Behavior Technician

About the role

Chimp Haven is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a happy and healthy life for chimpanzees. The Behavior Technician position plays a crucial role in ensuring the behavioral wellness of the chimpanzees.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, distribute, clean, and evaluate enrichment items for chimpanzees.
• Conduct behavioral observations on chimpanzee residents.
• Carry out chimpanzee training objectives, including medical behavior training, using positive reinforcement according to plans approved by the PRT Team.
• Participate in enrichment demonstrations for visitors, donors, and media.
• Assist in maintaining the inspection readiness of food preparation and staff support areas.
• May assist with behavioral metric projects and data entry, summarization, and presentation to staff.
• Assist with the maintenance of enrichment and behavioral metric records.
• May assist with publications and external collaborations.
• Utilize creativity to repair, maintain, and build enrichment devices including but not limited to forage devices, puzzle feeders, hammocks, and structures.
• Assist with chimpanzee socialization procedures including introductions. Assist with pre and post introduction monitoring of social groups.
• Assists training new behavioral team members as well as husbandry and veterinary team members to participate in behavioral data collection and surveys.
• May mentor others in the positive reinforcement training program.
• May serve as a liaison to volunteers, interns, and visiting scientists.
• Aid in planning enrichment schedules and developing new enrichment devices.
• Sanitize equipment and enrichment devices and maintain team preparation/storage areas.
• May assist ordering supplies according to the approved budget.
• Assist husbandry, veterinary or other departmental staff as directed.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred (psychology, anthropology, biology, animal behavior and management etc.).
• A combination of education and paid/intern experience may be considered.
• Chimpanzee experience is preferred but not required.
• At least one year’s experience providing enrichment and/or training to primates or exotics in one of the following: an educational setting (as part of a degree curriculum), zoo, laboratory, or a sanctuary setting is preferred.
• One year of experience with formal behavioral observations of animals is preferred—can be observations in an educational program, internship, or paid position. Primates or chimpanzee observations preferred but not required. Experience with primate social introductions and mitigating abnormal behavior in primates is strongly preferred.
• Moderate experience with Microsoft products (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, PowerBi, Teams) required. Experience with statistical analysis and ZooMonitor preferred but not required.

Qualifications

• Physical strength and agility (run, jump and climb).
• Ability for physical activity with PPE for long periods indoors/outdoors in potentially extreme temperatures.
• Ability to bend, crawl, stretch, twist, reach out, kneel, squat, sit, stoop, lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects-including overhead.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time.
• When needed, ability to lift ~75 lbs. from floor to waist assisted.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions for extended periods of time.
• Ability to keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position, including height and unstable ground.
• Ability to ascend/descend ramps, stairs and/or ladders.
• Manual dexterity: Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists. Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble small objects. Use hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls. Use hands to make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Near and far visual acuity.
• Ability to hear, understand and distinguish speech and/or other sounds.
• Ability to express or exchange ideas verbally-accurately, loudly and quickly.
• Ability to focus on one source of sound and ignore others. Educational multitasking: Focus on one source of sound and ignore others. Ability to quickly retain information and hear and write at the same time.
• Ability to enter text or data into a computer or other machine with a keyboard or touch screen.
• Comfortability within confined spaces.

Skills

• Positive reinforcement training.
• Enrichment item preparation and distribution.
• Behavioral observation and documentation.
• Animal welfare and care.
• Microsoft Office Suite proficiency.

Benefits

• 403(b) retirement plan.
• Competitive salary.
• Dental insurance.
• Health insurance.
• Paid time off.
• Parental leave.
• Relocation bonus.
• Opportunity for advancement.
• Vision insurance.
• Wellness resources.

Pay

Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

Days: 7am-4pm. Emergencies as needed, shifts determined with Director and based on the needs of the organization. Will work one weekend day and may work on some holidays.

Other requirements and working conditions

• Potential for animal bites, scratches and injury and exposure to chemical, biological, physical, environmental, infectious and psychosocial hazards including, but not limited to unpleasant odors, animal wastes, welding fumes, dust and allergens, animal tissues and body fluids, toxic chemicals, zoonotic diseases (tuberculosis, shigella etc.), and infectious agents (Hepatitis B, C, HIV, etc.).
• Weekend, holiday and night work may be necessary.
• Driving Chimp Haven’s vehicles which require a valid driver’s license. Must also meet Chimp Haven’s motor vehicle operating standards. Reliable personal transportation required.
• Participation in a medical monitoring and surveillance program that includes hepatitis B and other inoculations.
• Safety training, equipment, clothing and supplies will be provided.