Volunteer Coordinator
- The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee
- Hohenwald, TN
- Jul 01, 2025
Job Description
The Elephant Sanctuary in TN is seeking a self-motivated individual who can grow and elevate a successful volunteer program by building relationships and processes to manage multiple projects. The Coordinator will also work with a collaborative education team to deliver Sanctuary programming and meet visitors to our Elephant Discovery Center. This is a unique opportunity for someone to work with all teams within the sanctuary and with individuals across the country to support the mission to educate the public regarding the complex needs of elephants and the challenges facing elephants in the wild.
A successful candidate is someone who is very organized, an excellent communicator, tech savvy, and shares our love of wildlife and conservation. If this sounds like you and you meet the job prerequisites below, please apply! Please send your resume and letter of interest to Email: humanresources@elephants.com. No telephone calls, please.
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 is a plus-Spanish is ideal.
- Authorized to work in the United States.
STATUS: Full-time, Non-Exempt; some nights and weekends are required. On-site
PAY: $20/hour. Comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, Airmed, short-term disability, and life insurance (all paid 100% by organization for employees), paid-time off, retirement, and elective benefits.
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
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Our Mission
The Elephant Sanctuary exists to...
- provide captive elephants with individualized care, the companionship of a herd, and the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven dedicated to their well-being
- educate the public of the complex needs of elephants in captivity and the crisis facing elephants in the wild
Our Work
Since 1995, The Sanctuary has provided refuge for 29 elephants who are retired from zoos and circuses. There are currently nine elephant residents with room for more. The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee began on 110 acres and has grown to three separate and protected, natural habitats, spanning over more than 3,060 acres.
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee provides elephants retired from entertainment and exhibition with herd, home, and individualized veterinary and husbandry care for life. Elephants that have lived their lives in captivity have an opportunity at The Sanctuary to live in an expansive habitat that allows for a range of natural behaviors.
Many of the elephants suffer long-term health and complex behavioral issues common to elephants that have spent their lives in captivity, such as tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, obesity, arthritis, and aggression. Because elephants have complex physical and social needs, successful outcomes are measured not only by the elephant’s physical health, but also their social, behavioral and psychological well-being.
As a true sanctuary, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is closed to the public. The best way to see the elephants is by live-streaming EleCams, which can be viewed on this site.
Education is a very important part of The Sanctuary’s mission. Through Distance Learning, The Sanctuary teaches hundreds of school and community groups around the world a respect for wildlife while learning about the crisis facing Asian and African elephants in captivity and in the wild.
In the wild, elephants are migratory, walking miles each day. They form intricate family structures and grieve for their dead in a more-than-instinctive way. They show humor and express compassion. The Elephant Sanctuary’s mission is to give elephants the freedom they deserve.
The Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is accredited by The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Our Values
- 1Elephants are intelligent creatures with complex physical and social needs.
- 2Elephants in Sanctuary deserve nothing less than individualized, whole-elephant care for life.
- 3“Sanctuary” means providing a safe haven and natural habitat, dedicated solely to elephant wellbeing.
- 4Protected contact and positive reinforcement are cornerstones for working humanely, effectively, and safely with captive elephants.
- 5Animal welfare standards include nutrition, environment, health, behavior, and mental state.
- 6People can and must make a difference in protecting wild elephants so that the species can survive for generations to come.
- 7Collaboration and sharing of best practices leads to better management, treatment and care for elephants everywhere.
- 8Staff thrive on teamwork, continuous learning, and shared commitment to the wellbeing of the elephants entrusted to The Sanctuary’s care.
- 9Honesty, integrity, and open communication with partners and key stakeholders are foundational to The Sanctuary’s relationship and business practices.
- 10A healthy ecosystem is a diverse one. Likewise, a healthy workplace thrives on diversity, inclusivity, and equality.
- 11Sustainable decisions, processes, and purchasing demonstrate advocacy for the planet we share with the elephants entrusted to our care.
- 12Continuous learning about the biology and behavior of elephants supports our best practices.