Careers and Internships

Elephant Care Branch Manager

Elephant Care Branch Manager

The Elephant Sanctuary in TN is celebrating 30 years’ of providing elephants with care, the companionship of a herd, and the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven dedicated to their well-being. We are currently hiring a Branch Manager to join our dedicated team of caregivers as we continue to grow. This new position is an important member of our elephant care program with responsibility for multiple barns, coordination of caregiver team of 6 to 10, and overseeing care of 5 to 9 elephants while collaborating with Elephant Management Team to ensure safety and procedural protocols are in place. We encourage you to apply if you meet the following job requirements and prerequisites:

• Five years’ experience working with safety and Protected Contact elephant care husbandry and training protocols
• Two or more years’ experience as a collaborative team leader or managing supervisor
• Demonstrated exceptional work safety record
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Valid driver’s license, insurable to drive company vehicles, and ability to provide own transportation to/from work
• Requires equipment and tool operating experience including mowers, weed-eaters, chainsaws, and power tools. Heavy equipment operation a plus (skid steer loaders, farm tractors etc.)
• Requires vehicle operating and maintenance experience including 4-wheel drive trucks, ATVs
• Flexibility to work different times as needed including evenings, weekends, holidays, and Night Feed.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to work for 8 hours in all weather conditions and on uneven terrain
• Must be able to lift or carry 50lbs repeatedly during loading/unloading supplies
• Must be able to perform repetitive manual tasks, (cutting produce, pressure washing, raking etc.)
• Must be able to clearly communicate verbally; hear, understand, and respond to communications over the radio and under noisy conditions; and react quickly and safely in an emergency
• Ability to maintain extended or awkward positions and react quickly around animals
• Sit, push, pull, lift overhead, reach at or below shoulder level, keyboarding, gross manipulation, fine manipulation, stooping, crouching, kneeling, climbing stairs

Status: Full-time, non-exempt; 40 hrs/week

Pay range: $21-$25/hour. Comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, AirEvac, 401k/ROTH, life insurance, and paid time off.

To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to humanresources@elephants.com

No telephone calls, please. All applications will be held in strict confidence.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Elephant Caregiver

The intent of the Elephant Care Program is to provide exceptional whole life care for The Sanctuary’s resident elephants. We strive to expand and improve opportunities for elephants to thrive and to support elephants as they age relevant to Sanctuary resources and infrastructure.

The Elephant Caregiver is a member of the elephant husbandry team providing quality daily care, social and herd opportunity, nutrition, and treatments using Protected Contact and Positive Reinforcement for aging African and Asian elephants housed at The Sanctuary. Caregivers play an important role in maintaining the elephant barns and habitats to provide safe and secure housing.

Position Objectives

• Actively participate with The Sanctuary team supporting all aspects of daily and year-round elephant and facility care.
• Ensure best possible wellness practices to meet the changing health and social needs of elephants as they age. Prepare for and manage end of life palliative care and ensure quality of life.
• Manage seasonal elephant care requirements to the best of our ability.
• Employ “Protected Contact” best practice elephant management through Positive Reinforcement.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Elephant Care

• Safely and efficiently work directly with elephants to effectively provide daily care in barns and habitats.
• Prepare and provide daily diets and medications in accordance with animal care protocols and related safety guidelines.
• Observe and interpret elephant behavior and diet consumption, report significant changes. Adapt with seasonal changes and elephant health status.
• Develop proficiency in implementation of treatment(s), foot care, and preventative care in collaboration with the Veterinary team.
• Promote elephant autonomy, social opportunity, and herd building dynamics.
• Assist in the procurement, preparation and delivery of browse, and other forms of enrichment.
• Provide husbandry training support for elephants to maintain and teach behaviors required to meet elephant program objectives.
• Prepare for and manage geriatric and end of life elephant care circumstances.

Facilities & Supplies

• Monitor, inspect and maintain elephant and safety infrastructure (e.g., barns, fence, gates) and report breakage/failures in a timely manner to supervisor.
• Provide daily cleaning and upkeep of elephant facilities, including barns, service areas, habitats, and other related infrastructure.
• Implement seasonal procedural changes for barn and habitat management, as directed.
• Ensure work areas, access, parking, and offices are cleaned and maintained daily in a safe, neat, and orderly fashion.
• Assist in unloading and storage of feed and hay deliveries.
• Monitor and maintain feed and husbandry supplies. Order supplies as needed and requested.
• Perform daily basic maintenance safety checks on vehicles and equipment; report as requested.

