Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc.
Your Role: Education Instructor – Camp Lead
Your Manager: Education Manager – Reserved Programs
Your Pay Structure (FLSA Status): Part-time, seasonal, hourly/nonexempt
Safety Sensitive: This is a safety-sensitive position. Regardless of whether you are a medical marijuana licensee, you must receive a negative result on a 10-panel, pre-placement drug screening to include THC, prior to beginning work.
The Zoo
Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. (TZMI) is a nonprofit organization driven by our mission of Connecting, Caring, Advocating for Wildlife, People, and Wild Places. From trumpeting elephants to squawking parrots, each member of our team is integral to the success of the Zoo as Green Country’s largest paid daily attraction. At Tulsa Zoo, the IDEA is a zoo for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. Apply today for your opportunity to join our dynamic group of passionate individuals who bring the zoo to life each day, 365 days per year, caring for animals, interacting with guests, educating the public, and managing the Zoo’s grounds, operations, and facilities.
A Few of Your Many Benefits
- 401k
- Food, beverage, and retail discounts on zoo grounds
Your Job
You will act as the lead instructor for seasonal camps at Tulsa Zoo, responsible for groups of children with ages ranging from pre-k through high school. All camps feature age-appropriate programs, STEM and STEAM activities, tours, games, experiments, creative projects, up-close animal encounters, and more. When necessary, you may also assist in handling a selection of the department’s education ambassador animals. This is a seasonal position.
Your Essential Responsibilities
If you disclose different abilities, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable you to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position.
- Implement assigned, pre-written, interpretive educational programming for various age groups at Tulsa Zoo camps.
- Ensure the safety of all guests and program participants.
- Provide unique, interactive, and interpretive educational experiences for Tulsa Zoo camp participants.
- Use Social-emotional Learning (SEL) strategies to foster a fun and collaborative atmosphere for campers.
- Under the direction of permanent Education staff, handle and provide care to the department’s education ambassador animals in both public and non-public situations.
- Setup and tear down classrooms for optimal camp experiences.
- Within assigned age group, participate in all activities and monitor camper participation and enjoyment while managing camper behavior.
- Manage craft/activity/experiment supplies for each camp.
- Oversee assigned Camp Assistant and Zoo Teen volunteers assisting with camps, including giving clear direction and managing expectations while maintaining a fun environment.
- Effectively communicate and demonstrate interpersonal skills with all levels of employees in a clear and professional manner.
- Demonstrate and adhere to TZMI’s workplace values.
- Know and follow zoo policies and procedures, including emergency protocols.
- Attend and participate in staff meetings and assigned training sessions.
- Maintain facilities to ensure animal, staff, and visitor safety, and in good appearance for public viewing at all times. Identify and communicate situations for repair and maintenance.
- Recognize signs of pest infestation in animal areas and combat pests/nuisance wildlife as directed.
- Maintain necessary certifications as required (SCUBA, AZA Elephant Management, Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) etc.).
- Maintain area compliance with all local, state, federal, and international regulations and standards are met (USDA, AZA, etc).
- Participate in visitor education programs, formal and informal animal presentations and outreach programs, scheduled keeper talks, and provide accurate information to the public.
- Maintain necessary testing/vaccinations as required (TB, rabies, etc.).
- Observe animal collection daily for injury, illness, aggression, stress, breeding activity, diet intake, and fecal consistency.
- Monitor equipment such as freezers, life support systems including but not limited to water filtration, ozone generators, HVAC, and backup generators as needed.
- Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position has no direct reports.
What We Expect
Required Qualifications, Education and/or Experience
- Must be 18 years or older, possess a valid driver’s license, and be insurable on TZMI’s insurance carrier
- Have or are working towards a bachelor’s degree in education, biology, zoology, environmental science, or a related field from college or university
- One to three years experience working as a classroom teacher, an interpretive educator, or in an early childhood education setting
- Familiarity with a variety of teaching methods and knowledge of age-appropriate cognitive and physical abilities required
- Equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable
- Must be able to work in an active setting and complete assignments that require teamwork, research, and self-starting; capable of self-motivating and working without direct supervision
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals; write routine reports and correspondence; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing before groups of customers, employees of TZMI, and the general public; proficient in public speaking and creative thinking
- Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals
- Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays
- Experience working with small invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals preferred
- Working knowledge of the natural world preferred
What You can Expect
Our Values
- We are enthusiastically committed to be part of the Tulsa Zoo community.
- We will all work together as one Zoo Team to support the Zoo’s mission.
- We will value and appreciate everyone and create a safe, understanding, and welcoming environment for all.
- We will all be accountable for achieving excellence.
- We will earn the trust of one another, acting honestly and treating each other with respect.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Moving about - frequently
- Sitting - occasionally
- Standing - frequently
- Reaching with hands and arms – frequently
- Stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling - frequently
- Exchange of in-person, phone, radio, or digital communication - constantly
- Carrying or lifting up to 50 pounds – occasionally
- Pushing and/or pulling up to 50 pounds – occasionally
- Gripping, pinching, writing, and other hand movements - frequently
- Climbing and/or balancing – rarely
- Exposure to outdoor weather conditions - frequently
- Exposure to high noise levels- occasionally
- Wet or humid environment – occasionally
- Exposure to strong smells – frequently
- Work near moving mechanical parts – rarely
