ANIMAL MANAGER at Outstanding Wildlife Sanctuary (GFAS award 2023)

This position overlaps in duties with the Operations manager position & Primate Rehabilitation Leader.

• Monitor the monkeys and ensure all troops are checked for their health
• Following the evolution of the sick and injured monkeys. Make sure the treatment is updated and followed by staff.
• Oversee the stabilisation of new monkey arrivals & critical care patients.
• Oversee orphan baby arrivals and their rehabilitation incl. training on bottles, feeding cages, preventative medication etc.
• With the director, make the decision of where to allocate monkeys, choose troops for new monkey arrivals, and decide the order of the monkeys to be integrated.
• Update the data base, One note, keep GFAS & PASA records up to date.
• Compile PASA census
• Update signage in Mariposa, sickbay, surgery building.
• Make sure to follow deworming plans and create schedule for individual & full-moon deworming
• Coordinate onsite elements of Vasectomy Season, particularly treatment in sickbay and coordination with vets
• Check, follow and update the food monitoring plan
• Liaise with operations manager about update to protocols
• Manage facilities: Mariposa, baby cabins, Disneyland, sickbay and surgery
• Oversee stock quantities for Sickbay, Meds and Surgery Building
• Keep the directors informed of happenings in the foundation.
• Make sure enclosures and cages are clean, in a good state with enough branches, sleeping perches, shelters, etc.
• Coordinate vet visits
• Report maintenance in order of priority following the needs of the monkeys.
• Oversee the volunteer staff members Sickbay, Meds, Babies: make sure all the staff members are trained and doing their job following all the protocols.
• Weekly youtube videos
• Photos updates for records, adoptions and social media
• Keep Social media pages updated.
• Attend staff meetings and participate where necessary.
• Fundraising projects – are an essential ongoing need of the foundation and we expect long term staff to participate regularly to help with funding.
• Take on other responsibilities to help the centre with funding and progression for the monkeys and the volunteers.
• Write articles for newsletter with updates on your areas.
• Attend & participate in regular volunteer and staff meetings

 This list is not exhausted and may vary depending on season or changes to the foundation.

Attributes required for the position:

• Patience, reliable, flexible, responsible, punctual and conscientious
• Leadership skills
• Work on own initiative as well as in a team
• Perform all tasks in the best interest of the foundation, monkeys and the volunteers.
• Strong interest in wildlife conservation
• Interest in a holistic approach to medicine and rehabilitation using many different modalities.
• Able to work in a hot climate at times
• Able to work with people of different personalities and backgrounds
• Able to live and volunteer in the same community of people with changeable dynamics
• Trust, honesty and respect towards all members of the team
• Patient and friendly towards volunteers
• Fluent English speaking
• Passion for this role is essential

Qualifications / Experience:

• Min 4 A-C grade GCSE’s with further education or equivalent
• Experience in leading people
• Previous working / volunteer experience / experience with animals
• Suitable animal / primate qualification (preferred)
• Experience in a working environment for a min of 2 years

Accommodation provided & living conditions:

Basic accommodation includes - staying in an individual wooden cabin which includes a few items of furniture, 1 small table, 1 pillow, 1 mattress, bedding, wardrobe / drawers, fan, solar powered electricity to charge phones / laptop, lights. Electricity is also provided at the main cottage to recharge items such as cell phones etc. Eco-toilets and bush showers with hot and cold water. Main meals are eaten at the cottage & are all vegan, no meat, fish, cheese, dairy or eggs to be brought on to the premises. We ask you to embrace a vegan diet whilst on site. Cottage area comprises of – kitchen area with fridge, dining tables, wifi, electricity. Patio area and Games room. 

Location – Tzaneen:

Climate is tropical being hot and humid in the rainy season, summer Nov – Feb and dry and cooler in winter May – October. Tzaneen is not a malaria area but Kruger park and other local attractions are, prophylactics can be used and obtained via the doctor in Tzaneen if necessary. Tzaneen town is 25km from the centre with a shopping mall. Approx situated 1 hour from Kruger National Park

Working environment:

• The Vervet Monkey Foundation is PASA & GFAS accredited
• Won GFAS Outstanding Wildlife Sanctuary Award 2023
• The foundation is 25 hectares in size with over 650 vervet monkeys.
• Working partly outdoors, supervising and introducing volunteers to your area involves walking up a hill. Applicants must be physically fit
• Communication via mobile phone (Whatsapp)
• Possible admin – using a computer database to update records

Holiday:

You are entitled to one and a half days off per week and 21 days holiday per year to go touring at quiet times and providing we have enough cover. The number of days will increase by one per year until you reach max of 25 days per year.

Public holidays – half day or if needed to work, can take a half day in lieu that same week.

Additional benefits:

• Stipend in dependence of experience will be provided at the end of 3 months for those who commit to a min of 1 year.
• 10% off in gift shop
• Free VMF t-shirt after 3 months
• Certificate at end of committed stay
• Opportunity to give public guided tours and receive 50% of the entry fee
• No petrol fee for weekend outings
• Data package on MTN provided
• Free laundry access provided

If interested in this position, please contact in...@vervet.za.org for more information and to set up a video call interview. To learn more about the work we do, visit www.vervet.za.org