documentation.
- Follow, support, and help enforce animal care, cleaning, and biosecurity protocols.
Treatment Support (Scheduled / As Needed)
- Assist the Clinic Director and Animal Care Manager with medical treatments as directed, including administering medications, bandaging, supportive care, and therapy.
- Monitor incoming patients and assist with triage under established Clinic Director protocols.
- Provide continuity of care when the Animal Care Manager is unavailable or engaged in treatment support.
Staff, Intern & Volunteer Support
- Help supervise, train, and support animal care staff, interns, and volunteers.
- Assist with internship program support, including wet labs, evaluations, and feedback.
- Model calm, compassionate, and professional leadership in a fast-paced environment.
Administrative & Program Support
- Assist with daily scheduling, task organization, and communication using shared systems and in-center boards.
- Participate in meetings, trainings, and events as needed.
- Stay current on wildlife rehabilitation best practices and emerging research, and support ongoing learning within the animal care team.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in wildlife rehabilitation and/or animal care in a fast-paced setting.
- Strong hands-on husbandry skills and commitment to humane, evidence-based care.
- Demonstrated ability to step into a leadership role when needed and support team continuity.
- Clear communication skills, sound judgment, and ability to prioritize competing needs.
- Experience following and helping implement protocols, training materials, and cleanliness/biosecurity standards.
- Previous wildlife rehabilitation license in another jurisdiction and/or Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator (CWR) through IWRC preferred.
Permits / Requirements
- Will obtain a District of Columbia Wildlife Rehabilitator Permit (City Wildlife will support this process).
- Valid driver’s license.
How to Apply
Please submit a resume and brief cover letter describing your relevant experience, and your interest in a support leadership role to the Executive Director Dr Lorraine Docherty at lorraine.docherty@citywildlife.org. The closing date for applications is February 27, 2026.
City Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and identities.
