Education Coordinator Animal Programs
Collaborate with a passionate Zoo Crew in San Antonio
Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the place you choose to work at, and its leaders, will support and guide you. With a diversity of passionate people and like-minded conservationists, San Antonio Zoo is a place where you can collaborate with others securing a future for wildlife.
The Impact You’ll Make in this Role
San Antonio Zoo is seeking a dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable animal care professional to join the Education Team. This position combines the best of both worlds: Animal Care and Education. While this position’s primary responsibility is providing all aspects of daily handling and husbandry for the Education Programs Team’s Ambassador Animals, this position will also develop and deliver in-person and virtual conservation-based presentations and programs for audiences of all ages. Education Ambassadors Animals include, but are not limited to, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Come join a great team and help secure a future for wildlife one wild encounter at time!
As an Education Coordinator-Animal Programs, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people in San Antonio. Here, you will make an impact by:
- Oversee, perform and coordinate all aspects of daily care of the Education Programs Team’s Ambassador Animals, including overall husbandry, heath checks, enclosure maintenance, enrichment and training, health and wellness observations, handling and presentation, communication and coordination with the Animal Health, Nutrition and other Animal Care teams, and accurate record keeping.
- Develop, coordinate, and deliver animal handling and presentation training for the Education Department, including peers, staff and volunteers, including modeling best practice and appropriate content.
- Handling and presentations of live animals, as well as a variety of biofacts, to deliver age-appropriate conservation messages and zoo initiatives, including routine presentations to Will Smith Zoo School preschool students, and in-person and virtual programs.
- Coordinate with Education and Animal Care leadership to ensure proper care and wellbeing, protocols, and efficient communication.
- Develop and maintain policies, procedures and best practices for Education Ambassador Animal husbandry and presentations in conjunction with the Animal Care Departments and Education leadership, to address the various needs of diverse group of handlers.
- Maintain current knowledge and status of the zoo’s plant, animal and conservation initiatives.
- Seek up to date information about education topics and assist with program updates, development and coordination.
- Ensure safety and wellbeing of animals, staff, volunteers and participants during programs.
- Support Programs and other Education teams with department and zoo wide initiatives.
- Communicate information with leadership and coworkers regularly.
- Attend and complete all San Antonio Zoo scheduled meetings, training and professional development opportunities, as required.
- Adhere to all policies set forth by San Antonio Zoo.
- Enforce all San Antonio Zoo restrictions and limitations.
- Establish and maintain positive, cooperative, and effective working relations with fellow employees.
- Constantly exhibit a guest service attitude, a smile, and an obvious interest in guest comfort and service.
- Communicate with the public in a courteous and tactful manner and assist guests with questions and directions to various areas of the zoo. Address the guest - do not wait to be asked.
- Remove trash and debris from public area.
- Any and all other duties as assigned.
Your Skills and Expertise
To set you up for success in this role from day one, the San Antonio Zoo recommends the following skills/qualifications:
- Ability to organize, coordinate, and implement educational programs independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to organize, coordinate, and implement educational animal presentations, independently and as part of a team.
- Understanding of educational interpretive techniques and presentation styles.
- Strong desire to engage and inspire audiences of all ages, including young children and adults, through conservation messages and zoo stories.
- Strong desire to work with animals as indicated by educational background and/or previous experience.
- Ability to support, inspire and train coworkers before, during and after programs.
- Ability to communicate and practice animal husbandry, various training techniques, enrichment philosophies, and to demonstrate a specific understanding of the handling of animals in public presentation situations.
- Ability to work well with limited direction, alone or with a diverse team of staff and volunteers.
- Strong desire to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to efficiently and effectively deliver a high standard of animal care.
- Ability to identify important responsibilities and complete all tasks in a timely manner.
- Strong communication skills. Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely. Ability to deliver and follow oral and written instructions.
- Experience training and coaching peers.
- Professional experience providing exceptional animal care for small animals and/or animal ambassadors in a similar facility and/or setting.
- A minimum of one-year experience delivering educational presentations, preferably with live animals.
- Bachelor’s Degree in zoology, biology or related field or 2 years zoo animal experience in an AZA accredited facility preferred.
- Ability and flexibility to accommodate last minute program and schedule changes with a positive and supportive attitude.
- Flexibly to work weekdays, weekends, holidays, and after hour and overnight assignments, as needed.
- Ability to speak and understand Spanish preferred.
The San Antonio Zoo is an equal opportunity employer. San Antonio Zoo will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.
