Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge is expanding our team and seeking to fill a Full Time Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Intern
Posted 11/11/2024
About Cedar Run
Cedar Run is a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of New Jersey’s wildlife and habitats through education, conservation and rehabilitation. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge sits on 171 wooded acres on the edge of the New Jersey Pinelands. Cedar Run includes the Woodford Nature Center, an outdoor Wildlife Housing Area with nearly 60 native residents, and a Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital. The overall mission of Cedar Run is to serve as a community resource on the importance of protecting and enhancing healthy ecosystems for all. To that end, Cedar Run engages in: ecologically based land management; the operation of a Federally and NJ State licensed hospital facility that cares for more than 7,000 injured and/or orphaned native wild animals each year; the education of over 20,000 students annually through our various on-site and outreach programs; and serves as an active resource to the greater New Jersey community on all wildlife and habitat related questions and issues.
Position Title: Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Internship
Department(s): Development, Wildlife Rehabilitation, & Environmental Education
Reports to: Program Directors
Stipend: Bi-weekly stipend of $500 for 1-year term of internship
Purpose of Position:
The Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Internship is designed to provide hands-on experience and training in three key areas: wildlife rehabilitation, environmental education, and nonprofit development. This position supports Cedar Run’s mission to preserve New Jersey’s native wildlife and habitats while offering a well-rounded educational experience. Interns will assist in the care of wildlife patients, including medical treatments, diet preparation, and routine cleaning, while gaining valuable skills in wildlife rehabilitation. In addition, interns will support environmental education initiatives by facilitating on-site and off-site educational programs, working with the public, and helping care for the Cedar Run Wildlife Ambassadors. This internship also includes an introduction to nonprofit development, providing opportunities to assist with fundraising initiatives, donor relations, and event planning, contributing to Cedar Run’s long-term strategic goals. Interns will work closely with staff across departments, ensuring a diverse and immersive learning experience that aligns with the organization’s commitment to conservation, education, and wildlife rehabilitation. Overall focus areas average approximately 55% Wildlife Rehabilitation, 35% Development, 10% Environmental Education. Evening and weekend hours are required.
Schedule: This is a temporary full-time (40 hours) internship for a 1-year term. Hours are subject to change depending on the season and department needs (includes both weekend days). Focus areas adjust seasonally.
| Summer | Fall/Winter | Spring |
| 60% Wildlife Rehabilitation
30% Development 10% Environmental Education |
40% Wildlife Rehabilitation
50% Development 10% Environmental Education |
60% Wildlife Rehabilitation
30% Development 10% Environmental Education |
Duties and Responsibilities:
Development
- Assist with the planning, organizing, and execution of all Cedar Run’s fundraising initiatives.
- Assist with the annual fund program, including mailings and annual fundraising drives.
- Assist with the receipt and processing of all gifts, efficient acknowledgement of all gifts, donor database management, generating reports, administrative support, and data quality control.
- Support social media outreach with high-quality posts and stories.
- Participate in all major fundraising events.
- Assist the Nature Center & Membership Manager in ensuring high-quality Nature Center guest experience and relations, and well-organized operations of all Nature Center activities.
- Ensure compliance with Donor Privacy Policy and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements.
Wildlife Rehabilitation
- Participate in the daily animal care including feeding, medicating, cleaning housing, and wound care of over 7,000 patients annually.
- Respond to emails and phone calls from members of the public, providing excellent service and accurate education on wildlife issues.
- Assist in the medical and husbandry management of non-releasable wildlife ambassadors.
- Prepare environmental enrichment for resident and releasable wildlife and observing interactions to enhance enrichment program
- Maintain detailed and organized patient records in compliance with agency requirements.
- Ensure compliance with NJ Wildlife Rehabilitation, USFWS Migratory Bird, and USDA protocols.
Environmental Education
- Implement on and off-site education and outreach programs in collaboration with Environmental Education staff.
- Maintain all aspects of Education Wildlife Ambassador Health and Wellness including but not limited to; Recognize illness and injuries, feeding schedules adjusted to health, weight, and season, administer medications to Education Wildlife Ambassadors, ensure Education Wildlife Ambassadors are always handled appropriately and treated with respect, and be conscious of Education Wildlife Ambassador limits as it applies to travelling for programs, program participant size, program venue, etc.
General
- Participate in monthly committee meetings.
- Perform various administrative tasks as necessary.
- Other duties as assigned. Evolving position in an evolving organization.
Preferred Qualifications:
- A passion for Cedar Run’s mission to protect and preserve New Jersey’s wildlife and habitats through education, conservation and rehabilitation.
- Rabies vaccination required.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Enthusiastic personality with a positive outlook and a can-do attitude.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision – self-motivated & confident.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, flexible, and collaborative with an ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Professional appearance and demeanor for both workplace and donor interactions.
- Organized, detail-and-deadline oriented with demonstrated ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, both independently and in a team.
- Weekend work will be required for special events and facility rentals.
It is the policy of Cedar Run not to discriminate in hiring, or any other aspect of employment, on the basis of race, gender, age, color, national origin, religion, marital status, military status, sexual orientation or any other protected category under federal or state law.