Safety

Understand and participate with all assigned safety training protocols for The Sanctuary and department.

• Safely operate ATVs, vehicles and equipment on roads, trails and in habitats, per established protocols.
• Perform elephant care tasks in accordance with existing safety guidelines; maintain constant awareness of elephants and co-worker proximity.
• Participate in elephant escape, elephant down, and other emergency training protocols as requested.

Administrative / Other

• Maintain daily animal care and observation logs and record keeping.
• Adhere to weekly schedules for both daily animal care and night feedings, as weather requires.
• Actively participate in barn meetings to ensure daily goals are understood and met.
• Monitor Ele-cam location and provide appropriate reporting.
• Represent The Elephant Sanctuary in internal and local community and public events as required.
• Provide written updates for internal newsletter (Ele-buzz) and other communications as needed.
• Perform other duties as required.

SUCCESS FACTORS AND EXPECTATIONS:

• Team Oriented – Develop cooperative working relationships with other Sanctuary employees, departments, senior management.
• Good Communicator – Communicate respectfully and effectively with others. Good verbal and written communication skills. Report internal and/or external issues and concerns to supervisor.
• Self-Motivated – Perform the job responsibilities with minimal supervision, takes initiative without direction. Strong work ethic and professional demeanor. Ability to recognize and understand issues and problems, then resolve them in a practical manner.
• Dependable and Reliable – Come to work and be on time. Follow procedures and maintain accurate records related to all aspects of elephant care and all areas of responsibility.
• Training – Identify and engage in ongoing professional development. Develop self-training plan with supervisor and play a support role to help train co-workers.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND PREREQUISITES:

• Three years combined volunteer, intern or paid experience working with exotic or native wildlife. Elephant experience preferred. Significant domestic large animal experience will be considered.
• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred. A combination of experience and education is acceptable.
• Animal training experience working in protected contact and positive reinforcement systems is preferred.
• Valid Driver’s License, insurable to drive company vehicles, and ability to provide own transportation to/from work.
• Preferred equipment & tool operating experience including mowers, weed-eaters, chainsaws, and power tools. Heavy equipment operation a plus (skid steer loaders, farm tractors).
• Preferred vehicle operating experience including 4-wheel drive trucks, ATVs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Must be able to stand/work for 8 hours in all weather conditions.
• Must be able to lift 50lbs repeatedly during loading/unloading supplies.
• Must be able to perform repetitive manual tasks, (cutting produce, pressure washing, raking).

To Apply, please send your resume and cover letter to

Email: humanresources@elephants.com or
Fax: 931-796-7493
No telephone calls, please. All applications will be held in strict confidence.

Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteer Coordinator

Are you a self-motivated individual who is:

• A relationship-building. You easily make friends and love to talk to a diverse group of people. You also listen intently to others to understand their interests and respond positively.
• Organized. You are able to multi-task, shift priorities, and manage multiple projects.
• An excellent communicator. You can convey ideas and instructions simply using multiple forms of communication including verbal and written.
• Tech savvy. You are able to use various platforms to effectively recruit and communicate with volunteers and the community.
• Share a love of wildlife and conservation.

If you can say yes to all of these questions, our Volunteer Coordinator position may be the right job for you! Please see the job requirements below.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Volunteer Coordinator will be working alongside The Elephant Sanctuary’s Education team with the primary responsibility for coordination and implementation of The Sanctuary’s successful volunteer programs. Volunteer Coordinator is tasked with managing, coordinating, and expanding existing programs (EleAmbassadors, On-Site Volunteer Program, and Group Volunteer Programs) and developing and delivering additional volunteer programs (Interpretative Volunteer Program), and collecting data evaluating the program for improvement.

In addition to volunteer program responsibilities the VC will work in collaboration with the Education Team supporting day-to-day programming and operation for The Elephant Discovery Center and Distance Learning Programs. Responsibilities include greeting and informing visitors, as well as planning and delivering Sanctuary education programming through a variety of outlets to the widest possible audience.

REPORTS TO: Education Manager

JOB PREREQUISITES include:

• Bachelor's degree in education, non-profit management, wildlife management or similar preferred.
• Minimum 1-year prior work experience in volunteer programs, museum or equivalent setting required. Experience building volunteer programs preferred.
• Public speaking, comfortable with virtual technology, and public relations skills are required.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft computer programs to include Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Adaptability to latest forms of technology.
• Experience with a non-profit is a plus.
• Ability to count money/change accurately for gift store purchases.
• Must be on-site 5 days a week in Hohenwald, includes evenings and weekends as needed .
• Walking and driving outside on all types of terrain and in different weather conditions.
• Bilingual-Spanish is ideal.
• Authorized to work in the United States.

