Wildlife Veterinarian

Wild Care Oklahoma is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that provides wildlife and conservation education, technical assistance in resolving human animal conflicts, advocacy for wildlife and the places they live, medical and rehabilitative care to ill, injured, and orphaned wildlife, and members of the public a place to bring native wildlife struggling to survive with the goal of releasing healthy individuals back to nature.

Wild Care Oklahoma is the only wildlife rehabilitation and education facility in Oklahoma serving the entire state, and it one of the ten largest in the U.S. in terms of admissions.

The wildlife veterinarian is responsible for the medical evaluation and care of the over 7,500 injured, ill, and orphaned wildlife brought to and cared for at the center each year. Because Oklahoma is one of only 4 states with over 10 distinct ecoregions and on the central flyway, the veterinarian will treat a wide diversity of patients – over 230 distinct species are brought to Wild Care annually.

This position has an unprecedented opportunity to shape the field of wildlife medicine in the state of Oklahoma—the organization has undertaken a large capital campaign to build state-of-the-art facilities for raptors, predator species, waterbirds, and aquatic mammals. The veterinarian will be part of the team overseeing the design and building of these facilities.

The Wildlife Veterinarian will:

• Efficiently oversee, manage, and participate in medical care of Wild Care’s wildlife patients.
• Regularly provide supervision, training, and guidance to wildlife veterinary and rehabilitation team members in collaboration with the Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation and the Wildlife Center Operations Director.
• Ensure that top quality of care is provided according to the latest practice-based, evidence-based and/or scientific information.
• Actively participate in the design and oversight of five building projects including a state-of-the art raptor center, predator habitat, aquatic mammal habitat, waterbird habitat, and commissary – an unprecedented investment in the medical and rehabilitative care of wildlife in Oklahoma.

• Maintain a professional, safe, and humane environment for staff, fellows, interns, and volunteers as well as animals in care.
• Provide and oversee daily medical care for wildlife patients, including examinations, treatments, diagnostic procedures, physical therapy, surgeries, medication regimens, and monitoring patient’s progress.
• Oversee the patient euthanasia protocol; ensure key staff are appropriately trained and supervised in their administration of euthanasia.
• Identify the need for and coordination of veterinary care, including leading and participating in patient rounds and clinic procedures with the wildlife rehabilitation team.
• Develop, improve, and implement patient protocols.
• Perform patient admissions and intake exams as needed.
• In coordination with other staff, interact with other rehabilitation centers, zoological institutions, and conservation organizations on topics regarding progressive animal care, husbandry, research, and conservation as appropriate.

• Supervise, evaluate, and provide direction to the veterinary team providing care to Wild Care’s wildlife patients.
• Provide leadership to the Capital (Building) Campaign on the design and construction of the Oklahoma Raptor Center, the Predator Enclosure, the Aquatic Mammal Habitat, the Waterbird Habitat, and the New Outback Commissary.
• Manage the operations of the medical facility within the budget.
• Contribute to the development of grant proposals and other revenue-generating as needed.
• Recognize when and what projects need to be completed. Prioritize them accordingly, and design and execute a plan to get them done.
• Monitor the use of resources and order/purchase more as needed in collaboration with management team.

• Identify and provide opportunities for wildlife rehabilitation staff to learn and grow, take on new responsibilities, attend professional conferences, and help them develop as professionals in the field with external…