Volunteer Coordinator & Primate Carer - South Africa
Kaitlyn Bock
Volunteer Coordinator
This position will fulfill the needs of the Vervet Monkey Foundation by ensuring our ever increasing numbers of volunteers have enough supervision, are welcomed and educated during their stay and have someone to report to as well as to ensure the smooth running of the centre.
Full time voluntary position with occasional on call duties.
Responsibilities:
• Welcoming of all new volunteers
• Orientations on arrival and following morning
• Responsible for facility maintenance
• Supervising the kitchen staff
• Daily rota – assigning volunteers to duties
• Liaising with volunteers regularly to ensure their well-being
• Liaising with long term staff
• Responsible for all health & safety aspects regarding volunteers
• Oversee gift shop stock
• Communicate with future volunteers and volunteer organisations
• Being involved with all areas where needed such as monitoring of monkeys, helping in babyseason, sickbay, construction and general monkey handling, maintenance of centre or fruit collecting
• Getting involved with fundraising, promotion projects and other
• Oversee all tasks that relate to the smooth running of the centre in relation to volunteers.
This list is not exhausted and may vary depending on season or changes to the foundation.
Attributes required for the position:
• Excellent organization skills
• Reliable, flexible, patient and responsible
• Coordinating skills
• Basic computer skills – word and excel
• Able to create a daily ever changing work schedule
• Manual driving license (preferred)
• Able to speak to volunteers in groups between 1-40
• Work on own initiative
• Perform all tasks in the best interest of the foundation, monkeys and the volunteers.
• Certificate in First Aid (not essential)
• Strong interest in wildlife conservation
• Able to work in a hot climate at times
• Able to work as a team leader with people of different personalities and backgrounds
• Able to live and volunteer in the same community of people with changeable dynamics
• Positivity & enthusiasm
Qualifications / Experience: Min 4 GCSE’s with further education or equivalent , experience in supervising / managing people (preferred but not essential) Previous volunteer experience / experience with animals and min of 2 years in the working environment
Accommodation: Basic accommodation provided. Eco-toilets and bush showers with hot and cold water. Main meals are eaten at the cottage & are all vegan. Wifi and Laundry included.
Length of period: Long term, min 2 years (preferably longer)
Visa requirements: 3 year volunteer visa, please check with your local embassy for updated information. You will usually need to apply within your home country.
Stipend: 2000R after 3months probation period
Primate Carer
This position will fulfill the needs of the Vervet Monkey Foundation by ensuring the monkeys in an area of the foundation are looked after and the supervision and training of volunteers in those areas.
Full time voluntary position with occasional on call duties
Responsibilities:
- Monitoring the health of all monkeys in your area daily
- Working with the local staff and volunteers to check all monkeys have food and water, cages are clean and see that all their needs are met
- Observations of behavior of monkeys within your area to collect data for troop integrations etc.
- Enrichment of cages
- De-worming monkeys in your area, possibly administering medications to them
- Training and supervising new volunteers on a daily basis to help look after your area of responsibility. (This includes before having a day off to ensure your area is covered)
- Sharing your knowledge with other volunteers and being friendly towards them
- Attending volunteer meetings on Wednesday evenings at 6pm and participate where necessary
- Attend committee 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
- Supervisory 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
- 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
Qualifications / Experience:
Min 4 A-C grade GCSE’s with further education or equivalent
Experience in supervising people (preferred but not essential)
Previous volunteer experience / experience with animals
Suitable animal / primate qualification (preferred)
Experience in a working environment for a min of 2 years
Visa requirements – 2-3 year volunteer visa for international applicants, please check with your local embassy for updated information. You will usually need to apply within your home country before coming out. We can write you a letter.
Stipend – 1000R after a 3 month probation period
Kaitlyn
Communications and Administration Manager
Pan African Sanctuary Alliance