STATUS: Full-time, Non-Exempt; some nights and weekends are required

PAY: $18.25 - $22.00/hour. Comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, and life insurance (all paid 100% by organization for employees), paid-time off, retirement, and elective benefits.

To Apply, please send your resume and cover letter to

Email: humanresources@elephants.com or Fax: 931-796-1360

No telephone calls, please. All applications will be held in strict confidence.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Elephant Care Branch Manager

Elephant Care Branch Manager

The Elephant Sanctuary in TN is celebrating 30 years’ of providing elephants with care, the companionship of a herd, and the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven dedicated to their well-being. We are currently hiring a Branch Manager to join our dedicated team of caregivers as we continue to grow. This new position is an important member of our elephant care program with responsibility for multiple barns, coordination of caregiver team of 6 to 10, and overseeing care of 5 to 9 elephants while collaborating with Elephant Management Team to ensure safety and procedural protocols are in place. We encourage you to apply if you meet the following job requirements and prerequisites:

• Five years’ experience working with safety and Protected Contact elephant care husbandry and training protocols
• Two or more years’ experience as a collaborative team leader or managing supervisor
• Demonstrated exceptional work safety record
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Valid driver’s license, insurable to drive company vehicles, and ability to provide own transportation to/from work
• Requires equipment and tool operating experience including mowers, weed-eaters, chainsaws, and power tools. Heavy equipment operation a plus (skid steer loaders, farm tractors etc.)
• Requires vehicle operating and maintenance experience including 4-wheel drive trucks, ATVs
• Flexibility to work different times as needed including evenings, weekends, holidays, and Night Feed.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to work for 8 hours in all weather conditions and on uneven terrain
• Must be able to lift or carry 50lbs repeatedly during loading/unloading supplies
• Must be able to perform repetitive manual tasks, (cutting produce, pressure washing, raking etc.)
• Must be able to clearly communicate verbally; hear, understand, and respond to communications over the radio and under noisy conditions; and react quickly and safely in an emergency
• Ability to maintain extended or awkward positions and react quickly around animals
• Sit, push, pull, lift overhead, reach at or below shoulder level, keyboarding, gross manipulation, fine manipulation, stooping, crouching, kneeling, climbing stairs

Status: Full-time, non-exempt; 40 hrs/week

Pay range: $21-$25/hour. Comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, AirEvac, 401k/ROTH, life insurance, and paid time off.

To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to humanresources@elephants.com

No telephone calls, please. All applications will be held in strict confidence.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Elephant Caregiver

The intent of the Elephant Care Program is to provide exceptional whole life care for The Sanctuary’s resident elephants. We strive to expand and improve opportunities for elephants to thrive and to support elephants as they age relevant to Sanctuary resources and infrastructure.

The Elephant Caregiver is a member of the elephant husbandry team providing quality daily care, social and herd opportunity, nutrition, and treatments using Protected Contact and Positive Reinforcement for aging African and Asian elephants housed at The Sanctuary. Caregivers play an important role in maintaining the elephant barns and habitats to provide safe and secure housing.

Position Objectives

• Actively participate with The Sanctuary team supporting all aspects of daily and year-round elephant and facility care.
• Ensure best possible wellness practices to meet the changing health and social needs of elephants as they age. Prepare for and manage end of life palliative care and ensure quality of life.
• Manage seasonal elephant care requirements to the best of our ability.
• Employ “Protected Contact” best practice elephant management through Positive Reinforcement.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Elephant Care

• Safely and efficiently work directly with elephants to effectively provide daily care in barns and habitats.
• Prepare and provide daily diets and medications in accordance with animal care protocols and related safety guidelines.
• Observe and interpret elephant behavior and diet consumption, report significant changes. Adapt with seasonal changes and elephant health status.
• Develop proficiency in implementation of treatment(s), foot care, and preventative care in collaboration with the Veterinary team.
• Promote elephant autonomy, social opportunity, and herd building dynamics.
• Assist in the procurement, preparation and delivery of browse, and other forms of enrichment.
• Provide husbandry training support for elephants to maintain and teach behaviors required to meet elephant program objectives.
• Prepare for and manage geriatric and end of life elephant care circumstances.

