Show Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician

Save Our Shearwaters is the only Federal and State permitted facility on Kaua‘i approved to rehabilitate native Hawaiian species. We accept all native Hawaiian birds and the Hawaiian hoary bat for rehabilitation. Initiated by the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources/Division of Forestry and Wildlife in 1979 to respond to the annual grounding of hundreds of light-attracted fledgling shearwaters and petrels. Save Our Shearwaters has evolved into a multispecies rehabilitation effort. 

Since Save Our Shearwaters was created in 1979, volunteers and residents have collected more 35,000 seabirds— 90 percent of which recovered and were released back to the wild. The majority of the seabirds collected through the program are members of state and federally listed endangered species.

The Save Our Shearwaters (SOS) program seeks a Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician to aid in the rehabilitation of native Hawaiian birds and the Hawaiian hoary bat. Historically, SOS admits approximately 600 patients per year, with over half of the patients listed as threatened or endangered species. The majority of patients are admitted between September and December during “fallout” season. “Fallout” is the phenomenon where shearwaters and petrels (mainly fledglings) are attracted to artificial lights by mistake and fall to the ground. Once grounded these birds have difficulty taking flight on their own. This makes them susceptible to predators, being hit by vehicles, or other threats. Aside from shearwaters and petrels during “fallout”, SOS treats all native species and runs a permitted rehabilitation facility 365 days a year. The year-round staff consists of only 5 staff members, with 3-4 seasonal technicians hired each fall to assist with fallout.

This position pays $20/hr. A typical work week will consist of 5 days/40 hours. Scheduled shifts may include days, evenings, weekends, and holidays. The position would start on April 1st, 2025.

Housing is not provided and there is no housing assistance available. Please be aware prior to applying that the cost of living is high on Kaua‘i and the rental market can be sparse. We encourage all off-island applicants to do their research prior to applying to see if they are truly able and willing to move to the island. Technicians are responsible for their own transportation to and from work. Preference will be given to candidates already living on Kauai.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assist in the husbandry of native Hawaiian birds undergoing rehabilitation at SOS
• Regular and thorough daily cleaning of equipment, enclosures, dishes, and laundry.
• Follow individual care plans developed by the Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager
• Follow all set protocols for the facility including data collection, biosecurity, facility maintenance, and more.
• Transport native Hawaiian birds to/from the rehabilitation facility
• Perform general rehabilitation procedures such as avian gavage and other basic husbandry techniques (training provided)
• Data entry into the Wildlife Rehabilitation Medical Database (WRMD) and data proofing
• Perform public outreach while in the field and at community events
• Field calls on the SOS hotline phone
  • Occasionally during the workday
  • Hold and answer hotline overnight (irregular to hold outside of fallout season, hold approximately once per week during fallout season)
  • Compensation provided when holding hotline phone overnight
• Application of federal bird bands on releasable patients (training provided)

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology or other related field
• An understanding of wildlife rehabilitation and what it entails (including the more mundane aspects of avian husbandry such as cleaning, laundry, more cleaning, and more laundry!)
• Direct bird handling experience
• Detail-oriented; experience entering and interpreting data with dependable accuracy
• Respectful and supportive of others
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Capable of working independently and as part of a team
• Valid driver’s license and a good driving record
• Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of conservation efforts in the Hawaiian Islands
• Waterbird and seabird rehabilitation experience
• Prior work with native Hawaiian species
• Experience fielding wildlife hotline calls
• Familiarity with Wildlife Rehabilitation Medical Database

Benefits include fully compensated medical/vision/dental coverage after one full calendar month of employment. SOS offers all eligible staff accrual-based paid time off that equates to 10 vacation days, 10 paid sick days, and 10 paid holidays annually.  Additionally, staff receive a $25 monthly phone reimbursement. Save Our Shearwaters is a qualified employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

Please send your cover letter, resume and 3 references in a single document to soskauaijobs@gmail.com. Please put ‘Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician’ in the subject line. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, so those interested are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.