What are the responsibilities and job description for the Animal Caretaker (Primates) position at Peaceable Primate Sanctuary?
About the Sanctuary:
Peaceable Primate Sanctuary in Winamac, Indiana is actively looking for a passionate, hardworking individuals to join our animal care team. Peaceable Primate Sanctuary is an 80-acre facility dedicated to providing enriching retirement for primates from the pet, entertainment, and research industry. With the first baboons arriving here in 2016, the sanctuary now houses over 170 primates (baboons, macaques, lemurs, marmosets, and squirrel monkeys) and other animals such as genets, goats, pigeons, and peafowl. The animal care staff is responsible for day-to-day husbandry of these animals as well as assisting veterinary staff with medical care, educating the public through private tours, maintaining animal enclosures and sanctuary grounds, preparing diets for the primates, and more.
***Part-time and full-time positions OPEN!***
Job Responsibilities:
-Monitor health, behavior, and general welfare of the primates and communicate observations to veterinary staff and supervisory team.
-Make recommendations regarding animal care including diet changes, habitat design, training, and related matters
-Maintain and improve primate enclosures and holding areas through efficient sanitization, general maintenance, daily safety checks, and more.
-Perform daily checks of animal holding areas and communicate needs or improvements to staff members and management effectively and in a timely manner.
-Utilize operant conditioning to train simple and relevant behaviors
-Provide stimulating enrichment to the primates at least twice per day and create new additions to the enrichment program
-Assist with routine veterinary care including but not limited to medication administration, safe capture, medical observations, etc. Coordinate with supervisors to provide high-quality veterinary care to animals.
-Assist with the leadership and oversight to sanctuary employees, interns, and volunteers.
-Educate the public on proper husbandry and retirement of primates through private tours and fundraising events.
-Complete any additional tasks as assigned by management and lead animal keepers.
Job Requirements:
- Experience with animals is required
- High school diploma or equivalent education is required.
- Ability to work weekends and holidays as needed
- Ability to maintain animal areas to USDA standards
- Ability to work active job in variety of weather conditions
- Ability to monitor animals for welfare, health, and safety
- Ability to effectively communicate in writing and verbally
- Ability to utilize critical-thinking skills and work independently
- Proof of negative TB test required (can be completed after hiring)
- Must be over 18 years of age to apply
- Must possess valid Driver's License and safe driving record
- Must be able to safely lift 50 pounds
Job Perks:
- Health/Dental/Vision/Life insurance with 70% employer contribution (full-time employees only)
- Paid vacation time, sick leave, and holidays (full-time employees only)
- Employee Pet Wellness Program to provide low-cost vet care to personal pets
- Paid parental leave (full-time employees only)
- Consistent schedule
- Opportunities for paid travel and continuing education
Pay: $15.00 - $18.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Salary : $15 - $18