Facilities & Supplies

• Monitor, inspect and maintain elephant and safety infrastructure (e.g., barns, fence, gates) and report breakage/failures in a timely manner to supervisor.
• Provide daily cleaning and upkeep of elephant facilities, including barns, service areas, habitats, and other related infrastructure.
• Implement seasonal procedural changes for barn and habitat management, as directed.
• Ensure work areas, access, parking, and offices are cleaned and maintained daily in a safe, neat, and orderly fashion.
• Assist in unloading and storage of feed and hay deliveries.
• Monitor and maintain feed and husbandry supplies. Order supplies as needed and requested.
• Perform daily basic maintenance safety checks on vehicles and equipment; report as requested.

Safety

Understand and participate with all assigned safety training protocols for The Sanctuary and department.

• Safely operate ATVs, vehicles and equipment on roads, trails and in habitats, per established protocols.
• Perform elephant care tasks in accordance with existing safety guidelines; maintain constant awareness of elephants and co-worker proximity.
• Participate in elephant escape, elephant down, and other emergency training protocols as requested.

Administrative / Other

• Maintain daily animal care and observation logs and record keeping.
• Adhere to weekly schedules for both daily animal care and night feedings, as weather requires.
• Actively participate in barn meetings to ensure daily goals are understood and met.
• Monitor Ele-cam location and provide appropriate reporting.
• Represent The Elephant Sanctuary in internal and local community and public events as required.
• Provide written updates for internal newsletter (Ele-buzz) and other communications as needed.
• Perform other duties as required.

SUCCESS FACTORS AND EXPECTATIONS:

• Team Oriented – Develop cooperative working relationships with other Sanctuary employees, departments, senior management.
• Good Communicator – Communicate respectfully and effectively with others. Good verbal and written communication skills. Report internal and/or external issues and concerns to supervisor.
• Self-Motivated – Perform the job responsibilities with minimal supervision, takes initiative without direction. Strong work ethic and professional demeanor. Ability to recognize and understand issues and problems, then resolve them in a practical manner.
• Dependable and Reliable – Come to work and be on time. Follow procedures and maintain accurate records related to all aspects of elephant care and all areas of responsibility.
• Training – Identify and engage in ongoing professional development. Develop self-training plan with supervisor and play a support role to help train co-workers.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND PREREQUISITES:

• Three years combined volunteer, intern or paid experience working with exotic or native wildlife. Elephant experience preferred. Significant domestic large animal experience will be considered.
• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred. A combination of experience and education is acceptable.
• Animal training experience working in protected contact and positive reinforcement systems is preferred.
• Valid Driver’s License, insurable to drive company vehicles, and ability to provide own transportation to/from work.
• Preferred equipment & tool operating experience including mowers, weed-eaters, chainsaws, and power tools. Heavy equipment operation a plus (skid steer loaders, farm tractors).
• Preferred vehicle operating experience including 4-wheel drive trucks, ATVs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Must be able to stand/work for 8 hours in all weather conditions.
• Must be able to lift 50lbs repeatedly during loading/unloading supplies.
• Must be able to perform repetitive manual tasks, (cutting produce, pressure washing, raking).

To Apply, please send your resume and cover letter to

Email: humanresources@elephants.com or
Fax: 931-796-7493
No telephone calls, please. All applications will be held in strict confidence.

Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteer Coordinator

Are you a self-motivated individual who is:

• A relationship-building. You easily make friends and love to talk to a diverse group of people. You also listen intently to others to understand their interests and respond positively.
• Organized. You are able to multi-task, shift priorities, and manage multiple projects.
• An excellent communicator. You can convey ideas and instructions simply using multiple forms of communication including verbal and written.
• Tech savvy. You are able to use various platforms to effectively recruit and communicate with volunteers and the community.
• Share a love of wildlife and conservation.

If you can say yes to all of these questions, our Volunteer Coordinator position may be the right job for you! Please see the job requirements below.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Volunteer Coordinator will be working alongside The Elephant Sanctuary’s Education team with the primary responsibility for coordination and implementation of The Sanctuary’s successful volunteer programs. Volunteer Coordinator is tasked with managing, coordinating, and expanding existing programs (EleAmbassadors, On-Site Volunteer Program, and Group Volunteer Programs) and developing and delivering additional volunteer programs (Interpretative Volunteer Program), and collecting data evaluating the program for improvement.

