If you are an animal lover, then you will want to stick around.

I have three great animal jobs — and they are just the tip of the iceberg over at the Job Center this week. There are pages of great animal job leads for you to check out. From veterinarians to zoo keepers to fundraisers for animal rescue groups and more, we’ve got it all! (You can learn more about working with animals at JobMoney!)

1. Speechwriter/Senior Writer, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA

This job is proof that there is more to working with animals than being a veterinarian (although there’s nothing wrong with vet jobs — see #2 if that’s your thing.) Instead, think about how you can apply your unique skills and talents to an animal-related organization. For example, if you’re a great writer and an animal lover, being the Senior Writer for the Nature Conservancy is a perfect way to blend your two passions! The speechwriter will work with the Nature Conservancy’s President to conceive, draft and edit communications materials on the President’s behalf. In addition to speeches and talking points, the writer will also be responsible for op-ed pieces, online content, books or book chapters, and other collateral material. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s Degree with at least six years of related experience, including writing and/or editing books, writing for the web, and speech writing. The job may require some travel and a willingness to work overtime during peak workload periods.

2. Associate Veterinarian, American Veterinary Medical Association – AVMA, Wichita, KS

If you are trained as a veterinarian, there is an opening for a full-time associate in a thriving multi-doctor, small animal practice in Wichita, Kansas. The suburb of Andover is an affluent, family friendly community with excellent public schools and low cost of living — so relocation might be worth a look. The practice has opened a new 10,000 square foot facility and boasts a great technician/doctor to patient ratio. The average work week is 35 hours and there are no late night calls! The starting salary is $70,000, plus general benefits such as medical and professional liability insurance, professional dues, license fees, and more. The group is looking for a great vet with a good sense of humor and a team-playing ethic.

3. Part Time Preschool Instructor, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma, WA

Like I said above in #1, you don’t have to be a veterinarian to work with animals. Here’s a great opportunity for an early childhood educator to teach young children about animals at Tacoma Washington’s Point Defiance Zoo. The preschool has a nature and animal focus, although the primary duties of the teacher are to lead activities that meet the children’s physical, emotional, intellectual and social needs.  The ideal candidate will have at least two years of relevant college coursework, plus two years of experience in early childhood education. A background in natural history is also required. As with any preschool teachers, patience, creativity and a love for children is a must! Applicants must also have a valid First Aid and CPR card, and be able to pass a background check.

If you didn’t find the job of your dreams on our hot jobs list today, be sure to check out the JobMonkey Job Center for hundreds of other listings in every imaginable field.

Good luck with your job search this week!

There are tons of great new job leads over at the Job Center right now, including opportunities dozens of opportunities to work at a casino, if that’s your thing. This week’s leads also feature a number of jobs working with animals, three of which I’m going to spotlight today. If you want to learn more about working with animals, check out JobMonkey’s section on animal jobs.

1. Licensed Veterinary Technician Job, Animal Medical Center, New York, NY
The Animal Medical Center in New York is looking for licensed veterinary technicians to provide assistance to veterinarians with using minimally invasive procedures. Areas of responsibility will include performing anesthesia on patients requiring minimally invasive interventional radiologic/endoscopic procedures, placing triple lumen jugular catheters, performing CVPs, epidurals and sampling lines. Administrative duties may include maintaining and inventorying equipment and medication, data entry, and assisting with clinical research cases/protocols. Occasional travel may be required for special cases and medical conventions. The ideal candidate will be a nurse practitioner with expertise in patient care, including comfort dealing with critically ill animals. He or she must possess New York State Veterinary Technician’s license. The technician will work four days per week, Monday through Thursday, ten hours per day.

2. Coordinator, Conservation and Education Philanthropy, The National Wildlife Federation, Reston, VA
The National Wildlife Federation is seeking to hire a coordinator of the Conservation & Education Philanthropy team. The coordinator will be responsible for raising foundation, government and corporate restricted funding for assigned programs with guidance from the Senior Director and Associate Director. The ideal candidate will have a college degree (although it is not required), with at least two years of professional experience and excellent organizational and communication skills. Also essential is attention to detail, proofreading skills and advanced computer skills.

3. Animal Care Supervisor Job, American Humane Association, Florida Keys, FL
The American Humane Association in the Florida Keys is looking to hire an Animal Care Supervisor to oversee kennel operations, health care, euthanasia, administrative and support services for animal care issues. The ideal candidate will have at least two years of experience in animal shelter administration, animal health care management, or animal hospital office management, along with supervisory experience. Related coursework is helpful but not required.

