Job Title:                      Education and Outreach Assistant

Status:                         Temporary (Seasonal), 4-month contract

                                      Five 8-hour shifts per week, must be available some weekends,

                                      evenings and holidays as required to attend education events

Location:                     On-site (Downsview Park) and off-site at event locations  across GTA

Start Date:                    Mid-Late April or ASAP thereafter;  must be available for on-site training on May 1^st  and May 6^th       

Compensation:           $17-$19 per hour, commensurate with experience

About Toronto Wildlife Centre

Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC) is a registered charity that provides rescue, medical care and rehabilitation to sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife as well as public education about wildlife issues. TWC is the busiest wildlife centre in Canada, admitting approximately 6,000 patients annually, with more than 300 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians represented. For more information, please visit our website: www.torontowildlifecentre.com

Job Summary

As Education and Outreach Assistant, you will educate and inspire people to take action to help wildlife!

In this exciting role, you will work alongside a friendly, passionate and supportive team delivering educational presentations and workshops, and attending community events promoting peaceful coexistence with wildlife. You will engage visitors in TWC’s public education area and patient viewing hallway, answer questions, and garner donations. You will also use your administrative and superior communication skills to make telephone calls to members of the public to update them on the animal they brought in, as well as send out emails to people inquiring about wildlife situations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Deliver pre-prepared educational presentations and workshops to children, youth and adults at indoor and outdoor events
• Prepare, pack and load/setup education materials for presentations and events
• Set up and staff the TWC booth at fairs and community events
• Carry out proper husbandry of our wild education ambassador “Hotdog” – the big and friendly snapping turtle following cleaning, feeding and handling protocols
• Manage and support education volunteers at events
• Keep TWC’s public education area clean and organized
• Maintain signage and ensure animals are on display in TWC’s viewing hallway
• Organize educational materials following protocols before and after event
• Update and maintain Hotline database records with precision
• Interpret medical charts and provide accurate patient updates to callers that have brought an animal to TWC
• Engage visitors in TWC’s Public Education Area, promote our mission and the work we do, our status as a charity and solicit and process donations as appropriate
• Provide resources and information pertaining to visitors’ interests and inquiries

Qualifications

Education:

• Post-secondary education (diploma, degree, or in progress) in related field such as education/teaching, environmental studies, biology, animal sciences, fundraising, client and customer relations

Experience:

• Minimum 1-year demonstrated experience working with children and youth in an educational capacity such as a school, outdoor education or alternative education centre, preferably nature-focused
• Customer service and/or fundraising experience is an asset

Competencies:

• Hold a genuine concern for the welfare of wild animals and for teaching
• Skilled public speaker familiar with approaches and techniques used to manage and engage child/youth audiences, and visitors to TWC
• Able to deliver a strong fundraising message that appeals to potential donors and be comfortable soliciting donations
• Able to maintain exceptional attention to detail while handling multiple tasks simultaneously to meet time sensitive demands
• Highly organized with strong logic and problem-solving skills
• Able to handle exposure to high stress and emotional situations while maintaining professionalism
• Strong and efficient learner willing to meet challenges of receiving training and feedback on an ongoing basis
• Enthusiastic, empathetic, positive, and open-minded
• Experienced in using a database, and common online functions (e.g. Google, websites)
• Able to type 40+wpm
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
• Possess a G2 driver’s license with clean driving record

Assets:

• Work or volunteer experience in a non-profit, or similar organisation
• Fluency in a second language commonly spoken in the Greater Toronto Area
• Strong natural history background ideally with a focus on southern Ontario wildlife
• Access to a vehicle is an asset but not mandatory

Physical Requirements

• Requires the ability to spend extended periods using a computer keyboard and making phone calls
• Requires extended periods of sitting
• Requires extended periods of speaking
• Requires lifting and carrying kennel cabs containing wild patients with assistance as required

Working Conditions

• This position requires working near animals and materials that may trigger allergic reactions
• Open office/hospital environment, with noise and frequent interruption
• Hours/shifts will fluctuate depending on job demands
• Required to walk on concrete floors in the building