In addition to volunteer program responsibilities the VC will work in collaboration with the Education Team supporting day-to-day programming and operation for The Elephant Discovery Center and Distance Learning Programs. Responsibilities include greeting and informing visitors, as well as planning and delivering Sanctuary education programming through a variety of outlets to the widest possible audience.

REPORTS TO: Education Manager

JOB PREREQUISITES include:

• Bachelor's degree in education, non-profit management, wildlife management or similar preferred.
• Minimum 1-year prior work experience in volunteer programs, museum or equivalent setting required. Experience building volunteer programs preferred.
• Public speaking, comfortable with virtual technology, and public relations skills are required.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft computer programs to include Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Adaptability to latest forms of technology.
• Experience with a non-profit is a plus.
• Ability to count money/change accurately for gift store purchases.
• Must be on-site 5 days a week in Hohenwald, includes evenings and weekends as needed .
• Walking and driving outside on all types of terrain and in different weather conditions.
• Bilingual-Spanish is ideal.
• Authorized to work in the United States.

STATUS: Full-time, Non-Exempt; some nights and weekends are required

PAY: $18.25 - $22.00/hour. Comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, and life insurance (all paid 100% by organization for employees), paid-time off, retirement, and elective benefits.

To Apply, please send your resume and cover letter to

Email: humanresources@elephants.com or Fax: 931-796-1360

No telephone calls, please. All applications will be held in strict confidence.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Intern (Paid Position) Fall 2025

INTERNSHIP TERM: 08/25/25 - 11/14/25

POSITION SUMMARY:

Twelve-week Internship Program focused on providing experiential learning opportunities to individuals seeking to understand, develop and establish careers in the fields of elephant care and conservation. Interns work closely with Caregivers as well as Education, Development, and Communications staff for a multi-departmental learning experience. This internship provides an individual with the opportunity to gain work experience at an elephant sanctuary accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

The Elephant Sanctuary practices protected contact/positive reinforcement management of the elephants. Interns will not have free contact interaction with elephants.

Acceptance into internship program does NOT guarantee future employment at The Sanctuary.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE:

• Work closely day-to-day under guidance of assigned mentors
• Assist elephant care staff in day-to-day activities
• Record keeping and welfare assessment skills
• Public presentation opportunities
• Assist with enrichment, literature research, and/or other specific projects
• Assist with animal training projects
• Follow all safety instructions and procedures
• Gain valuable skills working in a dynamic team environment
• Any other duties and/or assignments as needed

*Please note this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The requirements of the internship are subject to change as deemed necessary by The Sanctuary.

SUCCESS FACTORS AND EXPECTATIONS:

• Team Oriented – Develop strong working relationships with other Sanctuary employees. Keep intern mentor and supervisor informed of issues, concerns and problems and if possible, be prepared with recommendations to resolve issues as they arise.
• Good Communicator – Communicate thoughtfully and effectively with others in a timely fashion via in-person conversation, text, phone, and email.
• Self-Motivated – Strong work ethic and professional demeanor.
• Dependable and Reliable – Come to work at agreed upon time ready to exert oneself physically and mentally. Follow procedures and maintain accurate records related to all aspects of elephant care and all areas of responsibility.
• Training – Work with intern mentor and supervisor to address training needs and develop training plans to ensure ongoing professional development.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND PREREQUISITES:

• At least 18 years of age
• GPA of 2.20 or higher
• Completed at least two years of secondary education; this program is designed for students and recent graduates pursuing a career in large exotic mammal husbandry and/or wildlife conservation
• Willing to commit to a 12-week term (5 days/week, 40 hours/week)
• On-site housing provided. Must be willing to live in co-ed housing with one or more other intern(s).
• Proof of current tetanus vaccination, TB test, and signed physician form to approve mask-fit testing is required. All tests/vaccinations are at the applicant’s expense.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination series
• Must have own means of transportation

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to stand/work outdoors for eight hours at a time in ALL weather conditions
• Must be able to lift 50lbs repeatedly
• Must be able to perform repetitive manual tasks (cutting produce, pressure washing, raking etc.)
• Must be comfortable being exposed (with personal protective equipment in place) to a variety of auditory (some loud, sudden) and olfactory stimuli over the course of regular work duties

The Sanctuary is committed to creating an environment where diverse perspectives are welcome, and to nurturing a culture where everyone feels valued and appreciated. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable national, federal, state or local law.

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to:

Email: humanresources@elephants.com or
Fax: 931-796-1360
No telephone calls, please. All applications will be held in strict confidence.