Wildlife Technician - Wildbase

at  Massey University

Wildlife Technician
Position Purpose: The purpose of this position is to provide in-patient hospital nursing
care and day-to-day support to veterinarians in the running of the
Wildbase Hospital and Wildbase Recovery rehabilitation aviaries.
Department: Wildbase Hospital, School of Veterinary Sciences
Location: Palmerston North
Reports to: Senior Practicing Veterinarian, Wildbase
Responsible for: Nil
Delegations: Nil
Job Title: Wildlife Technician
Key relationships: Internal External
Wildbase Clinic Staff Palmerston North City Council
Wildbase Recovery Staff Wildbase Veterinary Clients
VTH Staff Department of Conservation
Students – undergraduate and Wildlife Rehabilitators Network of
postgraduate New Zealand
Wider School Colleagues Wider New Zealand Veterinary
professionals
Massey University: We are a world-leading university in many academic disciplines and fields
of research. Our point of difference is research that is connected to
community and industry. Our researchers are developing expertise and
skills to advance human knowledge and understanding. Working together
across disciplines and locations, we solve national and global problems
through fundamental, applied and interdisciplinary research, while
culturally and artistically enriching our world.
We are deeply committed to being a Te Tiriti-led university, demonstrating
authentic leadership in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand as we uphold
Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding document of our nation, and its principles
through our practice. We embrace this not just as an obligation but as a
real opportunity for the nation and its people.
Our educators are preparing a new generation of global leaders. Our
students are diverse and are attracted to Massey because they want to
achieve their personal goals or make their mark in the world. They
experience world-class learning that recognises their intellectual and
cultural strengths, expands their horizons and prepares them to contribute
to a rapidly transforming world with skills, critical and creative thinking and
leadership.
We will be renowned for our passion and caring attitude. All Massey
campuses will be innovation ecosystems, acting as magnets for smart
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enterprises. Wherever we are, we will operate in partnerships founded on
respect, trust and mutual benefit. Massey is not only defined by what we
do, but by how we do it.
The School of Veterinary Science advances knowledge in animal health and
About this area
welfare, biosecurity, conservation and sustainable productivity. We are a
world-leader in our field, working with governments, other universities,
international and national organisations and companies to improve animal
health and production, and human health. We have over 1000 students,
250 staff and 170 research programmes.
Wildbase Hospital operates as a non-profit organisation alongside the
Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) providing medical and surgical care of
native wildlife and veterinary care to privately owned birds and reptiles.
The VTH is an integral part of the School of Veterinary Sciences (SoVS),
being a state-of-the-art facility offering New Zealand’s most
comprehensive veterinary expertise. Final-year veterinary undergraduate
students work alongside our clinical and technical staff to provide the best
possible animal care to our patients and to ensure our students have the
skills required to enter the veterinary profession at the end of their degree.
Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery is a collaboration between the
Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) and Massey University. Within the
Recovery centre, the Wildbase group cares for native wildlife during the
rehabilitation phase of their veterinary treatment and contributes to the
community education activities of the PNCC.
Massey core capabilities
At Massey we are Tiriti-led, upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles through our practice, we:
-
- Demonstrate awareness of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand

society.

• Understand the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in relation to the work of the University and

the people we serve.

• Embracing Te Reo in relevant and practical ways in our workplace interactions and engagement

with external stakeholders, giving expression to Tikanga Māori and protocols that
demonstrates that we respect and value Māori conventions in appropriate settings.
At Massey we work together with mutual respect and caring. we:
-
- Act with integrity and trustworthiness and give credit to others for the work they do.
- Work cooperatively and inter-dependently to foster and promote the One University approach.
- Share knowledge and communicate professionally with courtesy and mutual respect.
- Are ethical in all transactions, working within the parameters of our policies and procedures.
- Are direct, truthful and maintain confidentiality.
- Seek to understand and appreciate our differences.

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• Keep ourselves and others safe; work together to embrace with the University’s health, safety

and wellbeing policies, procedures and programmes; display commitment by actively
supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives: and by actively engaging in health and safety
improvement opportunities.
At Massey we are future-focused, results- oriented and strive for excellence. we:
• Take ownership and responsibility for delivering results to support achievement of University •

objectives.

• Provide the best quality services to our customers (internal and external) ensuring our

students/ stakeholders are at the heart of everything we do.

• Deliver or support world-class research, teaching and learning and citizenship.
• Take personal responsibility for our performance, take pride in doing our job well, and commit

to ongoing personal and professional development.

• Are motivated and create a positive working environment where our values are reinforced.
• Anticipate and respond with agility and resilience to the changing needs of the University and

the communities we serve.

• Seek ways to improve our services to deliver in an efficient and effective way.
• Embrace technology and apply this innovatively to better meet the needs of those we serve.
• Challenge ourselves to reach our potential and help bring out the best in others.
• Understand how what we do contributes to the objectives of the University.

Accountabilities
General duties in • Contribute to all aspects of patient care and assist to the wider Wildbase

Wildbase Team, within the Wildbase Hospital and Wildbase Recovery facilities.

• Perform high quality nursing care for all clinical cases, including critically

ill and acutely sick in-patients in a professional and efficient manner.

• Perform general nursing activities adeptly to standards expected of a

trained veterinary nurse. These include but are not limited to: patient
handling; performance of routine procedures (e.g. radiography);
administration of medications; collection and submission of diagnostic
samples; avian and reptile anaesthesia and peri-anaesthetic patient care,

and patient preparation for surgery.

