HHS Wildlife Center Wildlife Education Internship

Job Title: HHS Wildlife Center Wildlife Education Internship

The Wildlife Education Internship provides interns with comprehensive training in Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center’s daily operations and wildlife education efforts. Wildlife Education interns will work under the supervision of the Volunteer Coordinator within the Education department.  The wildlife education internship provides training such as hands-on experience with small mammals, birds, and reptiles, animal husbandry and enrichment techniques, positive reinforcement training, education programs, and community outreach. Candidates for this position should be personable, reliable, flexible, motivated, and capable of multitasking.  Must be comfortable working with insects and other prey foods.

Primary Responsibilities

• Be familiar with the mission and history of the Houston Humane Society and HHS Wildlife Center
• Animal Husbandry:
  • Be familiar with the natural history, handling, and care of our ambassador animals
  • Care for ambassador animals by:
    • Diet preparation and feeding
    • Cleaning enclosures
    • Providing enrichment
    • Washing Dishes
    • Cleaning additional areas when assigned

• Education Programming:
  • Assist in providing high-quality wildlife education programs to a variety of audiences and age groups in a multitude of settings.
    • Engage and direct children in a variety of settings and group sizes
    • Clearly explain science and conservation topics to a variety of audiences
    • Interns will present or assist with administering activities, crafts, and games
    • Organize and lead scout programs related to wildlife and conservation
    • Monitor audiences/the crowd during presentations and events
    • Interns should also encourage inquisitiveness, demonstrate eagerness, and ignite a lasting understanding of environmental stewardship

• Represent HHS Wildlife Center in a professional manner at community events, festivals, and expos.
• Effectively communicate with HHS Wildlife Center staff members, interns, volunteers, visitors, and members of the public.
• Maintain a safe and professional working environment for all
• Work together with staff and volunteers to complete daily tasks
• Assist education staff with other important tasks to prepare for future programs
• Complete all supplemental training materials as assigned
• Attend outreach events as assigned
• Attend additional training as assigned

Meetings

• Perform one-on-one meetings with the Volunteer Coordinator every 3 weeks

Requirements

• 3-month term
• Hours/Week: 4 shifts a week with 4 to 9 hours a shift for three months, requires minimum completion of 200 hours. (The completion of an internship does not guarantee full-time or part-time job placement at HHS Wildlife Center)
• Terms: Summer- May through July
• Wage/Salary: $10/hr
• Interns must attend a training orientation
• Interns must be at least 18 years old by the internship application due date and currently enrolled in college.
• Must be available to work all scheduled shifts, including early mornings, late nights, and weekends
• Public speaking and presentation skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Interns must have reliable transportation
• Must be able to pass a background check
• Ability to work well with diverse groups of people, personalities, and learning styles.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member
• All applicants must provide a current resume and a letter of recommendation from either a professor, teacher, or previous employer in their online application
• Ideal Applicants should be pursuing a degree in Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Education, or a similar field of study, or Pre-Vet or Graduate classes within the same scope 
• Well-organized and able to effectively manage multiple tasks, projects, and responsibilities simultaneously
• Capable of rigorous indoor and outdoor work
• Comfortable preparing and working with various insects and carcasses
• Work will often require standing, bending, stooping, lifting (must be able to lift 40 lbs), climbing ladders, and reading small text
• Any applicable college credit (or additional requirements) must be arranged by the student through his/her institution and presented to HHSWC staff during the initial interview.

Changing Office Locations:

The HHS Wildlife Center will be changing locations to a new and improved building in 2024. The new location will be 3100 W. Fuqua Street, Houston, TX 77045. All employees must be willing to work at the current location and switch to the new location after the move.

Send additional documents, including resumes and cover letters, to wildlifevolunteer@houstonhumane.org