What are the responsibilities and job description for the Maintenance Supervisor position at Save the Chimps?
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to: Facilities and Project Manager
Direct Reports: Groundskeepers, Maintenance Techs, Welders in addition to assigned
volunteers
Date: 10/5/23
Organizational Overview
Save the Chimps operates the largest privately funded chimpanzee sanctuary in the world. Located on
nearly 150 acres in Fort Pierce, on the Treasure Coast of Florida, the Sanctuary provides high quality
lifetime medical and behavioral care and enrichment for chimpanzees rescued from research
laboratories, entertainment, and the pet trade.
Save the Chimps was established in 1997 and is home to over 225 chimpanzees. The work of the
organization is accomplished by a nonprofit board of directors, approximately 80 full-time staff, and a
number of community volunteers.
Job Responsibilities
Summary:
The Maintenance Supervisor position is a working supervisory position, responsible for performing highly
skilled physical and mentally intensive tasks in the care of our facilities. He/she oversees the daily
operations of the maintenance department to ensure that all sanctuary buildings, structures, equipment
and land is property maintained, meeting all internal and external regulatory standards, with a focus on
safety and efficiency.
The following is a list of the essential functions of this position. This list is intended to be
representative of the tasks performed within the position description but is not limited to:
Staff:
- Direct or conduct recruitment, hiring, and training of maintenance staff.
- Direct, supervise and evaluate work activities of maintenance staff.
- Address performance concerns in a timely basis in collaboration with Facilities and Project
Manager and HR.
- Maintain payroll for maintenance staff including scheduling all vacations and time off requests
- Establish assignments for staff, according to workload, space, and equipment availability.
- Regularly conduct staff meetings to ensure that communication flows freely regarding
organizational and departmental developments, needs and concerns.
- Encourage and support staff engagement and a strong team environment within and across
departments.
Facility Maintenance:
The mission of Save the Chimps is to provide sanctuary and exemplary care to chimpanzees in need.
www.savethechimps.org • P.O. Box 12220 • Fort Pierce, FL 34979 • T: 772-429-0403 • F: 772-461-7147
- Establish objectives and evaluative or operational
criteria for assigned section in collaboration with the Facility and Project Manager.
- Assign, monitor and update the preventative maintenance program
- Assign, monitor and update the work order program
- Maintain chimpanzee buildings, septic systems and water treatment plant
- Maintain, repair or replace electrical and plumbing fixtures and equipment
- Troubleshoot, repair and maintain washing machines, mowers, golf carts and generators
- Provide carpentry, drywall and concrete repairs
- Manage welding, landscaping, and other maintenance projects and initiatives
- Design and coordinate special projects like building island structures, paint removal etc.
- Purchase parts and supplies.
- Obtain burn permits and conduct controlled burns weekly.
- Maintain an organized and efficient maintenance shop and office area
- Maintain all fuel levels for diesel, gasoline and propane for generators by ordering from selected
vendors
- Work with contracted vendors and support each of their scopes of work
- Develop instructional materials and conduct in-service educational programs.
- Direct operations on overnight shifts including emergency situations weather events, failures in
the water plant or electrical issues affecting heaters in the chimp enclosures as needed
- Monitor departmental activities to ensure effective use of resources and assess the need for
additional staff, equipment, and procedures.
- Prepare and deliver activity reports for discussion with the Facility and Project Manager during
weekly 1:1 meeting to inform of the status of department activities, initiatives, operational and
staff concerns.
- Other duties as assigned.
Safety:
- Ensure that safety is a top priority within the department, monitoring and promptly addressing
areas of concern.
- Participate as a member of the Safety Committee.
- Inspect facilities and recommend building or equipment modifications to ensure emergency
readiness and compliance to safety regulations.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Proficient in the safe use power hand tools, industrial welding equipment, torches, table saws,
on/off road sanctuary vehicles
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills to promote teamwork.
- Strong attention to detail, time management and organizational skills.
professional and positive attitude required.
Flexibility with work schedule required.
Education, Work Experience and Qualifications
- High School Degree of GED required, Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in trades preferred.
The mission of Save the Chimps is to provide sanctuary and exemplary care to chimpanzees in need.
www.savethechimps.org • P.O. Box 12220 • Fort Pierce, FL 34979 • T: 772-429-0403 • F: 772-461-7147
- A minimum of five (5) years’ experience working in a
- A minimum of seven (7) years performing maintenance tasks to include construction, plumbing,
- Maintain a valid driver’s license for local business travel
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand for long periods of time;
climb stairs, step stools, ladders; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk and hear; able to push
and pull metal doors. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and team lift in
excess of 25 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color
vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
- Must be able to run and swim in the face of danger
Environmental Requirements
- Tasks are regularly performed with potential for exposure to adverse conditions, such as dirt, dust,
animals/wildlife.
- Employees must not object to unpleasant chimpanzee behaviors including spitting of water or saliva,
the fencing, and loud screams or hooting.
- Retaliation and/or negativity towards the chimpanzees are not permitted.
Must be able to successfully pass a pre-hire drug screen and a criminal background check. Also
due to the safety risk to the chimps, it is an essential function of the position to have received the
COVID-19 vaccine series along with several other vaccinations and have a negative Tb test.
Save the Chimps is an equal opportunity employer and treats all applicants and employees consistently
without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability,
marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.
The mission of Save the Chimps is to provide sanctuary and exemplary care to chimpanzees in need.
www.savethechimps.org • P.O. Box 12220 • Fort Pierce, FL 34979 • T: 772-429-0403 • F: 772-461-7147