DescriptionJob Title: Manager ofOvernight and Outdoor Experiences
FLSA Status: Exempt
Hours: Full-time (Tuesday – Saturday with some flexibility required)
Pay Rate: Range starts at $62,135/year
Summary:
The Manager of Overnight and Outdoor Experiences is a full-time position reporting to the Director of Community Learning and Engagement. This position leads the development, delivery, and evaluation of engaging, mission-driven overnight programs at the Omaha Zoological Society – encompassing both the Zoo and Wildlife Safari Park (WSP). This role also oversees outdoor education initiatives at WSP and collaborates closely with fellow education managers to support their specific programs throughout the park.
This manager plays a critical part in advancing the mission, goals, and values of the Zoo and WSP by ensuring exceptional experiences for visitors, volunteers, and staff. Through innovative and educational programming, the Manager of Overnight and Outdoor Experiences creates opportunities for guests to build meaningful connections with wildlife and the natural world, inspiring support for habitat and species conservation.
Duties and Responsibilities/Essential Functions (including but not limited to):
- Promote positive and impactful visitor experiences by developing high-quality overnight and outdoor programming to guests of all ages throughout the Zoo and Wildlife Safari Park, fostering meaningful connections to the organization and its mission.
- Guide the creation of innovative, inclusive overnight and outdoor experiences at WSP that generate revenue and cultivate meaningful connections to wildlife and conservation.
- Guide the creation of inclusive, mission-driven overnight programs at the Zoo that engage guests and motivate conservation-minded behaviors.
- Oversee the Scout and Campout Coordinator and Wildlife Safari Park Coordinator, with responsibilities including regular performance observations, evaluations, and the ongoing support and professional development of staff.
- Collaborate with education managers to support education programs that intersect with WSP operations, such as backstage experiences and formal education partnership initiatives.
- Oversee budgets and revenue for overnight programs and outdoor experiences across the Zoo and WSP to ensure responsible, effective use of resources, and grow revenue.
- Develop and implement professional development for coordinators and part-time staff in programs.
- Collaborate with the visitor experience research and evaluation manager to assess the impact and effectiveness of overnight and outdoor experience programs, ensuring continuous improvement based on data and visitor feedback.
- Provide excellent customer service to general visitors through interpersonal and communication skills.
- Develop community partnerships to develop and promote outdoor and overnight experiences.
- Work with the marketing team to promote all overnight and outdoor experience programs at the Zoo and Wildlife Safari Park to the public.
- Ensure all programs within this portfolio align with the organization’s interpretation plan.
- Assist in preparation of grant proposals and newsletter articles (e-news, Facebook, and Zooprints).
- Work closely with the Education management team to foster a positive, collaborative work culture and drive progress toward strategic education goals.
- Assist with other Education duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Demonstrated excellence in leadership, communication, decision-making, initiative, strategic planning, and relationship-building, with a strong commitment to safety.
- Proven ability to engage and work effectively with diverse audiences across all age groups and backgrounds.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office 365, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; working knowledge of point-of-sale systems.
- Strong commitment to excellence and high professional standards.
- Outstanding written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate with all levels of management and cross-functional teams.
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing demands.
- Flexible, enthusiastic, and able to work in a dynamic environment with shifting priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
- Sound judgment and the ability to make timely, well-informed decisions.
- Flexibility in scheduling: ability to work weekends, holidays and after-hour assignments as necessary. The regular work week for this position will be Tuesday - Saturday.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Oversee the Scout and Campout Coordinator and Wildlife Safari Park Coordinator
All leaders are expected to:
- Foster connection, trust and transparency by leading with honesty, consistency, and inclusion. Leaders who embody these principles build a sense of community – creating an environment where team members feel seen, valued and united in purpose. This foundation enables teams to thrive and share in the joy of working together toward common goals.
- Maintain two-way communication by regularly connecting with team members and encouraging dialogue. Open communication fuels innovation by ensuring all voices are heard and ideas are shared, driving our collective impact.
- Create space for feedback – both giving and receiving – and follow up meaningfully. By valuing feedback, we promote an environment of care, where growth and improvement are supported, leading to impactful outcomes for both individuals and teams.
- Model accountability and responsiveness by owning outcomes and addressing issues timely. This demonstrates care for the team’s well-being and ensures that our actions have a meaningful, positive impact on the organization.
- Promote psychological safety by supporting open expression without fear of retaliation or judgment. A psychologically safe environment is fundamental to fostering joy in the workplace and enables everyone to contribute to our collective success with confidence.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in education, environmental education, fisheries & wildlife, biology, or a related field preferred.
- Experience in supervising, mentoring, and motivating staff or volunteers.
- Understanding of budget development, monitoring, and financial oversight.
- Experience in grant writing and grant management.
- Valid driver’s license required.
Candidates might be required to pass a pre-employment background check, drug test, and possess a valid driver’s license with a good history.
Work Environment/Physical Effort:
- The employee must be able to travel regularly between two work locations: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium and the Wildlife Safari Park in Ashland, Nebraska.
- Ability to walk extended distances throughout the Zoo and Wildlife Safari Park in varying weather conditions.
- Ability to stand, sit, kneel, bend, twist, reach overhead, and climb as required to perform job duties.
- Ability to lift, push, pull, and move up to 20 pounds regularly and up to 40 pounds occasionally, using safe and proper lifting techniques.
DISCLAIMER
The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor is it to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer as defined by the EEOC.