Here’s a great little video explaining how to make the most out of JobMonkey’s job searching resources.  The Job Center is updated daily, so if you haven’t visited our database of free job listings today, you should!

Today I am featuring animal jobs and summer jobs… including summer jobs with animals! I hope you find something you are looking for here!

1. Zoo Camp Instructor, Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange, NJ
The Essex County Turtle Back Zoo is looking to hire Summer Camp Instructors to lead Monday through Friday zoo camps for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Instructors will be responsible for leading educational lessons about animals and natural sciences in a fun, engaging and age-appropriate manner. Qualified candidates will be certified teachers or students in the process of getting their degree in the fields of education, biology, zoology, or natural sciences. Candidates with formal or information teaching experience will receive preference. There will be a one-week training programming for Instructors before the start of camp. Dates of employment are June 15 through August 14, 2009.

2. Educator Jobs, SeaWorld/Busch Gardens, Orlando, FL
Busch Gardens is looking to hire an animal educator who will give fact-based animal presentations in addition to staffing park attractions and conducting guided tours. Other responsibilities include interacting with guests to provide animal and park information and monitoring guest and animal safety. Qualified candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree or be actively pursuing their degree from an accredited college or university. Candidates must have excellent communication skills and be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time. Preference will be given to hiring local candidates.

3. Educational Interpretive Keeper, Cheyenne Mt. Zoo, Colorado Springs, CO
The Cheyenne Mt. Zoo in Colorado is seeking to hire an Educational Interpretive Keeper, responsible for the care, husbandry and training of the Zoo’s Education Department’s collection of animal ambassadors. The person in this position will conduct daily interpretive programs and demonstrations with the animals for Zoo visitors. This is a new position for the Zoo and the candidate will work with a relative new collection in a new facility. The ideal candidate will, at a minimum, hold a degree from a two-year college and have past experience working with animals and members of the public. The keeper must be able to positively engage guests and encourage them to participate in caring for Zoo animals. The position is full-time, with an hourly salary plus benefits. The typical work week will be Friday through Tuesday, with great flexibility to account for occasional evenings. The salary will be in the low $20,000s.

#1. Elephant Care Intern, Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation, Central Florida
Gosh and I thought that Nike internship that I posted last week sounded cool!  Ringling Bros.’ Center for Elephant Conservation is looking for an elephant care intern.  The three-month program will begin in March, 2009. Interns will work with trainers, handlers and veterinarians to learn to care of the center’s 25 Asian elephants.  The three-month course will include classroom learning and hands-on instruction with the animals.  The internship is paid and housing can be provided if necessary.  Successful graduates of the internship program will be eligible for employment with either the traveling units or the permanent elephant facilities. Applicants must have a high school diploma or general education degree (GED), along with 1 to 3 months related experience in animal care.  The ideal candidate will also possess a “strong sense of adventure” and be able to lift and carry 50 pounds.  To apply, submit a resume, personal essay describing why you would like to work with elephants and two letters of recommendation.  For contact information, see the job ad on JobMonkey or visit www.elephantcenter.com.

2. Animal Educator Job, Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida

Here is another exciting animal job opportunity based in Florida. 

Busch Gardens is looking for an animal educator with at least two years of experience in formal or information education. The animal educator is responsible for on-site educational programming, such as Adventure Camps, School Programs and Guest Presentations.  The person will also develop curriculum for school, camp, and park programs and be involved in the care, maintenance and training of a variety of animal species. The ideal candidate will have earned his or her B.A. from an accredited college or university with a major in Education, Animal Science, Wildlife Ecology, Psychology or a related field. The animal educator will be able to work outdoors and willing to work with a variety of animal species, including birds, reptiles, mammals, and invertebrates.  Fluency in Spanish is a plus. To learn more about the position or to apply for the job, visit the Busch Gardens employment website.

#3. Curator of Education, Central Park Zoo, New York, NY

Unlike the first two opportunities I posted, this job is for someone with quite a bit of animal and education experience.  Do you fit that bill?  The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the non-profit organization responsible for operating the Bronx and Central Park Zoos, is seeking a Curator of Education at the Central Park Zoo. The Curator of Education is responsible for the implementation and management of education programs, including curricula-based programs, summer and weekend programs, theater, a volunteer program, and professional development. The ideal candidate must have at least a Master’s Degree in business, science or education, 6 years management experience, and experience in creating and teaching environmental, science and/or conservation education. To learn more about the position or to apply for the job, visit the Bronx Zoo website.

Good luck with your job searches this week!

Whether you are still in high school and thinking about your future, or you are a professional in a different field looking to try something new, the information here should help you get started on your journey. If there is a career that you are particularly interested in learning more about, please let me a note in the comments section so I can feature it in the coming weeks.

