Facility

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee

Closing Date

Description

POSITION SUMMARY:
Provides daily care for elephants utilizing ‘Protected Contact’ elephant management and using
only positive reinforcement.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Elephant Care

• Prepares pre-established daily diets and medications, feeds in accordance with animal care protocols and related safety guidelines.
• Active participant in morning barn meetings to ensure daily goals are understood and met.
• Observes daily consumption; distinguishes/reports significant changes.
• Observes, appropriately interprets and responds to elephant behaviors to optimize elephant husbandry and minimize environmental stressors for the elephants.
• Adheres to weekly schedules for both daily care and night feedings, as weather requires.
• Is proficient in or ability to develop proficiency in implementation of treatment(s) and foot care.
• Assists Veterinary staff in procedures and assessments of animal health and implementation of preventative care and other medical care.
• Ability to interpret and reports signs of elephant health issues to supervisor.
• Ability to develop ATV skills in order to maneuver in habitat safely.
• Assists in preparation and deliveries of browse and other forms of environmental enrichment.
• Ability to adapt to constant changing of husbandry/facility changes depending on season, elephant health status and other priorities.
• Safely and efficiently works with the elephants, with the elephants’ behavioral responses in mind, to effectively shift or move elephants within their barn, into or out of their barn, or within habitats.

• Provides husbandry training to all elephants in order to learn new behaviors and maintain pre-existing behaviors to meet all facility and governing agency requirements. This includes health checks, blood collection, vaccinations, trunk wash, medication consumption, foot care and implementation of other husbandry or veterinary procedures to ensure the health and well-being of the elephants.
• Maintains daily logs and record keeping.

Facilities

• Consistently ensures/checks containment infrastructure (e.g., fence, gates) to ensure elephant containment. Monitors and ensures infrastructure in constant working order; reports breakage/failures in a timely manner to supervisor.
• Provides daily cleaning and upkeep of elephant facilities, including but not limited to barn service areas, elephant stalls, habitats, and any other related infrastructure, all in Protected Contact system of elephant management.
• Makes minor repairs to infrastructure; contacts Barn Lead when nature of repair requires assistance.
• Understand and implements seasonal fixtures/protocols to the barn.

Maintenance / Supplies

• Assists in unloading hay deliveries.
• Monitors and maintains feeds and husbandry supplies. Orders/purchases supplies at best prices following existing ordering protocols.
• Performs basic maintenance on vehicles; ensures the safety of all vehicles at all times.

Safety

• Ensures that all tasks are performed in a safe manner around elephants: maintain safe distances from elephants or elephant barriers in accordance with existing safety guidelines; is constantly aware of own, elephant and other Caregiver’s posture and position when working in protected contact in close proximity to elephants; maintains constant awareness of elephants and safety of other Caregivers in proximity.
• Observes established protocol in regard to all equipment, ATV’s and vehicles.
• Observes established protocol in regard to TB and other related safety precautions as necessary.
• Follows and understands any updates to safety protocols.
• Participates in elephant escape, elephant down and other emergency practice protocols and in real emergencies, if required.

Administrative / Other

• Participate in any training as required by supervisor or Sanctuary policies.
• Monitor ele-cam location and provide appropriate text.
• Make presentations to the local community at events as required.
• Provide written updates for internal newsletter (Ele-buzz) and other communications as needed.
• Observes and adheres to all policies of the Sanctuary.

SUCCESS FACTORS AND EXPECTATIONS:
• Team Oriented – Develop strong working relationships with other Sanctuary employees, senior management and the board. Keep supervisor and the Director of Elephant Husbandry informed of issues, concerns and problems and be prepared with recommendations to resolve issues as they arise.

• Good Communicator – Communicate respectfully and effectively with others. Keep management informed of both internal and/or external issues and concerns. Good communication skills both verbal and written.
• Self-Motivated – Perform the job with minimal supervision, takes initiative to move to the next task without direction and learn other general aspects of The Sanctuary. Strong work ethic and professional demeanor. Ability to recognize and understand issues and problems, then resolve them in a practical manner.
• Dependable and Reliable – Come to work and be on time. Follow procedures and maintain accurate records related to all aspects of elephant care and all areas of responsibility.
• Training – Identify and engage in ongoing training for self. Work with supervisor to address training needs and develop training plan to ensure on going professional development.

Education and Pre-requisites

• One-year combined volunteer, intern or paid experience working with exotic or native wildlife preferred; elephant experience preferred.
• One year preferred experience working in protected contact and positive reinforcement based training systems
• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred
• Valid Driver’s License, insurable to drive company vehicles, and ability to provide own transportation to/from work.

Compensation and benefits

medical, dental, vision, EAP, 401k with match, clothing allowance, supplemental insurances, temporary housing for 60 days

Application instructions

send cover letter and resume to HumanResources@elephants.com