Maintenance Groundskeeper / Avian Care Specialist

Job Title: Groundskeeper & Avian Care Specialist

Organization: Wings of Love Bird Haven

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: On-site (Living On-Site Required)

Wings of Love Bird Haven is seeking a dedicated, compassionate, and hard-working Groundskeeper & Avian Care Specialist to help maintain our rescue facility and care for our resident parrots. This hybrid role balances physical facility maintenance with hands-on avian care, ensuring our birds live in a clean, safe, and enriching environment.

Note: This position requires living on-site and includes a deeply discounted apartment on the sanctuary grounds.

Key Responsibilities:

Avian Care & Welfare

• Daily Feeding & Nutrition: Prepare and distribute specialized diets, fresh produce, seed blends, and clean water to parrots according to established nutritional guidelines.
• Habitat Sanitation: Clean, sanitize, and maintain bird cages, enclosures, play stands, and flight areas daily to ensure high standards of health and hygiene.
• Socialization & Enrichment: Interact with and socialize parrots using non-intrusive, positive techniques; assist with physical and mental enrichment activities.
• Health Observation: Monitor birds daily for changes in behavior, appetite, or physical appearance; promptly report health or safety concerns to management/veterinary staff.

Grounds & Facility Maintenance

• Property & Grounds Care: Perform routine groundskeeping, including lawn care, weed control, trash removal, and general upkeep of outdoor flight areas, visitor pathways, and sanctuary grounds.
• Equipment Operation: Operate—or be willing to learn to operate—a tractor and other grounds maintenance machinery safely and effectively.
• Facility Repairs: Conduct basic repairs and preventative maintenance on enclosures, perches, netting, fencing, and sanctuary equipment.
• Deep Cleaning: Execute periodic deep cleaning and pressure-washing of outdoor aviaries, perches, and shelter structures.
• Safety & Security: Regularly inspect habitats and perimeter structures for structural damage or safety hazards; maintain a helpful, supervisory presence on-site.

Teamwork & Volunteer Support

• Team Collaboration: Work closely and cooperatively with staff members, contributing positively to a supportive team culture.
• Volunteer Support: Assist in prepping facilities for volunteer days, adoption events, and visitor visits, offering guidance to volunteer groups as needed.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation: Pay will be discussed on an individual basis and may be structured as hourly or salary depending upon experience and abilities.
• On-Site Housing: Includes a deeply discounted apartment located directly on the sanctuary grounds.
• Mileage Reimbursement: Travel required for job purposes using personal transportation will be fully reimbursed at standard mileage rates.

Qualifications & Requirements

• On-Site Residency: Must be willing and able to live on-site in the provided apartment.
• Transportation: Must possess reliable personal transportation and be willing to use it for work-related errands and tasks (with proper mileage reimbursement).
• Drug Screen: Must be willing to undergo and pass a drug screening test.
• Lifestyle Preference: Non-smoking candidates strongly preferred to maintain a clean and healthy environment for sensitive avian residents.
• Teamwork & Culture: Must work well with coworkers and thrive in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift at least 40 lbs, working outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Equipment Operation: Ability or strong willingness to learn to operate a tractor and standard groundskeeping equipment safely.
• Animal Care Experience: Prior experience caring for birds or working in an animal shelter, sanctuary, or veterinary setting preferred.
• Parrot Comfort: Comfort and patience working around birds of all sizes (from parakeets to macaws) and a willingness to learn species-specific behavior and handling techniques.
• Reliability: Strong attention to detail, clear communication, and a deep commitment to animal welfare.