Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wildlife Education Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Wildlife Education Coordinator designs, implements, and evaluates educational programs that connect diverse audiences to local wildlife and conservation science. This role blends curriculum development, public outreach, volunteer supervision, and partnership building to advance organizational conservation goals. The Coordinator translates scientific content into engaging, accessible learning experiences for K–12, families, adult learners, and community groups; manages program logistics and budgets; and measures learning outcomes to continuously improve programs and strengthen community stewardship.

Key SEO/LLM keywords: Wildlife Education Coordinator, environmental education, conservation outreach, curriculum development, community engagement, wildlife interpretation, program evaluation, volunteer coordination, grant writing, public outreach.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Environmental Educator or Nature Interpreter
Park Naturalist or Field Trip Instructor
Volunteer Coordinator or Outreach Assistant

Advancement To:

Senior Education Coordinator or Program Manager, Environmental Education
Director of Education & Outreach
Conservation Outreach Manager or Community Engagement Director

Lateral Moves:

Interpretive Specialist / Naturalist
Volunteer & Youth Program Manager
Community Science Program Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, write, and revise standards-aligned environmental education curricula and lesson plans for K–12 field trips, classroom outreach, summer camps, and public programs that promote wildlife conservation and ecological literacy.
Design and facilitate hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences (indoor and outdoor) that interpret local wildlife, habitats, and ecological processes for diverse audiences.
Lead regular public programs, guided walks, talks, workshops, and family events that increase public awareness of wildlife conservation issues and encourage stewardship behaviors.
Coordinate logistics for educational programs including scheduling, registration, site setup, permit acquisition, transportation coordination, and risk assessments for off-site activities.
Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise volunteers, interns, and seasonal educators; develop training curricula, performance goals, and recognition programs to sustain engagement and quality delivery.
Build and maintain partnerships with local schools, school districts, environmental organizations, museums, and community groups to expand program reach and integrate wildlife education into formal and informal learning settings.
Manage program budgets, track expenses, produce monthly budget reports, and identify cost-saving strategies while ensuring program quality and safety.
Write and support grant proposals, funding reports, and donor communications that articulate program impact, outcomes, and funding needs; assist with budget narratives and data collection for grants.
Collect, analyze, and report program evaluation data and learning outcomes using surveys, observation rubrics, and metrics to demonstrate impact and inform iterative program improvements.
Create accessible educational materials such as interpretive signage, activity guides, handouts, lesson packets, slide decks, and digital content (videos, social posts) that increase understanding of wildlife topics.
Develop and maintain wildlife safety protocols, animal handling procedures (where applicable), and first-aid/CPR readiness for staff, volunteers, and participants; ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
Oversee maintenance of education equipment, wildlife exhibits, props, and field gear; coordinate procurement and inventory control to ensure safe and effective programming.
Integrate equity, diversity, and inclusion principles into program design and outreach to reach underserved audiences and remove barriers to participation.
Coordinate and support community science projects, wildlife monitoring programs, and citizen science initiatives that engage participants in data collection and conservation action.
Serve as the organization's public face for education programs: represent the organization at community events, teacher conferences, and stakeholder meetings to promote programs and recruit participants.
Develop and execute seasonal education plans (e.g., spring migration programs, summer camps, fall interpretive series) that align with organizational conservation priorities and calendar opportunities.
Mentor and evaluate education staff and seasonal instructors; conduct performance reviews and identify professional development needs and training opportunities.
Collaborate with conservation and field staff to translate research findings and wildlife management priorities into educational content that reflects current science and management goals.
Implement safety and emergency response plans during programs, including child safety protocols, lost child procedures, and onsite incident reporting.
Maintain accurate participant records, waivers, attendance logs, and demographic data for program reporting and compliance with funders and school partners.
Lead digital outreach efforts for education programs, including social media content, email newsletters, and website updates that drive registration and strengthen community engagement.
Coordinate special events such as wildlife festivals, open houses, and community volunteer days that raise public awareness and fundraising opportunities for education initiatives.
Support the development of merchandise, curriculum kits, or paid program offerings (e.g., fee-based workshops) to diversify revenue streams and increase program sustainability.
Work with marketing and communications to create compelling program stories, impact summaries, and multimedia that can be used in press releases, grant renewals, and fundraising campaigns.
Ensure all programming adheres to relevant permits, animal welfare policies, child protection standards, and institutional risk-management guidelines.

