Lemur Keeper (Keeper I or Keeper II)

St. Catherines Island Center

Lemur Keeper (Keeper I or Keeper II)

Location: St. Catherines Island, Georgia

Job category: Animal Keeper, Lemur Program

Status: Full-time, regular, non-exempt (hourly)

Level and pay: This position will be filled at the Keeper I or Keeper II level based on the selected candidate\s education and experience. Pay is commensurate with level and experience.

About St. Catherines Island Foundation

St. Catherines Island is a barrier island on the Georgia coast, privately owned by the nonprofit St. Catherines Island Foundation (SCIF). The island has maintained a ring-tailed lemur population for more than 40 years. Over that time, countless scientific papers have been published on ring-tailed lemur behavior, society, reproduction, and foraging patterns.

The keeper will join a small, dedicated team on a largely undeveloped island where roughly half of the lemur population ranges freely and the other half lives in managed enclosures. Because the island is remote, cell phone coverage is limited, and radios are provided for communication on the job.

Position Summary

SCIF is hiring a full-time Lemur Keeper to provide daily care, husbandry, enrichment, and health monitoring for the island\s ring-tailed lemur population. The keeper may also support facility maintenance and help guide visitors, interns, and/or temporary keepers.

Schedule: Four days per week, 10 hours per day. Hours may vary due to emergencies, staffing needs, medical procedures, or other island needs. Holiday work may be required.

Transportation: Boat transportation between the mainland dock and the island is provided. Transportation to the dock is the employee\s responsibility.

Supervision: Reports to the SCIF Assistant Curator of Animal Programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Daily diet preparation and feeding

• Daily preparation and administration of all medications

• Daily visual inspection of all lemurs, holding areas, and housing

• Husbandry of animal housing facilities and free-ranging sites, which may include feces removal, dishes, scrubbing of urine and feces, raking, weeding, perch placement, debris removal, and sanitization and sterilization of equipment

• Development and daily deployment of enrichment

• Browse identification, selection, and deployment

• Maintain written and electronic records and enter data in a timely and organized manner

• Assist the veterinary technician and/or veterinarian with direct animal handling, including netting and restraint, and with veterinary procedures, injections, blood draws, and medication calculations

• Guide visitors and oversee interns and temporary keepers as assigned

• Coordinate and perform repairs and maintenance of equipment and facilities, including light construction, fabrication, and tool use

• Maintain assigned equipment and vehicles

• Adhere to all SCI rules and regulations

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Candidates who meet the Required qualifications will be considered for Keeper I. Candidates who also have at least 2 years of paid professional animal care experience and training in enrichment and animal training will be considered for Keeper II.

Required

• High school diploma, plus a BS in a related field (biology, zoology, animal science, wildlife management, ecology, or similar), or an AA with direct animal handling experience

• At least 1 paid year of zookeeping experience at an AZA-accredited zoo, sanctuary, or related facility

• Professionalism, strong organization, and a positive, team-oriented attitude

• Good communication and interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution

• Responsible, self-starting, and able to solve problems both independently and in a group

• Comfort with computer databases and record keeping

• Valid driver\s license and personal cell phone

Preferred

• 2 or more years of paid animal care experience at an AZA-accredited zoo, sanctuary, or related facility

• Experience with lemurs or other primates

• Direct animal handling and netting experience

• Experience developing enrichment and using operant conditioning

• Veterinary technician skills or certification

• Experience supervising or training interns, temporary keepers, or other staff

• Practical skills in maintenance, light construction, fabrication, and tool use

• Plant identification, particularly coastal Georgia browse species

Physical Requirements and Work Conditions

The following are essential functions of the position, which must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Repeatedly lift and carry up to 50 lbs

• Stand and work on foot for extended periods; stoop, bend, kneel, climb, and crawl

• Perform strenuous outdoor work in coastal Georgia conditions, including heat, high humidity, rain, wind, storms, and heavy biting insect activity

• Work in a remote setting with limited cell coverage and limited mainland access

• Assist with storm preparation and post-storm animal care as directed, following SCIF safety and evacuation procedures

• Hurricane evacuation availability required

• On-call weekends required for lemur-related emergencies

• Availability for a flexible schedule during staffing shortages, staff time off, or lemur-related events

Benefits

• Paid time off

• Premium pay for holidays worked

• Medical and dental insurance

• 401(k) retirement plan, available after 12 months of service

Conditions of Employment

• Negative TB test required

• Rabies pre-exposure vaccination preferred but not required

• Successful completion of a background check and drug test

All qualified applicants will be considered but may not necessarily receive an interview.

How to Apply

Submit a cover letter, resume, and three references as one document to AMcarthur@scislandga.net. Please note your earliest available start date.

St. Catherines Island Center

Midway, GA 31320

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