• Perform animal husbandry activities required for care of wildlife patients

in the rehabilitation phase of their treatment. These include but aren’t
limited to: cage, aviary and pool cleaning and maintenance, browse
collection and disposal, environment set up appropriate for the species

in care and patient capture and handling.

• Assess patients, in conjunction with the wider Wildbase Team, against

rehabilitation benchmarks, then subsequently prepare for and manage
appropriate release to the wild to achieve as short a time in care as
possible.

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• Ensure that the patient’s basic needs are met (food, water, exercise and

enrichment), their comfort and hygiene meet standards expected within

an industry leading veterinary hospital and rehabilitation facility.

• Coordinate the acquisition of food supplies and feeding of patients.
• Ensure compliance with all appropriate financial transactions.
• Relay veterinary advice and instructions accurately and comprehensively

to clients/other stakeholders at all times.

• Ensure hygiene standards are maintained in areas of responsibility within

the Wildbase Hospital and Wildbase Recovery facilities.

• Liaise with and assist VTH staff to promote a collegial and inclusive work

place for all Massey staff.

• To clean and maintain equipment promptly and efficiently according to

protocols.

• Assist with clinical research projects as and when required under the

supervision of the designated academic lead.

• Co-ordinate and assist with the transport of patients between the

Wildbase Hospital, Wildbase Recovery, Palmerston North Airport and
various release locations.
Student Training • Provide quality on-the-job tuition in husbandry, nursing care and
anaesthesia of exotic species to BVSc students, visiting international
veterinary students, postgraduate students and the wider NZ veterinary

profession.

• Ensure equipment and classroom resources are set up for teaching

classes

• Assist with tutorials, and lectures for BVSc students and postgraduate

students as required by Programme Leaders and the Wildbase Group
Leader.
Administration • Organise the maintenance and cleaning of equipment, promptly and

efficiently according to Wildbase protocols.

• Contribute to maintaining Wildbase protocols to reflect best practice in

veterinary medicine and rehabilitation.

• Coordinate the sterilisation, preparation and maintenance of

instruments and consumables for the Wildbase Hospital

• Coordinate the acquisition, storage and stock management of

medications.

• Assist in maintaining accurate Practice Management System records.
• Assist with maintaining and providing content for Wildbase Hospital

social media activities.

• Assist veterinarians to ensure correct documentation of restricted

medications is maintained.

• Filing patient records and other necessary documentation.
• Liaise with reception for appointment bookings, patient discharges and

public enquiries.

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• Assist in the management of the Wildbase Pathology service, by co-

ordinating specimen return or sensitive curation or disposal and
maintenance of appropriate records.
Oiled Wildlife • Contribute to national and regional contingencies for oiled wildlife
Response response in New Zealand as required by Wildbase OWR contracts with
Maritime New Zealand.
Health and Safety • Take responsibility for own health and safety and due care of others

around them.

• Provide health and safety briefings for new Wildbase Hospital staff and

students.

• Be proactively involved in the Massey Health & Safety system and

processes.

• Tell their manager immediately of any health and safety concerns.
• Role model good health and safety procedures to students, clients and

colleagues

• Wear protective clothing and use protective equipment as and when

required

• Ensure all accidents and incidents (including near-misses) are reported

through Massey reporting system as soon as possible.

• Keep the workplace free of clutter to minimise the risk of trips and falls

Other reasonable • To adeptly perform other reasonable duties as directed by the Senior
duties Practicing Veterinarian, Wildbase Group Leader or Head of School.
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Qualifications and Experience
Qualifications: • Bachelor of Veterinary Technology, or Veterinary Nursing
Essential Qualification
Experience: • Practical experience in care of wildlife, birds and reptiles
Essential • Must be confident at handling wildlife and be able to prove previous
experience around wildlife, birds and reptiles.
Capabilities - Behaviour
Communication • Can converse in a respectful manner to promote understanding and to

Essential diffuse tensions.

• Carefully listens to our clients, students and staff so there are few

misunderstandings.

• The ability to relate well to people from a diverse range of cultural

backgrounds.

• Seeks to clarify ambiguity by asking questions, not making assumptions.

Self-Management • Ability to work independently, with assistance and collaboration from the

Essential wider Wildbase Group.

• Is resilient, as the veterinary clinic can become very hectic.
• Is empathetic, as you are interacting with those who own or treat sick

animals.

• Is motivated to achieve high levels of patient care and customer satisfaction

– whether that is a client, a stakeholder, a colleague or a student.
Customer Focus • Understands and focuses on our customer needs (clients, stakeholders,

Essential students & staff)

• Acts with honesty, integrity and trust.

Working with • Ability to work in a team.
Others • Self-aware of own actions and impact of those actions on others
Essential • Shows consideration for others’ needs and motivations, values diversity and
inclusion.
Capabilities - Technical
Veterinary • General nursing technical skills to at least the level of a recent graduate of
Nursing the required qualification.
Essential
Animal Husbandry • Ability to carry out animal feeding and cleaning duties after appropriate
Essential training.

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• Ability to work within a team to maintain hygiene standards at a high level

in the Wildbase Hospital and Wildbase Recovery.

• Capacity to maintain animal environments including hospital cages, aviaries

and pools.
Microsoft Office • Has some experience of working with Microsoft Office 365 Suite and
365 Microsoft Teams.
Desirable
Practice • Has experience in using EzyVet software or other veterinary PMS system
Management • Understands the information that is required to be kept on a veterinary
Systems (PMS) PMS
Desirable
Pre-employment checks

Pre-employment checks: • Qualification if relevant

• Valid NZ Drivers Licence check.

Please refer the Job description for details