Wildlife Operations Intern (Summer 2027)

Position Summary

Build hands-on expertise in wildlife care, animal training, guest education, and conservation at Nemacolin. As a Wildlife Operations Intern, you will work alongside experienced wildlife coordinators while gaining practical experience caring for an extraordinary collection of animals and creating meaningful guest connections with wildlife. This paid, 12-week internship offers exposure to animal care, enrichment, habitat management, guest programming, and wildlife operations while giving you the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects and explore a future in animal science, wildlife management, zoology, conservation, or related fields.

What You Will Create

• Exceptional animal care through daily feeding, specialized diet preparation, enrichment, training, observation, and basic medical support
• Meaningful guest connections through Animal Ambassador Encounters, Guided Wildlife Tours, trail rides, pony rides, and engaging education about animals, habitats, and conservation
• Healthy, well-maintained habitats through enclosure cleaning, barn and facility upkeep, animal organization, and hands-on care such as clipping and bathing
• Continuity of care through accurate animal records and consistent adherence to established care practices and protocols
• Safe, seamless wildlife operations through tour and trail-ride scheduling, transportation support, and attentive assistance with horse mounting and dismounting
• A practical contribution to animal care or enrichment through an experiential project involving research, written work, and the development of a training plan, enrichment item, or habitat improvement
• A broader understanding of professional wildlife operations through training workshops, departmental initiatives, and exposure to the many disciplines behind animal care and guest experiences

What You Can Expect

• A full-time, paid, 12-week internship with consecutive participation expected throughout the program
• An immersive environment where hands-on wildlife care and luxury hospitality intersect, with daily opportunities to work directly with animals and guests
• Exposure to a diverse collection of exotic animals, domestic livestock, horses, small pets, and the sled dog team
• A physically active role combining animal care, habitat maintenance, outdoor work, trail operations, guest interaction, and hands-on learning
• Mentorship from experienced wildlife coordinators and associates across animal care, training, enrichment, habitat management, and guest education
• A schedule shaped by animal and resort needs, including varied hours, evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Training workshops and an experiential project designed to connect academic learning with practical contributions to wildlife operations
• A foundation for future opportunities in wildlife management, animal science, zoology, conservation, animal care, and related fields

What You Bring

• Genuine respect for animals and curiosity about their behavior, welfare, habitats, and individual needs
• Strong work ethic, dependability, and attention to detail, with an understanding that quality animal care requires consistency and physical effort
• A professional, approachable presence and the ability to translate your knowledge into engaging conversations with guests
• Adaptability and composure in an environment where animal needs, guest requests, weather, and operational priorities can change quickly
• A collaborative mindset and willingness to learn from experienced professionals while contributing ideas and taking ownership of your development
• Sound judgment and a commitment to established care, safety, appearance, and service standards
• Pride in representing a luxury hospitality environment through professionalism, personal presentation, and thoughtful guest service

Qualifications

• High school diploma required
• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a bachelor's degree program in wildlife, animal science, or a related discipline
• Previous animal care experience preferred
• Fluency in English required
• Ability to work varied hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, based on animal and resort operations
• Ability to adhere to established appearance standards
• Commitment to completing a consecutive 12-week internship

Additional Information

This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, or activities associated with this position. Responsibilities may change or be assigned as needed to support operational excellence, business needs, and exceptional guest service standards.