Executive Director

The Opportunity:

The Gorilla Foundation (TGF) i s seeking an Executive Director who has heart and passion for our mission and goals. The Executive Director will be responsible for advancing the Gorilla Foundation's global role as a great ape research, conservation and welfare center. Leadership will not only involve developing and implementing programs to further our mission and goals, but will also have the ability to work collaboratively and build relationships with other individuals and organizations in the great ape scientific and philanthropic communities.

The Gorilla Foundation is seeking a leader who will:

•	Provide leadership to the Co-founders, Board,staff, volunteers,and other stakeholders in implementing the vision and mission of the Gorilla Foundation.
•	Work with the Co-Founders and Board to maintain and increase success in all aspects of fundraising.
•	Ensure the continued financial health of the organization by providing sound fiscal management.
•	Represent the organization, maintaining and building relationships with volunteers, grantees, sponsors, donors and other key stakeholders.

Job Description (Executive Director)

Specific Duties include:

The right person will find the position as Executive Director for Gorilla Foundation highly rewarding. Compensation will be commensurate with experience.

This Search is being conducted by the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership Transition Services

The Gorilla Foundation is seeking a highly dedicated, experienced and qualified individual to join our team as a full-time Gorilla Caregiver/Researcher, in an environment where interspecies communication research and gorilla care are highly integrated.

Candidates should be service-oriented with an attitude of loving kindness toward all animals (including humans). This is an opportunity for a qualified individual to make a contribution to great ape care, research, conservation and education, by using two-way communication to facilitate gorilla care and empowerment.

This is an hourly full-time position from 8:30 (or 9) AM to 5:30 (or 6) PM, 5 days per week. However, work-schedule flexibility is required, including the ability to work some weekend days and evenings (eg, 12-9pm)

Primary Job Responsibilities:
1. Monitor, evaluate, and help maintain the physical and emotional health and well-being of gorillas Koko and Ndume (and possibly their extended family) through behavioral observations, non-invasive biomedical samples, and sign-language and other forms of two-way communication.
2. Clean and perform general maintenance of the indoor/outdoor gorilla facilities
3. Assist with the preparation and delivery of meals to gorillas
4. Support and document communication-based research with gorillas, by learning American Sign Language (ASL), taking observational notes, filling out corresponding forms and participating in database entry and cataloging
5. Assist with environmental enrichment for the gorillas, and in plans for enhancing the current sanctuary and building a new sanctuary.
6. Building alliances with other gorilla facilities, providing them assistance with communication-based care, and integrating their experience with ours
7. Interacting with TGF medical and veterinary professionals, as needed
8. Helping to expand Koko's and Ndume's gorilla family, to increase the probability of cultural transmission of Koko's language skills, and the fostering of a next generation gorilla ambassador for this endangered species.

Required Job Qualifications:
• 5+ years of full-time animal care work experience
• Experience and/or education in relevant fields such as anthropology, biology, psychology, animal behavior, animal care or conservation
• Advanced educational degree: MS or PhD
• Excellent hearing and night vision
• Strong affinity for animals, as reflected in work and volunteer experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent employment history, attested to by several professional references
• Commitment to learn and/or improve acquisition of American Sign Language
• Computer savvy (Mac/PC, Excell, Powerpoint, Google and databases)
• Confident around dogs
• Superior work ethic, including: • Good attendance/on-time record
     • Hard-working, service-oriented, self-motivated, goal setter/tracker
     • Attention detail coupled with awareness of the big picture
     • Positive attitude with sense of humor • Self-reliant -- able to learn by asking questions and research
     • Well-organized and efficient, with ability to document and adapt priorities
     • Good at following instructions, and having them clarified as needed
     • Team and mission oriented: communicate to resolve issues quickly
     • Resonant with our mission: Conservation through Communication

Desirable Job Qualifications:
• Experience in performing or assisting with observational research
• Knowledge of American sign Language (ASL)
• Experience with the "linguistics of sign language"
• Author or co-author on scientific publications
• Adeptness with multimedia data collection and editing (photos/videos)

Special Requirements:
1. Desire to make a long-term commitment— the gorillas value long-term relationships and consistency
2. An initial evaluation period to establish compatibility with the gorillas
3. Ability to work full-time (40 hrs/wk) including weekends and some evening shifts
4. We are focusing on candidates who live in the Peninsula or Silicon Valley region of the San Francisco Bay Area.
5. The Gorilla Foundation is a drug and smoking-free environment; background checks are a part of the hiring process.

Compensation:
Salary commensurate with experience; opportunity for advancement
Benefits include health insurance, vacation, sick/personal leave, paid holidays and a 403(b) retirement plan

How to Apply:
To be considered for an interview, please email:
1) cover letter
2) resume (with salary requirements)
3) 3 professional references (with contact information), and
4) a brief essay entitled "What Koko Means to Me"

  to:    jobs-gorilla@koko.org

All attachments MUST be in either .doc or .pdf format.

Volunteer as:   Carpenter / Handyperson

The Gorilla Foundation is seeking a volunteer to help with important carpentry and other small-to-medium building/repair projects for the gorillas, staff and our canine friends. Projects include a perimeter fence, a dog enclosure and a shed to contain the gorillas' large plastic enrichment items. Can be on a project-by-project basis, or a mutually agreed upon number of hours/days per week.

How to Apply:
Please send cover letter, resume and 3 references to:

      vol-handy@koko.org

Meals are always exciting events throughout a gorilla's day, and Koko and Ndume are no exception. Eating a combined 24 pounds a day, there is a lot of food preparation involved before the gorillas can enjoy their meals. We are always interested in hearing from potential volunteers in the event that we have an open position.

Qualifications:
• Experience cooking and preparing meals
• Love of cooking
• Knowledgable of vegetables and fruits
• Can sort, wash, and cook produce thoroughly and efficiently
• Love gorillas, dogs, and cats
• Are happy to put up with the heat of summer and the cold and rain of winter

Requirements:
• Minimum commitment of one year
• Complete an initial volunteer period in the Business Office
• Are available one day a week from 8:30am to 12:30pm
• Provide a copy of a negative TB test annually
• Provide a copy of a flu shot report/receipt annually
• Must be at least 18 years old

Because the gorillas are very sensitive to any change in their environment, especially new people, we ask that volunteers make a long-term commitment. If you are willing to commit to a regular volunteer schedule, we would be happy to keep your application on file in the event that we have an open position. To find out more about the position and how to apply, tell us a little about your self and your interest in the position in an email to volunteer@Koko.org.

All attachments MUST be in either .doc or .pdf format.

Please note that we do NOT have any volunteer opportunities that involve direct contact with the gorillas.

Volunteer as:  Web/Database Developer for Koko.Org

We need the assistance of a few experienced web developesr who have expertise with some or all of the following technologies:
1) php
2) mysql
3) javascript
4) Flash
5) FileMaker Pro (vsn 8 or higher)

If you're a good communicator who is focused, energetic and able to commit at least 2-3 hours per week, remotely, but on a regular basis, please email your resume, with sample web links, to:

volunteer_web@Koko.org

Careers in Inter-Species Communication