Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wildlife Education Specialist

💰 $ - $

WildlifeEducationConservationOutreach

🎯 Role Definition

The Wildlife Education Specialist develops and delivers high-quality environmental education and interpretive programming that connects diverse audiences to wildlife, habitat, and conservation science. This role designs age-appropriate curricula, leads field trips and public programs, manages living collections or specimen displays where applicable, evaluates program impact, and builds partnerships with schools, community organizations, and volunteers to increase awareness and stewardship of local wildlife and ecosystems.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Volunteer Naturalist / Interpretive Volunteer
  • Environmental Educator / School Program Instructor
  • Park Interpreter or Visitor Services Assistant

Advancement To:

  • Education Program Manager / Coordinator
  • Director of Education & Outreach
  • Conservation Outreach Manager or Public Engagement Lead

Lateral Moves:

  • Park Ranger / Interpretive Specialist
  • Wildlife Biologist / Field Technician
  • Curriculum Developer / Science Education Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Design, develop, and continually refine engaging, standards-aligned curricula and lesson plans for K–12 audiences, adults, and community groups that integrate wildlife biology, ecology, and conservation principles into hands-on and field-based learning experiences.
  • Plan, organize, and lead school field trips, guided hikes, outdoor classroom sessions, and community programs for groups of varying ages and abilities, ensuring learning objectives are met while maintaining positive visitor experiences.
  • Create and deliver interpretive talks, guided tours, workshops, and demonstrations that explain species behavior, habitat requirements, conservation challenges, and practical stewardship actions to public audiences.
  • Develop and maintain living collections, touch tanks, specimen displays, or ambassador animals when applicable, ensuring best practices for animal welfare, husbandry, enrichment, and compliance with permits and institutional policies.
  • Implement program evaluation protocols, collect qualitative and quantitative data (surveys, pre/post assessments, attendance metrics), and produce reports that demonstrate learning outcomes and inform continuous program improvement.
  • Recruit, train, supervise, and mentor volunteers, docents, seasonal educators, and interns; develop training materials, run orientation sessions, and provide ongoing coaching to ensure program quality and brand consistency.
  • Build and sustain partnerships with local schools, school districts, youth organizations (e.g., Scouts), community centers, indigenous groups, and other nonprofits to expand program reach and co-develop culturally responsive programming.
  • Write and manage grants, proposals, and fundraising materials to secure program funding; maintain grant compliance, budgets, and donor reporting as required.
  • Coordinate logistics for educational events including scheduling, transportation arrangements, risk assessments, supplies procurement, and permit acquisition for off-site activities.
  • Design and produce print and digital educational materials—fact sheets, activity guides, curricula, signage, and interpretive panels—optimized for diverse audiences and accessibility needs.
  • Lead or support citizen science projects and community-based monitoring programs that engage the public in wildlife data collection, habitat restoration, and species conservation efforts.
  • Maintain accurate program records, attendance logs, incident reports, financial receipts, and equipment inventories; ensure confidentiality and proper data stewardship.
  • Use social media, website content, email newsletters, and multimedia (photo/video) to promote programs, share conservation messages, and increase audience engagement and program enrollment.
  • Ensure public safety through proactive risk management: conduct site-specific safety assessments, maintain first-aid/CPR readiness, follow animal handling protocols, and implement emergency response procedures.
  • Interpret scientific research and translate technical conservation topics into accessible, actionable messaging for non-technical audiences while maintaining scientific accuracy.
  • Coordinate with curriculum specialists and teachers to align school programming with state standards and classroom goals, offering pre- and post-visit materials and teacher professional development sessions.
  • Lead virtual and hybrid education initiatives—live-streamed programs, online lesson modules, and interactive webinars—to expand access outside of in-person offerings.
  • Monitor and report on relevant wildlife populations and local ecological conditions as they inform interpretive content and programming priorities; liaise with field biologists when needed.
  • Advocate for inclusive, culturally competent engagement by adapting programming for multilingual audiences, ensuring ADA accessibility, and co-creating content with community partners to reflect diverse perspectives.
  • Manage program budgets, track expenditures, and optimize resource allocation for maximum educational impact while reporting on key performance indicators to leadership.
  • Serve as an on-site ambassador during public events and festivals, representing the organization professionally and providing accurate, engaging information about wildlife and conservation initiatives.
  • Stay current with best practices in environmental education, interpretive techniques, and conservation science through professional development, conferences, and peer networks; share learning internally to elevate team capacity.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist in the development and implementation of organizational education strategies, annual work plans, and strategic outreach initiatives.
