Description

Wildlife Veterinarian

• Unique opportunity to influence education, policy and wildlife care standards
• Work alongside a passionate, supportive team united by a shared commitment to wildlife
• Enjoy a hybrid work model with purpose-driven impact

ABOUT US

WIRES is Australia's largest wildlife rescue organisation and has been rescuing and caring for sick, injured and orphaned native animals for 40 years. WIRES' mission is to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same.

WIRES operates a dedicated Wildlife Rescue Office assisting wildlife and the community across Australia 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, providing rescue advice and assistance for approximately 150,000 animals annually, as well as providing full-time mobile Wildlife Emergency Responders operating across NSW, South-East Queensland and Tasmania.

WIRES also provides significant national support for hundreds of projects to assist with wildlife rescue and rehabilitation across Australia and collaborates nationally with major partners to support the long-term recovery of wildlife habitat and the preservation of native species.

ABOUT THE ROLE

WIRES Wildlife Veterinarian (WWV) reports to WIRES Head of Training and Development and works closely with WIRES staff and volunteers, to ensure all WIRES activities are designed to deliver best practice welfare outcomes for native animals. The WWV plays a vital role in the development of WIRES animal welfare protocols, strategic decision making, key industry stakeholder engagement and relationship management.

This is a unique and rewarding opportunity for a passionate wildlife veterinarian to take on a role that goes beyond clinical care. The role offers the opportunity to shape best-practice standards, support volunteer and veterinary training, and drive meaningful change in wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation.

• Full-time, 12 month fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension
• Salary commensurate with experience
• Flexible working with a mix of working from home and in our modern, spacious, eco friendly Brookvale offices (with free access to outdoor swimming pool)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide wildlife veterinary advice, support, and guidance for internal and external stakeholders, managing animal welfare in line with appropriate legislation, codes of practice and best practice veterinary medicine.
• Assess and manage risks to compliance, working to always ensure the best welfare outcomes for wildlife
• Collaborate with the WIRES Training team to develop, update, and deliver training where required for internal and external stakeholders (including webinars, courses, workshops, and custom sessions) that enhance emergency rescue, rehabilitation, and release outcomes and reflect current best-practice, science-based standards for wildlife care.
• Assist in the review of NPWS and national documents relating to wildlife care/rehabilitation
• Help lead WIRES response to biosecurity threats
• Contribute to strategic decision-making processes for WIRES including but not limited to policies and position, best practice rehabilitation, emergency preparation and response, biosecurity, and wildlife conservation research.
• Help develop and implement programs to improve WIRES engagement with the community re wildlife health, particularly vets and wildlife hospitals, increasing engagement and skills in relation to wildlife care and emergency response, which may include setting up a graduate / veterinary mentoring program long-term.
• Assist with the evaluation and oversight of any research or major projects WIRES is involved in related to wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release.
• Assist with welfare cases as needed, including on-site inspections and providing veterinary advice to ensure high standards of care and compliance are maintained.
• Provide peer-to-peer support to other veterinarians, offering guidance and expertise where needed to assist with wildlife case management.
• Provide support where needed for animal cases involving seizures, surrenders, or similar situations relating to native companion animals.
• Assist with the development and ongoing refinement of WIRES SOP’s, husbandry guides, ID charts, and general information, particularly for new and existing facilities.
• Help lead improvements for WIRES species management, including:
  • Identifying and addressing gaps in knowledge, and in rescue and rehabilitation processes
  • Increasing carer and veterinary capacity for critical species
  • Providing advice re the design and operation of WIRES facilities to deliver best-practice outcomes
  • Ensuring that the above is addressed as a priority for threatened species.
• Potentially attend rescues, and assist with triage management, during major emergency events
• Act as a media spokesperson, and senior representative for WIRES at workshops, conferences, working groups and meetings
• Engaging with and ongoing relationship management of key stakeholders within the veterinary industry, government, private sector, and the community.
• Ensure all systems are kept up to date with accurate information
• Perform other duties as requested by management.

Requirements

KEY SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

Key skills and qualifications include:

• Experienced wildlife veterinarian with a minimum of 5 years clinical experience (preferably with postgraduate qualifications), and extensive expertise in the handling, treatment, triage, surgery, husbandry, and rehabilitation of native wildlife, including emergency situations.
• Demonstrated ability to improve animal welfare outcomes and work well with staff and volunteers
• Thorough understanding of the various acts and policies governing wildlife, wildlife health, biosecurity and veterinary medicine, including the Codes of Practice and their importance in wildlife rehabilitation Understanding of the AVA standards and policies regarding the treatment of wildlife
• Experienced exotic animal veterinarian with in-depth understanding of the legislation governing the keeping of domestic native animals, and animal welfare laws including the documentation of evidence for prosecution.
• Wildlife hospital planning and managerial experience – experience managing people, budgets and resources in high stress / high workload environments involving training, mentoring and managing people of quite diverse backgrounds
• Experience in the One Health discipline as well as species recovery programs, disease risk analysis and research
• High level working knowledge of Australia’s biosecurity laws and surveillance including disease surveillance and quarantine in native animal collections.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering course content
• High level training and presentations skills, with experience producing training materials for diverse audiences
• Ability to communicate scientific knowledge to stakeholders of diverse backgrounds.
• Experience in media communications.
• Confidence in explaining and demonstrating critical information for training and media (possibly filmed)

Key attributes:

• Exceptional organisational and communication skills
• Excellent record keeping skills with strong attention to detail
• The ability to multitask and work well under pressure
• A proactive approach and excellent problem-solving skills
• Awareness of the importance of data integrity and accuracy
• Emotional resilience and ability to maintain wellbeing while working in emotionally demanding situations
• Willingness to work cooperatively and collaboratively across the organisation
• Recognition of the broader needs of WIRES while meeting specific objectives of the role
• Openness to change and the flexibility to accommodate changing requirements to fulfil objectives
• Always maintaining confidentiality of all animal case, volunteer and staff information

HOW TO APPLY

Click the apply button now.  Applications without a Cover Letter will not be considered.

Due to the volume of candidates applying, only those shortlisted will be contacted.

As applicants will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, we encourage you to get your application in as soon as possible.