Helpline Volunteer Practicum Student

Reports To: Support Centre Staff

Purpose of Position

The vision of Wildlife Rescue Association of British Columbia is to continually improve the welfare of urban wildlife. Our mission is to provide leadership in rehabilitating wildlife and in promoting the welfare of wild animals in the urban environment.

We run a wildlife hospital located on a single site at the edge of Burnaby Lake. We treat over 5,000 wild birds and bats each year and provide public education through 30,000 calls to our Wildlife Helpline. Our Business Operations department plans, coordinates and oversees all our programs including development, communications, resources and volunteering.

Each year, 250 volunteers participate in a range of positions both on and off site. We are currently seeking a volunteer to:

Engage in conversations with members of the public over the phone to build strong relationships that lead to ongoing support of Wildlife Rescue and recurring donations.
Capture data and ensure it flows quickly and efficiently to appropriate departments.
Educate the public on the value of urban wildlife, how to cohabit well with wildlife, and how to safely and humanely resolve common human/wildlife conflicts.

All volunteers must be 16 years or older and provide a Criminal Record Check, proof of up-to-date Tetanus vaccination and full Covid-19 vaccination

Qualifications

We are looking for:

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including telephone etiquette;
Thorough working knowledge of Microsoft Office (particularly Word, Excel and Outlook)
Proficiency in basic data entry;
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail;
Ability to educate the public over the phone;
Ability to work as part of a team and independently;
Ability to respect confidentiality;
Experience in customer service an asset, particularly with live phone calls; and
Basic knowledge of native British Columbia wildlife an asset.

Deliverables

The Helpline Volunteer is expected to ensure the highest standards of practice are achieved and maintained in accordance with the mission, vision and values of WRA, and to ensure adherence to all policies and legal requirements. All data and information will remain the property of Wildlife Rescue and be treated confidentially. As frontline representatives of Wildlife Rescue, Helpline Volunteers are expected to represent the organization in a positive and non-partisan manner.

Communicating with the public regarding best practices;
Liaising with staff over Hospital needs;
Encouraging the public to support the organization by donating;
Ensuring the smooth flow of information and data to appropriate departments; and
Recording and logging all hours on MyImpactPage

Time Commitment

All Wildlife Rescue volunteers start with a minimum commitment of 100 hours. Approximately 3.5-4.5 hours a week (depending on season) on a consistent weekly basis. The shifts will take place at Wildlife Rescue during operational hours, with flexibility as to the day.

Recognition and Benefits

We will discuss your specific motivations and learning objectives, and keep those in mind throughout your engagement. You will have the opportunity to:

Make a difference for wildlife;
Learn a lot about local wildlife and the impact we humans have on local species;
Contribute to the development and efficient running of our organization and its volunteers;
Learn about the non-profit sector and the enormous value of volunteerism;
Use and build on your knowledge, skills and experience; and
Meet and work with new people.

Upon successful completion of the minimum commitment and at the volunteer’s request, the Volunteer Program team will provide references.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

We welcome and support the treatment of all patients regardless of species, background or malady, and take a similar approach to the people involved with our organisation. We welcome eager volunteers regardless of race, colour, religion or creed, gender, age (providing they meet the minimum requirement of 16 years due to health risks), disability, national origin, language, political belief, criminal record, pregnancy, marital status or sexual orientation. The only requirement – that you care about helping wildlife as much as we do!

Reasonable accommodation will be made for persons with disabilities. Wildlife Rescue is not wheelchair accessible at this time.

If you need individualised support in the application process or to conduct the volunteer role, you may contact us at volunteer@wildliferescue.ca in confidence.

How to Apply

Please fill out an application form and watch the Information Session recording that is sent to you. More information can be found on our website at Wildlife Rescue Association of BC | Volunteering.