Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc.
Position Title: Education Interpreter
Reports To: Education Manager – Visitor Programs
FLSA Status: Part Time Hourly, Non-Exempt
Safety Sensitive: This is a safety-sensitive position. Candidates, regardless of whether they are a medical marijuana licensee, must receive a negative result on a 10-panel, pre-placement drug screening to include THC, prior to beginning work.
Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. (TZMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of “Connecting, Caring, Advocating for Wildlife, People, and Wild Places.” A dynamic group of passionate individuals brings the zoo to life each day, 365 days per year, caring for animals, greeting guests, educating the public and managing the facilities. Each member of the team is integral to the success of the zoo as a key asset in the City of Tulsa and the Northeast Oklahoma region, delivering recreational opportunities, providing unplugged family time and conserving animal species for future generations.
Position Summary:
The Education Interpreter supports the TZMI Education Department by providing valuable educational experiences for zoo guests through engaging interactions, exhibit interpretation, and public presentations.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Other duties may be assigned in keeping with the mission of Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. (TZMI)
- Provides unique, interactive, and educational experiences for zoo visitors through approved and prepared topics, concepts, and messages from the Education Department.
- Initiates visitor interactions and answers visitor questions.
- Creates a friendly and inviting atmosphere for zoo visitors.
- Staffs interpretive stations within assigned areas of the zoo.
- Provides excellent customer service interactions.
- Leads presentations outside of animal exhibits and during animal demonstrations as scheduled.
- Guides tours of zoo areas, as scheduled.
- Ensures visitor safety through practicing professional zoo-visit management, enforcing all policies, and maintaining order at all times.
- Handles animals in the Education ambassador animal collection in both public and non-public situations.
- Works cooperatively with other TZMI departments.
- Assists other divisions of the Education Department as assigned.
- Stays current with information and skills pertaining to the Tulsa Zoo, education, the environment, animals, and any other field pertinent to this position.
- May assist with daily operation of the Nature Exchange, including opening and closing procedures, interacting with traders, managing inventory and managing the facility.
- May help maintain the Nature Exchange trader database.
- Delivers a high level of guest service to traders and their families at the Nature Exchange and Nature Experience. Provides unique, interactive, and interpretive educational experiences for program participants and zoo visitors.
- May provide assistance with the non-living collections as needed.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position currently has no supervisory responsibilities, but may include involvement with Tulsa Zoo volunteers and Zoo Teens.
Values:
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies as they relate to TZMI core 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.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
- High school or college experience in a related topic preferred.
- Six months related experience in customer service or an interpretive education setting preferred.
Language Skills
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as maps, safety rules, instructions, policies, and procedure manuals.
- Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
- Ability to speak English understandably before guests, employees of TZMI, and the general public.
- Ability to project a strong speaking voice.
Mathematical Skills
- Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
- Ability to perform these operations using units of American money.
Computer Skills
- Microsoft Office – including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (or Prezi).
- Internet Browser(s)- Explorer, Chrome, Safari, etc.
- Apple and Samsung tablets.
Other Skills, Abilities or Qualifications
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and be insurable on TZMI’s insurance carrier.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays.
- Ability to retain large amounts of accurate information.
- Ability to work enthusiastically in a team setting.
- Familiarity with a variety of teaching methods and knowledge of age-appropriate cognitive and physical abilities.
- Experience in interpretive education.
- Working knowledge of the natural world.
- Experience working with small invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals in public and non-public situations.
- Ability to work with both adult and teen volunteers.
- Proficient in public speaking and creative thinking.
- Capable of self-motivating and working without direct supervision.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This position involves substantial standing; substantial walking; moderate sitting; moderate reaching with hands and arms; minimal climbing or balancing; minimal stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling; substantial talking or hearing; minimal lifting up to 50 pounds.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This work environment involves substantial work in extreme outdoor weather conditions, substantial work with loud noise level, and substantial work around and with animals.
