Chimp Haven

Animal Caregiver

Location

Chimp Haven - Keithville

Type

Full Time

Benefits:
  • Competitive salary
  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Opportunity for advancement
  • Paid time off
  • Parental leave
  • Relocation bonus
  • Vision insurance
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:  At Chimp Haven we believe we’re not that different, humans and chimpanzees. Chimps have personalities, emotions and relationships, just like us, and we’re on a mission to connect them to the happy healthy lives they deserve. That’s why we’re providing and promoting personalized care for chimpanzees (most of whom were retired from biomedical research) by helping them, for their remaining years, live a good life – the chimp life. Chimp Haven serves as The National Chimpanzee Sanctuary and is located on 200 forested acres in northwest Louisiana just outside of Shreveport.  Chimp Haven provides excellent care for more than 200 chimpanzees retired from research or no longer used in the entertainment industry or as pets.  As more retired chimpanzees make their way from research institutions to sanctuary, our population continues to grow. Chimp Haven has a well-designed facility to support the physical and emotional well-being of all animals, experienced staff and high standards for operational excellence.  Chimp Haven offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits, extensive training and an opportunity for professional advancement.  Equal Opportunity Employer.
 
Chimp Haven is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or any other protected class. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.
 
Primary Function
Provide care for the chimpanzees and their housing areas and improve well-being and prevent disease by close observation of chimpanzee behavior and careful cleaning procedures.  Most duties performed under general supervision.
 
Duties and Responsibilities
  • Prepare and provide food to the chimpanzees
  • Clean and sanitize chimpanzee housing areas, equipment, and other related areas or materials.  May use cleaning equipment.
  • Remove and replace bedding.
  • Observe chimpanzee behavior and appearance.  Report unusual behavior or injuries.
  • Transport food, bedding, or supplies from storage areas to animal areas.
  • Maintain records of health, behavior, cleaning, etc.
  • Provide enrichment and training to chimpanzees as directed.
  • May administer medications and treatment under supervision.
  • May maintain stock of feed, bedding, and cleaning supplies.
  • May assist in planning and implementing special projects, including educational programs.
  • May assist behavioral or veterinary staff as directed.
  • Assist in training new animal care staff.
  • Perform related duties as required.
 
Supervision and Responsibility
  • Works under general supervision of Colony Director, Supervisor, or senior animal care staff.
  • Does not normally supervise anyone, but may serve as group leader.
  • Assists with training new employees.
  • Knowledgeable about variety of field’s concepts, practices, and procedures.
  • Relies on pre-established guidelines and experience to plan and accomplish goals.
  • Exercises judgment to make recommendations for improvement.
 
Education and Experience Required
  • High School diploma or GED required.
  • Must be able to read and follow written and verbal instructions and write legibly and accurately.
  • No prior animal experience required, but must have aptitude for the care and well-being of animals.
 
Other Requirements and Working Conditions
  • This work will require bending, carrying, kneeling, lifting, listening, pulling, pushing, reading, speaking, squatting, standing, stooping, stretching, walking, watching, and writing.
  • Must be able to routinely lift and carry 50lbs for short distances. 
  • Must be able to assist in lifting chimpanzees (up to 75lbs).
  • Duties may require driving Chimp Haven vehicles, and must have a valid driver’s license and meet Chimp Haven’s motor vehicle operating standards.
  • Work may involve considerable outdoor work in various weather conditions.
  • Potential exists for animal bites and scratches.
  • Potential exposure to unpleasant odors, animal wastes, animal tissues and body fluids, toxic chemicals, zoonotic diseases (tuberculosis, shigella, etc.) infectious agents (Hepatitis B, C, HIV, etc.)
  • Weekend, holiday, and night work may be necessary.
  • Participation in a medical monitoring and surveillance program that includes hepatitis B and other inoculations is required.
  • Safety training, equipment, clothing, and supplies will be provided
Compensation: $17.20 per hour

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Company Website: www.chimphaven.org

(if you already have a resume on Indeed)

Or apply here.

* required fields

Location
Or
Or

U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Information (Completion is voluntary)

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

You are being given the opportunity to provide the following information in order to help us comply with federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action record keeping, reporting, and other legal requirements.

Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 4/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.