Secondary Functions

Maintain outreach contact databases and distribution lists; perform targeted outreach to teachers, youth organizations, and community leaders to boost program participation.
Assist with grant budgeting, donor acknowledgment, and compilation of program narratives and success metrics for funder reports.
Support seasonal hiring processes: drafting job postings, reviewing applications, and coordinating interviews for seasonal educators and interns.
Provide administrative support for scheduling, room bookings, and clearing logistics with site managers and property owners.
Participate in cross-departmental planning meetings to align education activities with conservation campaigns, research schedules, and volunteer initiatives.
Facilitate occasional internal trainings on interpretation techniques, youth engagement best practices, and safety procedures for staff and volunteers.
Contribute to organizational strategic planning for education and outreach, including short-term objectives and long-term growth strategies.
Provide subject-matter expertise for the creation of grant-funded curriculum or community science toolkits.
Coordinate evaluation efforts by aggregating participant feedback, attendance metrics, and program KPIs for leadership review.
Act as backup outreach coordinator for offsite community events and partner-led programs when needed.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Curriculum design and lesson planning for K–12 and public audiences, with experience aligning to state or national education standards (e.g., Next Generation Science Standards).
Program development and project management: scheduling, logistics, budget tracking, vendor coordination.
Experience with evaluation tools and methods: pre/post surveys, rubric development, qualitative observation, basic statistical analysis, and reporting.
Grant writing and funder reporting: proposal preparation, budget narratives, outcome metrics, and stewardship reporting.
Public speaking, interpretive presentation, and group facilitation for mixed-age audiences.
Volunteer recruitment, training, scheduling software (e.g., VolunteerHub, SignUpGenius), and performance management.
Basic wildlife handling awareness and safety procedures; certifications a plus (First Aid/CPR, Wilderness First Aid, or specific animal handling credentials).
Digital content creation: experience with social media (Facebook, Instagram), email platforms (Mailchimp), and basic multimedia production (smartphone video, slideshow).
Data collection and CRM familiarity (e.g., Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, Raiser’s Edge, or similar) for participant tracking and reporting.
Knowledge of local ecosystems, species natural history, conservation concepts, and environmental policy as applied to interpretive programming.
Event planning and logistics coordination for festivals, field days, and community events.
Driver’s license and the ability to drive program vehicles, trailers, or vans to offsite program locations as required.

Soft Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to translate technical science into accessible language for diverse audiences.
Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence for working with volunteers, teachers, parents, and community stakeholders.
Flexibility and adaptability managing changing schedules, weather-dependent programs, and dynamic group sizes.
Relationship-building and partnership development to grow program reach and secure in-kind or collaborative support.
Attention to detail and strong organizational skills for managing multiple concurrent programs with accuracy.
Creative problem-solving, resourcefulness, and initiative in designing engaging learning experiences within budget constraints.
Cultural competency and commitment to inclusive practices to design programs that are welcoming and equitable.
Team-oriented mindset with experience working across departments (conservation, communications, development).
Patience and classroom/group management skills, particularly when working with children and large groups.
Coaching and mentoring ability to develop seasonal staff, interns, and volunteers.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Education, Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources, Education, Interpretive Studies, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Environmental Education, Conservation Biology, Science Education, Museum Education, Nonprofit Management, or a related advanced degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Education
Wildlife Biology / Conservation Biology
Ecology / Natural Resources Management
Elementary or Secondary Education / Curriculum & Instruction
Interpretive Studies / Museum Studies
Public Outreach / Communications

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–5 years of professional experience in environmental or wildlife education, interpretive services, or outreach programming. Experience may include youth education, classroom teaching, park interpretation, or nonprofit program delivery.

Preferred:

3–7+ years of progressively responsible experience designing and managing education programs, including volunteer supervision, grant writing, program evaluation, and partnership development. Demonstrated success managing budgets, delivering high-quality public programs, and increasing program participation and impact.

Additional qualifications often requested:

Valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.
First Aid/CPR certification (or willingness to obtain upon hire).
Willingness to work weekends, evenings, and occasional travel for outreach or field activities.
Background check clearance for working with youth when required.