Position: Conservation Educator, Central Park Zoo Education
Reports to: Manager of Education Programs, Central Park Zoo
Location: Central Park Zoo, in-person
Department: Education
Position Type: Full time
Schedule: September – May: Tuesday – Saturday, or Sunday – Thursday; June through September: Monday – Friday
Job Summary: The Conservation Educator is an integral member of the Central Park Zoo Education team,
supporting high-quality STEM and nature-based learning while advancing conservation education
through the lens of Discover, Inspire & Protect. The Conservation Educator develops and delivers
all types of educational programming—from field trips and scout programs to informal children and
family programs and birthday parties. The ideal candidate has a knowledge of informal education
strategies and strong teaching skills that can be incorporated into fun and educational experiences
for children, adults, and intergenerational audiences. The Conservation Educator creates and fosters
relationships within WCS in various departments to ensure the success of our programs. The
position works with and provides support for some seasonal, part-time staff, such as Conservation
Camp Counselors, interns, and volunteers.
Major Responsibilities: The Conservation Educator’s main responsibility is supporting the Education Department by
developing, teaching, and supporting education programming for the Central Park Zoo.
Responsibilities include: - Design and teach in-person programs based at the Central Park Zoo.
- Lead and support educational programs for Pre K-12 students, children, families, and adults including summer camps, field trips, and other general audience programs. This work includes curriculum development and communication with program participants.
- Take the lead on designated specific projects which includes leading curriculum development, coordinating logistics, collaborating with necessary WCS departments, ordering materials, tracking associated expenses, and scheduling and training interns and volunteers.
- Work closely with our Tractable Animal team to safely and effectively incorporate live animal demonstrations into Central Park Zoo education experiences. This includes being trained in handling all of the ambassador animals and working with the team to schedule animal use for programs.
- Actively participate in meetings and brainstorming sessions to help improve Central Park Zoo Education offerings.
- Provide mentorship and support for, and assist in training of, some seasonal, part-time staff and interns.
- Communicate regularly with teachers, administrators, caregivers, and troop leaders participating in Central Park Zoo programs.
- Administrative tasks, including, but are not limited to, monitoring your teaching schedule and program bookings, ordering and tracking materials, and organizing supplies and materials.
- Be an active and supportive team member in the Education Department by participating in on-site and off-site staff development days, team meetings, and trainings (both individual and team), and through contributing to a positive work environment.
Internal Qualification RequirementsJob Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in science, conservation, education, or related field.
Some experience in the development and implementation of formal or informal science or nature education programs.
Comfortable working with animals; experience working with animals in an education setting a plus.
Ability to work on weekends as well as some holidays and evenings.
Ability to lift up to 20lbs and to perform light physical activity including occasional extended periods of time spent outdoors.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Conversational fluency in Spanish a plus.
