Facility
Save the Chimps, Inc.
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Organizational Mission and History
Save the Chimps operates the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in the world. Located on nearly 200 acres on the Treasure Coast of Florida, the Sanctuary provides lifetime care and enrichment for chimpanzees rescued from research laboratories, entertainment, and the pet trade.
Save the Chimps was established in 1997 by Dr. Carole Noon in response to an announcement from the U.S. Air Force that they would be releasing the chimpanzees formerly used in NASA space exploration research. Save the Chimps initially lost their bid for the chimpanzees, but after a year-long legal battle gained permanent custody of 21 Air Force chimpanzees. In 2002, Save the Chimps conducted the largest rescue effort on behalf of chimpanzees in history by rescuing 266 chimpanzees from the Coulston Foundation, a now-defunct laboratory in New Mexico with extensive Animal Welfare Act violations. Over the course of several years, Save the Chimps relocated all of these chimpanzees from the Coulston Foundation in New Mexico to Florida in an unprecedented effort known as “The Great Chimpanzee Migration.” During this time, Save the Chimps continued to rescue chimpanzees from entertainment and the pet trade.
Today Save the Chimps is home to over 250 chimpanzees and has the current infrastructure to potentially care for up to 300 individuals. The chimpanzees are cared for by approximately 60 professional caregivers and support staff.
Position Overview
The Care Technician 1 (CT1) position is responsible for performing moderately skilled labor –intensive tasks in the care and well-being of the chimpanzees. This is a full-time, non-exempt position (40 hours per week). A CT1 is assigned to one of four sections within the sanctuary, and provides direct assistance to the CT2s and the CT3 in their section. A CT1 cleans indoor and outdoor areas of the chimpanzee buildings, washes and hangs laundry, cleans toys, distributes enrichment, checks locks, and may be required to give medications to the chimpanzees. A CT1 observes the daily behaviors and interactions of the chimpanzees in their section. A CT1 also assists with monitoring the chimpanzees’ health and wellbeing, preparing meals and enrichment, and cleaning food preparation and storage areas.
A CT1 is responsible for assisting the CT2s and the CT3 in ensuring the security of all chimpanzee living areas. A CT1 is expected to be able to identify all of the chimpanzees in their section by sight. A CT1 is expected to know and be able to utilize all radio calls. CT1s are expected to act as friendly ambassadors of the staff to sanctuary volunteers.
The following is a list of the essential functions of this position. This list is intended to be representative of the tasks preformed within the position description but is not limited to:
• General Husbandry
• General Kitchen work including preparing meals and enrichment for chimpanzees
• Becoming part of the sanctuary team, willing to help Chimp Care, Veterinary, Maintenance, and Kitchen departments as needed
• Guiding others, including volunteers and new employees, in the performance of tasks
• Monitoring the safety of co-workers, chimps, and volunteers, and immediately alerting others to unsafe situations or conditions.
• Familiarity with Emergency Response codes and protocols
• Participation in team meetings, all-staff meetings, staff training and educational sessions, and emergency response drills.
• Other duties as assigned.
The following is a list of the essential functions of this position. This list is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within the position description but is not limited to:
Essential Job Functions
• Maintain a sanctuary that provides the highest possible standard of life for the chimpanzees in our care.
• Responds to emergency situations as directed by the Emergency Response Manual, and immediately contacts the Director of Chimpanzee Care Services or other designated personnel for assistance.
• Prepares morning and afternoon diets as prescribed by the weekly menu.
• Conducts regular patrols of the sanctuary grounds.
• Monitors water treatment plant water volume and functionality.
• Record tasks and make notations in the evening/night duty log.
• Observes and monitors major aggression in chimpanzees during the overnight hours. If necessary, calls the Veterinarian.
• Report mechanical failures or utility failures to appropriate personnel, including but not limited to: local utility companies, the Director of Facilities and Project Management and/or Director of Chimpanzee Care Services.
• At the direction of the Veterinarian, Veterinary Technician, or Director of Chimpanzee Care Services, monitors the health of any ill or injured chimpanzees and provide updates as requested.
• Signs for and inspects morning food deliveries.
• Sorts, counts, bins, and bags food items for meals and/or enrichment as directed by the Director of Chimpanzee Care.
• Prepare daily enrichment board.
• Is familiar with all dietary restrictions for individual chimpanzees, and prevents inclusion of restricted items in meals.
• Ensures that the kitchen and food storage areas, including refrigerators, coolers and freezers, are kept clean and organized.
• Disposes of kitchen refuse and recycles cardboard as needed.
• Delivers recycling bins to the dumpster area as needed.
• Launders and folds towels, washcloths, blankets, and other items used in the kitchen.
• Carries a STC cell phone programmed with important numbers at all times, and ensures that the phone remains fully charged.
• Communicates clearly to appropriate staff all matters involving chimpanzee health and safety.
• Become proficient in chimpanzee CPR and escape response.
• Able to load and fire a dart gun.
• Participate in all-staff meetings, staff training and education sessions, and emergency response drills.
• Prepare for and assist with new chimpanzee arrivals that may be scheduled for the night hours.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Education and Pre-requisites
Knowledge and Skills
• Must have a thorough knowledge of and a commitment to STC’s mission, safety policies and caregiver operations.
• The understanding of chimpanzee care including the ability to recognize and understand chimpanzee behaviors, both normal and abnormal.
• Ability to interact with individuals at all levels of the organization.
• The ability to work as a member of a team and share ideas and thoughts.
• Able to work well under pressure and have the ability to multi-task.
Education and Work Experience
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Ability to perform tasks with accuracy and attention to detail
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; stand for long periods of time; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs, step stools, ladders; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk and hear; able to push and pull metal doors. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and team lift in excess of 25 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Must be able to run and swim in the face of danger
Environmental Requirements
• Tasks are regularly performed with potential for exposure to adverse conditions, such as toxic/poisonous agents, dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, vibrations, animals/wildlife.
• Employees must not object to unpleasant chimpanzee behaviors include spitting of water or saliva, throwing of feces, food or other waste, and chimpanzee displays that may include banging, kicking of the fencing, and loud screams or hooting.
• Retaliation and/or negativity towards the chimpanzees are not permitted.
Save the Chimps is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.
Compensation and benefits
Pay is based on experience. Full time employment at Save the Chimps includes competitive health benefits and paid time off.
Application instructions
To apply, send a cover letter and resume to hr@savethechimps.org. Be sure to include ‘Overnight Care Technician’ in the title of your email.