Conservation Educator

The City of Oklahoma City is hiring a part-time Conservation Educator to engage zoo guests of all ages in conservation efforts through interactive programs and hands-on learning. The role involves delivering educational presentations, ensuring guest safety, and collaborating with animal care teams. Candidates should have experience working with families in educational settings and a passion for wildlife conservation. This position is based at the zoo, requiring indoor and outdoor work.
Description

Are you passionate about connecting people with wildlife and sparking a love for conservation? As a Conservation Educator, you'll deliver fun, engaging, and mission-driven experiences for OKC Zoo guests of all ages. From interactive programs to hands-on learning opportunities, you'll help inspire guests to care for and protect wildlife and wild places. This role blends education, guest interaction, and animal care to create meaningful connections and empower conservation action. If you're enthusiastic, engaging, and ready to make an impact, we want you on our team!

Employment Status: Part-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Starting Pay Rate: $14.00/hr

Experience Required: Three (3) months working with families in a formal or informal learning environment

Minimum Education Requirements: College coursework in science, education, interpretation or environmental studies preferred

Department: Conservation, Education, and Science

Direct Supervisor: Assistant Director of Education

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Primary Work Location: Zoo setting, both indoors and outdoors

Certification: Valid Oklahoma driver’s license

Other: This position is subject to pre-employment and/or periodic background checks and restricted registry checks. Ability to complete the OKC Zoo Health and Safety Institute training within 30 days of employment. This position works around animals susceptible to specific respiratory diseases.

Job Summary: The Conservation Educator delivers engaging, age-appropriate, mission-driven interpretative experiences to OKC Zoo guests and program participants to inspire conservation action for wildlife and wild places. This position helps facilitate fun and safe learning experiences to help zoo guests connect with and care about wildlife and the natural world, culminating in empowerment to take conservation action. This position interacts with the public, enhances guest experiences, and performs a variety of skilled/semi-skilled work required for the care and safety of animals, staff, and the public.

Essential Job Functions

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential duties:
• Lead various types of animal and nature-focused interpretative presentations, formal and informal, for all Zoo guests
• Help develop and refine interpretive presentations
• Learn about the natural history, behavior, care, and conservation of a wide variety of animals at the Zoo, share accurate, current information about those animals with Zoo guests, and be able to answer questions from guests
• Interpret animal training, feeding, enrichment, and research for Zoo guests
• Manage the safety of participants during programming, follow all safety protocols and understand the position’s role in emergency procedures, responding to emergencies as required
• Comfortable with and has the ability to handle animal ambassadors with provided training.
• Work in a manner that supports and protects the health of the assigned collection, to include wearing assigned PPE and limiting exposure to known contagions.
• Partner with Guest Experience and Animal Care teams to implement an optimal guest experience
• Make eye contact with every Zoo guest, smile and offer friendly phrases and greetings
• Maintain a high level of enthusiasm, energy, and creativity while performing interpretive programs on a regular basis
• Participate in conservation activities to support Zoo’s mission
• Assist with evaluation of interpretive programs
• Foster constructive attitudes and team orientation among staff; positively communicate and collaborate with Zoo personnel and professional colleagues
• Represent the zoo in a professional manner
• Assist with ensuring the Zoo looks its best by removing trash and tidying guest areas
• Create an atmosphere of respect with peers and work as a team
• Take personal accountability for performing at a high level.

Non-Essential Job Functions
• Perform other duties as assigned.