Animal Care Internship

An Animal Care Intern’s primary responsibility is assisting the year-round Animal Care team with husbandry tasks and assiting the year-round Education team with facilitating animal encounters and daily programs as needed. This position is designed for the college student interested in working with wildlife, or for entry-level animal care professionals looking to gain more experience. Works days and hours assigned by Animal Curator; full 40 hours and 5 days per week, maximum 8 hours per day. The internship position is for up to 20 weeks with a minimum duration of 16 weeks available for the right candidate.

Job Duties

• Assists keepers with husbandry tasks (diet preperation, browse collection, habitat cleaning, feeding, watering, enrichment, dishes, etc.)
• Facilitate animal encounters with porcupine, Sitka black-tailed deer, reindeer, moose, and bears
• Frontline interpretation ensuring positive guest interactions and managing guest behaviors and needs
• Lead daily programs, talks, and tours with the Education team as needed
• Assist with orphaned animal care as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Necessary Skills

• Ability to work in a team environment to help achieve AWCC’s goals and objectives
• Exemplify a professional, positive, and respectful attitude and strong work ethic
• Attention to detail and time management skills
• Ability to compromise, listen, learn, understand, and follow instructions
• Be comfortable working around animals in human care
• Ability to work outdoors in drastically changing weather including extreme wind, temperatures, pouring rain, and winter conditions
• Ability to work long hours on your feet and walk long distances over uneven terrain 
• Ability to perform physically demanding tasks such as cleaning and moving up to 40 pounds
• Ability to work directly with the public and diverse audiences providing information and assistance as needed
• Must be able to work a highly variable schedule as needed, including all weekends, early mornings, and nights
• Strong time and task management skills
• Current driver’s license
• Must be eligible to work in the United States
• Must have received or be willing to receive a tetanus vaccination by date of hire to be considered. Proof of vaccination required.

Additionally Considered Skills

These additional skills will be considered, but are not required for this position

• Preferred internship length is 16-20 weeks with end dates in Mid– September
• Some college or graduate coursework in a related field. Some examples may include Education, Interpretation, Wildlife Biology, Environmental Studies, Natural Resources, Zoological Sciences, Ecology, Animal Science, or other related topics of interest
• Application demonstrates how this opportunity will be a career building opportunity
• Application demonstrates knowledge of AWCC programs
• Experience with Alaska’s wildlife and environment
• This position is eligible as a credit earning opportunity in the University of Alaska system along with several other universities. If you are interested in earning credit for this opportunity, please inquire in your application packet.
• Rabies vaccine: depending on the animals in our care at the time of the internship having this vaccination may lead to more animal care opportunities
• Fluency in multiple languages
• First Aid and CPR Certified

Area Specifics and Benefits

• Housing is provided as a benefit for seasonal team members with a $300 security / cleaning deposit.
• Housing is on-site and is dormitory style with multiple shared bedrooms as well as shared bathrooms, kitchen, living room, and laundry machines, Wi-Fi is provided. Ability to courteously live with other team members is essential.
• Staff living on-site with a valid driver’s license and safe driving record have occasional access to an AWCC vehicle for group grocery and supply runs.
• Portage, Alaska is located 45 miles southeast of Anchorage, and 10 miles past Girdwood, a small ski-town. There is one small grocery store in Girdwood; Anchorage has the closest typical city amenities.
• This position has uniform requirements, specific uniform requirements will be provided to the employee including jacket, rain jacket, mid-layer, and shirts.
• Additional gear/clothing for comfort working outside and non-working times is employee responsibility
• Employees receive free admission to AWCC for friends and family
• Employees receive a discount in our Be Wild Gift Shop

To Apply

• Submit a single page resume
• Submit a single page cover letter detailing how this position would help you to progress in your chosen career path. Cover letters should demonstrate an understanding of AWCC’s mission and programming.
• Phone and email contacts for three professional references with job titles and working relationship.
• Include month and date for earliest available start date and latest available end date.