SECOND JOB OPPORTUNITY AT MARS

Title: Wildlife Education Assistant
Type: Full-time, temporary (May-September)
Schedule: Thursdays through Mondays, 8 hours/day
Number of positions available: 4
Compensation: $15/hour
Closing: Open until filled
MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre is a busy wildlife rehabilitation and education facility located in Merville on
Vancouver Island, BC. Since moving to our new location in 2017, MARS has treated over 2400 animals,
including raptors, songbirds, raccoons, and fawns.
Our mission statement is: to conserve and protect wildlife and its natural habitat through wildlife
rehabilitation and education.
The MARS Visitor Centre was built to complement our mission statement, and officially opened in June
2019. It features displays, interactive exhibits, a children’s play area, an animal-themed gift shop, and an
outdoor wildlife viewing area. We anticipate an increased community interest from the public in 2020,
both at the centre and at the many local community events we attend annually.
The Wildlife Education Assistant will work at the MARS Visitor Centre and provide support to the
education program, assisting with admission of guests, tours and displays, gift shop sales and inventory,
and MARS attendance at local community events. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to
gain valuable experience with education, fundraising, and sales, as well as knowledge about local wildlife
ecology and conservation.
Responsibilities
 Assist in implementation of the MARS wildlife education programs with supervision from the
Visitor Centre Manager, and guidance from the ambassador handlers and volunteer educators.
 Assist with planning, and organization of programs or activities at the MARS site that are
engaging, age appropriate for various groups, and well suited to the seasonal conditions.
 Lead planned programs and ad hoc tours of the MARS site for guests and attendees, as team
members of the MARS Visitor Centre.
 Supervise guests to ensure their safety on site. Ensure standards of safety are strictly maintained
for all program attendees on trails and surrounding the ambassador mews;
 Monitor and assist in reporting on program attendance and property activities for board reports
including recommendations for ongoing program improvements, and future site development;
 Support the educational and fundraising activities of the Special Events Team at community
events, and the Education Program Advisory Committee at the MARS Visitor Centre;
 Assisting in gift shop duties, including display of inventory and sales of merchandise to fund
rehabilitation programs as needed. Assist with sales handling and donation processing ad hoc;
 Assisting in design, and organization of displays, including setup and take down of merchandise
and education displays at community events, and assisting the Special Events Team to process
sales and donations at community events.
Eligibility
This position is dependent on funding from the federal Canada Summer Jobs program. To be eligible for
this funding, applicants must meet the following criteria:
 Be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment;
 Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been
conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the
employment;
 Have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work
in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.
Requirements
 A background in education, communication, biological or environmental studies;
 Experience with public speaking, planning and creation of public educational displays;
 Experience with cash handling an asset;
 Must be local to the area, have a valid driver’s license, and provide own transportation to and
from work;
 The successful candidate will need to submit a Criminal Record Check before starting work.
Application Instructions
To apply for this position, please email your resume and cover letter to info@marswildliferescue.com.
Documents should be attached in PDF form, with your name and “Wildlife Education Assistant” in the
subject line.
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. This position is dependent
on funding from the Canada Summer Jobs program, which may not be confirmed by Service Canada
until May.