There are many different career paths for someone wishing to work in the veterinary field.  Today, I am going to focus on careers in veterinary medicine.  I profiled veterinary careers a while back on the blog, so go check it out if you aren’t sure what being a veterinarian entails.

Like medical doctors and dentists, veterinary doctors have to make a long-term educational commitment to their profession.  Not only must they graduate with a BA from a four-year college (usually with a major in the sciences) and attend a four-year veterinary school, but they must also maintain active involvement in continuing education courses within their sub-specialty. There is no doubt that being a veterinarian includes taking on a life-long commitment to ongoing learning and professional development.

Here are some basic facts about vet schools and the students who attend them:

•    There are 28 accredited schools of veterinary medicine in the U.S.
•    2,100 students graduate with an advanced degree in veterinary medicine every year
•    More than 8,500 students enrolled at any given time
•    Approximately 3 out of 4 vet students are women
•    To be accepted to vet school, you will need a strong background in science and math, although a major in one of those fields is not required; vet schools also look for a well-rounded educational background, including courses in history, humanities, English and foreign languages
•    Admission to veterinary school is extremely competitive.  The average acceptance rate is 43%.
•    Most students admitted to veterinary school have a GPA of at least 3.0. Students must take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination).

After graduation, many students pursue either an internship or research fellowship to further their skills before landing their first full-time job. 

Sub-specialties such as pathology, surgery and radiology require a residency program of two to five years.

Even once veterinarians have finished school and passed all their licensing examination, their education never stops.  In addition to reading veterinary medicine journals and attending professional seminars, at least half of the states require licensed veterinarians to participate in annual continuing education classes.

To begin researching vet schools in the United States, see JobMonkey’s comprehensive list of veterinary degree programs.  You can also learn more about tuition and other fees in this article about the cost of veterinary school.

This week, we’re looking at jobs in the filed of veterinary medicine, including veterinarians, technicians and researchers.

Now keep in mind, there are definitely some professions that are more stable than others.  But during a major economic recession, any job (except for maybe those in the military) can be vulnerable.  That’s where the veterinary field falls.

As with other medical professions, there is a steady need for care for pets and large animals (including farm, zoo and horses). Except in the event of extreme financial distress, people keep their pets and continue to provide them palliative medical care (even when preventative care rates may drop in the face of personal budget cuts.)

Here’s a look at some of the major careers within the field of veterinary medicine and the education/experience requirements for each one.

Veterinarians
Job Description
The job of a veterinarian it to prevent, control and cure animal diseases. Most diagnose prescribe treatment, which may include surgery, medication or therapy. About half of all U.S. veterinarians work in private practice, primarily providing care to household pets.  The other half of veterinarians works at research institutions, universities or government agencies.

Education
A veterinarian is a medical profession, who holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) and is licensed in the state in which he/she practices. In addition to four years of veterinary school (which follows four years of Bachelors Degre), many veterinarians also spend two to five years in residency, where they can specialize in surgery, radiology or ophthalmology, for example. Once licensed to practice, veterinarians must stay abreast of new technologies and techniques, by reading scientific journals and attending professional conferences.

Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median veterinarian salary in 2006 was $71,990. The range is from the low $40,000s to the mid $130,000s.

Veterinary Technicians & Technologists
Job Description
Veterinary technicians and technologists assist veterinarians in a variety of duties including surgeries, medication administration, wound cleaning, nail trimming, assessing vital health information, and grooming.

In 2006, there were 71,000 veterinary technologists and technicians working in the United State, of which 91 percent worked in veterinary services.

Education
The most common degree for entry-level veterinary technicians is a 2-year associate degree from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)-accredited community college program.

Courses are taught in clinical and laboratory settings using live animals. There are also 18 colleges in the U.S. that offer four-year, Bachelor’s degree programs in veterinary technology. Upon graduation from an accredited veterinary program, students must take the credentialing exam in their state.

Salary
The salary of veterinary technologist or technician depends on one’s degree (AA vs. BA) and his or her years of experience. The median hourly way in May 2006 was $12.88/hour. Top earners pulled in more than $18.68/hour.

If you are interested in learning more about veterinary medicine or other jobs working with animals, here are some resources you will want to check out:

>> JobMonkey’s Jobs with Animals section, which includes articles on veterinarian jobs, alternative veterinary medicine, and research veterinarians

>> Is the Veterinary Industry Recession-Proof @ DVM360.com, the leading on-line site for veterinary medicine

>> Veterinary Career Center @ AVMA. The The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is a 120-year old, not-for-profit association representing more than 76,000 veterinarians.