Sanctuary Caretakers

Sanctuary Caretakers

Sanctuary Caretakers are the leaders of our community. They are long-term staff that commit to a minimum 1-2 years at the sanctuary.

We have six sanctuary caretakers that live on site and ensure that two people are always present to guarantee 24/7 care for the wolves. 

Sanctuary Caretakers provide oversight for one of the six main areas of work (animal care, refuge care, operations, sustainability, communications, and education) and coach Assistant staff in these areas. Long-term staff provide year-round continuity and train new staff, especially in the summer. 

For these positions, we seek applicants who (1) are self-aware enough not to scare the wolves and (2) demonstrate outstanding leadership and communication skills. Long-term staff must have the skills relevant to their area, but it’s also important that they are good at working with people and can see a big-picture view in our complicated organization.

All new staff members begin as Assistant staff. For the first few months, we expect volunteers to learn about our daily operations, settle into the lifestyle, and slowly begin taking on more serious responsibilities. Mission:Wolf is a hard place to work, living in isolation with your co-workers, and it does not always work out. Your first few months are a test to see if you are a fit for Mission:Wolf and if Mission:Wolf is a fit for you. Some volunteers can step into a long-term staff role after 2-3 months, while others might take a year before being ready to take on that level of responsibility. 

We do not guarantee that Assistant staff will become Sanctuary Caretakers. Caretakers are chosen on their ability to contribute to the sanctuary, not the length of time they have been present. 

Strong preference will be given to applicants who are able to come out as short-term volunteers for a working interview, prior to their intended commitment.

Our Requirements

Commitment:

Minimum one year commitment. For the animal caretaker role, we require a minimum two year commitment. We ask that all Sanctuary Caretakers stay through the entire summer season, with no significant time off during June, July, or August.

Experience/Education:

Mission:Wolf Sanctuary Caretakers should have expertise in one of our six main areas of work (animal care, sustainability, refuge care, education, operations, communications). We are looking for people who demonstrate competence, leadership, and the ability to look at complicated situations with a big-picture view. We have no education requirements, but most of our staff have a college education or are in college. We need staff members who understand the science behind what we do and can communicate it clearly to a public audience. In general, our Sanctuary Caretakers are “good at stuff,” using experience and judgment to do things they aren’t familiar with and often teaching other people to do it at the same time.

Attitude:

Working at Mission:Wolf is a way of life. We live in incredibly close quarters and spend far more time dealing with humans than we do with wolves. Our Sanctuary Caretakers are in the position of keeping things running smoothly through changing seasons with a changing staff. It’s rewarding, but requires humility, patience, and a strong educational ethos. Our successful Sanctuary Caretakers are people who devote their lives to what they believe in: helping animals, advocating for the environment, and providing inspiration to young, like-minded people who come to visit.

Communication:

Sanctuary Caretakers need to be excellent communicators. You will run staff meetings, assign tasks to other volunteers, and mediate when interpersonal problems arise. We expect direct conflict resolution, constructive delivery of feedback, and timely action.

Community Living:

Mission:Wolf operates as a close-knit community, isolated from towns and cities. Our long-term staff need to have great communication skills, experience working with people, and be comfortable living and working with others in close proximity. We set no minimum age, but we do set high expectations for how our volunteers will do their work, interact with the public, and contribute to the community. We judge people based on the work they do and their maturity in human and animal interactions. Sanctuary Caretakers need to be comfortable leading people older than themselves.

Time Off:

We encourage all long-term staff to take at least a few weeks off each year, to relieve the stress of living and working in an isolated community for months on end. This is an opportunity to make money, gain perspective, and become refreshed and better able to contribute.

Benefits

Housing: Sanctuary Caretakers live in heated cabins or tipis. Some of these are bedrooms in public buildings, like our office and vet buildings, while others are private cabins. Long-term staff have access to our community kitchen building and staff bathroom (towels provided), as well as access to our washing machine.

Food: Mission:Wolf provides the food for all full-time staff (staples, not junk). You prepare breakfast and lunch on your own, and we all participate in daily community dinners.

Transportation: Transportation to and from local airports, or bus and train stations. Parking space for a car if you choose to drive. Use of Mission:Wolf vehicles for personal trips when appropriate (option to combine personal trips with Mission:Wolf errands).

Technology: Wireless internet, access to community laptops, access to a landline with free long distance and limited international calling.

Compensation: After two months, all staff begin receiving an expense reimbursement of $15 per week. This amount increases to $25 per week after four months, and to $50 per week after six months. Sanctuary Caretakers also begin receiving a small, taxable income after one year, which increases annually.

Bonus Stuff:

• Potential participation in wildlife chemical immobilization course

• Staff camping trips funded by Mission:Wolf several times each summer

• Access to our collection of outdoor equipment

• Growth in leadership skills from leading a community of 8-20 volunteers from diverse backgrounds

• Potential to learn new skills: caring for animals, working with “horse-whispering” body language techniques, welding, carpentry, chainsaw use, permaculture practice, solar electric systems, automotive mechanics, and much more

Long-term Staff Job Descriptions

Interested?

We accept applications on a rolling basis, though we generally welcome new staff at the start of Summer and Fall. 

Summer Applications

If you are planning to arrive in the summer, please apply as summer staff (you can mention in your application/interview that you are interested in staying past summer). Applications for arrival at any other point in the year are accepted on a rolling basis. We try to notify volunteers two months prior to their start date. For international volunteers, we try to give three months notice to allow for visa applications.

Fall Applications

Fall Application deadline: July 15 (Early applications are appreciated. However, applications received before May 15 will be be placed on hold, and reviewed after our summer staff arrive on May 15)

Notification date: August 1 (For international applicants, July 21 or earlier to allow visa application time)

If you have any questions about sanctuary caretaker positions, responsibilities, skills, or your suitability, please contact us.