  • Support field-based habitat restoration projects by facilitating volunteer crews, providing educational context, and integrating restoration activities into public programming.
  • Participate in internal cross-functional teams (marketing, development, research) to align education messaging and campaign goals.
  • Collect and curate digital media assets (photos, audio, video) for use in promotional materials, grant reports, and educational resources.
  • Maintain compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations (wildlife permits, animal welfare, public gathering restrictions) and coordinate inspections or audits as required.
  • Support basic wildlife data collection and contribute to species monitoring logs that inform programming and conservation priorities.
  • Represent the education team at community meetings, advisory committees, and stakeholder engagement sessions to solicit feedback and strengthen community relations.
  • Assist with outreach to underserved and underrepresented communities through tailored programming, sliding-scale pricing, scholarship coordination, and targeted partnerships.
  • Contribute to annual reporting and impact storytelling for donors, boards, and public audiences, highlighting program successes and participant testimonials.
  • Facilitate internal workshops and staff trainings on interpretation techniques, risk management, and inclusive engagement practices.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Curriculum design and lesson planning for informal science education, including alignment to learning standards (NGSS, state standards).
  • Classroom and outdoor instructional techniques for K–12 and adult learners, including experiential learning and inquiry-based methods.
  • Wildlife handling, husbandry, or specimen care (where applicable) and knowledge of animal welfare standards and permit requirements.
  • Program evaluation and data collection methods, including survey design, pre/post-assessments, and basic statistical interpretation.
  • Grant writing, fundraising fundamentals, and experience preparing budgets and grant reports.
  • Proficiency with LMS platforms, virtual presentation tools (Zoom/Teams), and online educational content creation.
  • Competence in using common office and content tools: Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, basic Adobe (InDesign/Photoshop) or Canva for materials, and social media platforms for promotion.
  • First Aid and CPR certification (or ability to obtain) and experience conducting risk assessments and emergency response planning.
  • Basic GIS, mapping, or species distribution tools for integrating place-based content into curricula (preferred).
  • Experience with volunteer management systems and training delivery for docents and seasonal staff.
  • Familiarity with ADA accessibility best practices and inclusive instructional design.
  • Photography/video basics and multimedia content creation for outreach and documentation.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional public speaking and interpretive storytelling skills to engage diverse audiences and bring wildlife topics to life.
  • Strong classroom and group management skills in indoor and outdoor settings, maintaining safety and learning focus.
  • Cultural competency and empathy to design and deliver inclusive programming for audiences with varied backgrounds and needs.
  • Collaboration and team-building abilities to work across departments and with external partners, schools, and community groups.
  • Excellent organizational and project-management skills, balancing multiple programs, budgets, and timelines.
  • Problem-solving and adaptability to respond to changing weather, site conditions, and audience needs.
  • Attention to detail in planning logistics, tracking data, and maintaining compliance documentation.
  • Coaching and mentoring skills for developing volunteers, interns, and junior staff.
  • Effective written communication for curriculum, grant narratives, reports, and promotional copy.
  • Passion for wildlife conservation, education mission, and engaging people of all ages in stewardship behaviors.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate degree in Environmental Education, Biology, Natural Resources, Science Education, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Environmental Education, Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Education, Conservation Science, or a closely related discipline.
  • Graduate-level study (MSc, MEd) in education, conservation, or environmental interpretation is an advantage.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Environmental Education
  • Wildlife Biology / Ecology
  • Science Education / Curriculum Development
  • Conservation Science / Natural Resource Management
  • Environmental Communication / Interpretation

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of direct experience in environmental or wildlife education, interpretive programming, or informal science outreach. Seasonal educator roles may accept 1–2 years with strong demonstration of public program delivery.

Preferred:

  • 3+ years designing and delivering environmental education programs, including experience with school outreach and community partnerships.
  • Demonstrated experience supervising volunteers or seasonal staff and managing program logistics and budgets.
  • Experience writing grants and managing donor-funded program components.
  • Certifications or documented training in First Aid, CPR, and any required wildlife handling or permit-specific credentials.
  • Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel to off-site program locations as needed.
Explore More Careers