Curator of Animal Programs, James H. Barrow Biological ...

Hiram College is seeking a Curator of Animal Programs to oversee and operate the Animal Care and Husbandry department at the James H. Barrow Biological Field Station (FS). The Curator of Animal Programs is responsible for the administration and execution of all animal programs, hiring and supervision of student workers and interns, building and maintaining partnerships, and collaborating with other Field Station departments in the implementation of the Station's initiatives as applicable. Founded in 1850, Hiram College provides students of all backgrounds with an attainable private education that teaches the 21st-century skills needed to thrive professionally and personally in the face of inevitable and constant change. Built on a community that fosters student-faculty collaboration, the College equips all students with the tools necessary to embrace active learning in the classroom, in Ohio, and beyond through technology, internship, study away, research, and other experiential opportunities for growth and development. Recognized by Colleges of Distinction, The Princeton Review, U.S. News and World Report, and as a top baccalaureate college by Washington Monthly, Hiram enrolls over 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students in academic programs on its Northeast Ohio campus and online. Duties and Responsibilities: * Develop and implement protocols for the care of all display and ambassador animals, White-winged wood ducks, and wildlife rehabilitation patients. This includes developing nutritional diets, enrichment, training, veterinary care, treatment plans, administration of daily medications, habitat creation, infrastructure maintenance, and triage/supportive care. * Field calls through the wildlife hotline and educate the public about native and "nuisance" wildlife issues. * Be available on-call for rescuing injured and orphaned wildlife. * Maintain all the infrastructure for Animal Care including Duckhouse, waterfowl rehab pools, all flight cages, stream building, mammal caging, and indoor displays in collaboration with the Operations Manager. * Maintain all standards for animals in captivity that meet the requirements of the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. And per those requirements, work with our multiple regional veterinarians to ensure all our display and ambassador animals are healthy and receive yearly health checks. * Interview and hire student workers during the academic year and full-time interns for the summer. This includes selecting a more experienced student for the Student Manager position. * Manage approximately 25 student workers during the academic year, and up to nine full-time interns during the summer months. This includes supervising student workers in daily care, maintenance, training, and husbandry protocol for all display and ambassador animals, White-winged wood duck collection, and wildlife rehabilitation animals. * Mentor/train students on how to deliver educational programs using our display and ambassador animals, and on how conduct Field Station tours for College Admission visits and other events. * Manage the three student workers living in the Bunkhouse (our on-site dormitory). This includes conducting regular meetings with these students to ensure things are going well, mitigating student conflict, and empowering the students to develop collaborative ways to live together harmoniously. Additionally, work with the College's Residence Life department to ensure these students have the resources they need to live comfortably in the Bunkhouse. * Collaborate with the Animal Care & Husbandry's student manager in creating the monthly student worker schedule; institute new student worker trainings; and mitigate student conflict. * Monitor and sign off on student worker/interns bi-weekly timecards. * Provide a supportive and educational work atmosphere for all student workers. Be available on-call for student workers' questions, concerns, and shift call-offs. * Supervise student volunteers from other institutions along with high school interns wanting experience in wildlife and animal care & husbandry. * Supervise selected Field Station's field research projects including snake and salamander biological monitoring, and Snake Fungal Disease (SFD) research in collaboration with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Supervise and support Animal Care & Husbandry student workers with research projects that relate to their areas of interest and/or senior capstones. * Edit student research posters for conference presentations including the College's internal student conferences (September and April) and the Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitation Association-OWRA (November). * Contribute to biology's and environmental studies' course activities such as speaking in class, field trips, and tours of the Field Station. * Maintain and update all permits with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) necessary for education/display animals and for wildlife field research. This includes communicating with all researchers working at the Field Station (College professors and staff, external collaborators) to ensure their research meets the standards of these organizations, and that correct protocol is followed for wildlife field research. * Compile year-end reports for wildlife rehab patients for both the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). * Maintain inventory of animal care supplies, food, medications, wildlife rehab supplies, etc. * Manage the Animal Care and Husbandry department's budget in consultation with the Director of Field Stations. * Collaborate with the Land Stewardship Manager on what crops and produce to grow for the feeding of Field Station animals. * Maintain the indoor insect breeding populations as food sources for our animals. * Supervise the Animal Care & Husbandry social media content produced by designated student worker. Additionally, contribute to that social media production with photographs and developing stories and ideas. * Contribute to fundraising efforts, such as helping develop grant proposals and fostering and cultivating relationships with donors. This includes providing information and updates on activities by the Animal Care & Husbandry department and its students. * Coordinate and collaborate with the College's veterinarian for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) on care and protocol for wildlife patients. * Maintain IACUC standards at the College per USDA regulations in collaboration with the College's IACUC Board. * Co-facilitate and/or assist the Education & Outreach Coordinator with school programs, field trips, and summer camp classes. * Support College Admission's student recruitment initiatives. This includes conducting Field Station tours for prospective students and their families and attending events such as freshmen orientations, First Days program, student acceptance days, etc. * Present programs at the Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association's (OWRA) yearly conferences. * Collaborate with the Akron Zoo in their endangered White-winged wood duck breeding program. This includes housing the breeding ducks at the Field Station, implementing breeding protocols, and recording data of breeding outcomes. * Pursue and provide potential opportunities for student workers to intern at other related facilities including Lake Metroparks' Penitentiary Glen Wildlife Center, Medina Raptor Center, and Akron Zoo Qualifications: * Education: A bachelor's degree in biology, environmental studies/sciences, or related fields. The successful candidate must demonstrate an appreciation for higher education and an interest in supporting the interdisciplinary approach to the educational mission and efforts of the Field Stations and of Hiram College. * Extensive knowledge and experience in administering and managing the care and husbandry of resident reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. * Extensive knowledge and experience in wildlife rehabilitation. * Experience in supervising and managing student workers and volunteers. * Ability and interest to mentor and motivate students from diverse populations. * Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate with diverse audiences. * Experience with development and delivery of educational programming is preferred. Application Process: Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting 1) a letter of application addressing their qualifications and their experience related to the position's responsibilities; 2) resume; and 3) names and contact information (email addresses and telephone numbers) of three professional references. Please apply online: Review of applications will begin November 25, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. Start date no later than June 1, 2025, and as early as May 19, 2025. Hiram College is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to Excellence through Diversity. apply now

Created: 2024-11-27