Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Education Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Education Manager leads the development, delivery, and evaluation of education and outreach programs that advance the institution’s mission in conservation education, animal welfare awareness, and community engagement. This position manages education staff and volunteers, designs curriculum for school visits, camps, and public programs, collaborates with animal care and conservation teams, secures program funding, and ensures safe, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for diverse audiences. The ideal candidate blends pedagogical expertise, zoo-based interpretive techniques, program management, and strong stakeholder partnership skills.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Education Coordinator / Program Coordinator (Zoo, Aquarium, or Museum)
Environmental Educator or School Program Leader
Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator with education responsibilities

Advancement To:

Director of Education & Community Engagement
Senior Conservation Programs Manager
Deputy Director of Visitor Experience or Chief Learning Officer

Lateral Moves:

Volunteer & Visitor Services Manager
Community Outreach & Partnerships Manager
Fundraising or Development Manager (with grant experience)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and continuously refine a comprehensive, standards-aligned education curriculum for school groups, family programs, summer camps, youth initiatives, and adult learning that communicates core conservation messages and animal welfare principles.
Lead, supervise, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of education staff, interpreters, seasonal educators, and volunteers; set performance goals, conduct evaluations, and build professional development pathways.
Design, coordinate, and deliver teacher-led and self-guided school programming that aligns with regional/state education standards (NGSS, Common Core, or equivalents), including pre-visit and post-visit digital resources.
Create and manage summer camps, after-school programs, weekend workshops, sleepovers, and specialized youth programs from concept through evaluation, including curriculum development, staffing plans, and onsite logistics.
Build and maintain partnerships with local schools, districts, universities, community organizations, and cultural institutions to expand program reach, diversity, and accessibility.
Oversee program operations and scheduling across multiple delivery modes (onsite, outreach, and virtual/remote), ensuring smooth coordination with animal care, visitor services, facilities, and marketing teams.
Manage education department budgets, track program income and expenses, develop revenue-generating program models, and provide monthly/quarterly financial reports to senior leadership.
Write, submit, and steward grants, sponsorship proposals, and donor reports to secure external funding for educational initiatives and special projects.
Develop interpretive materials, signage, lesson plans, animal handling briefs, and digital learning resources that are accurate, engaging, and accessible for diverse audiences (including multilingual audiences as applicable).
Partner with animal care teams to design safe, welfare-centered animal presentations and behind-the-scenes experiences; coordinate animal selections, husbandry considerations, and contingency plans.
Establish and enforce safety protocols and risk management procedures for all education activities, especially programs involving direct animal contact, live demonstrations, and travel to offsite locations.
Implement program evaluation frameworks, collect quantitative and qualitative data, perform impact analysis (attendance, learning outcomes, satisfaction), and produce reports for leadership and funders.
Recruit, train, and retain a robust volunteer corps for education programs; create volunteer role descriptions, training modules, recognition systems, and schedules to maximize retention.
Lead outreach initiatives and community engagement events (festivals, night programs, conservation days) that amplify the zoo’s conservation messaging and promote civic science participation.
Collaborate with marketing and communications to develop promotional strategies, social media content, and SEO-friendly program pages that increase enrollments and visibility.
Champion inclusion and accessibility by adapting programs for visitors with disabilities, underserved youth, English language learners, and economically disadvantaged audiences.
Develop and maintain inventories of educational supplies, mobile classroom equipment, live animal materials, and transport logistics for offsite programming.
Facilitate professional development for staff and volunteers on interpretive best practices, animal welfare protocols, DEI in education, and visitor engagement techniques.
Coordinate with research, conservation, and science staff to translate current conservation projects and zoo-based research into engaging, evidence-based learning experiences.
Monitor industry standards and regulatory compliance (AZA, USDA, local municipal codes) related to educational programming and live animal interactions; update policies as required.
Represent the institution at conferences, teacher workshops, school district meetings, and community forums; present program outcomes, curriculum innovations, and partnership opportunities.
Develop and pilot innovative digital learning products (virtual field trips, e-learning modules, interactive lesson packs) to broaden reach beyond onsite visitors.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc program reporting, data analysis, and impact storytelling for internal leadership and external funders.
Contribute to the education department’s strategic plan, annual objectives, and multi-year roadmaps to scale programming sustainably.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Development, Marketing, Animal Care, Visitor Services, Facilities, and Conservation teams to align program priorities and operational needs.
Participate in departmental and organizational planning meetings, safety drills, and public relations efforts as the education subject-matter expert.
Act as backup for public speaking and interpretive responsibilities when needed, ensuring consistent messaging across visitor touchpoints.
Assist in the recruitment and onboarding of seasonal staff and temporary contractors for peak program cycles.
Maintain strong record-keeping for permits, animal handling logs, volunteer hours, and program registrations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Curriculum design and lesson planning for informal and formal education settings, including alignment with K–12 learning standards (NGSS, Common Core).
Program management and operations: scheduling, logistics, staffing models, and safety/risk assessment for onsite and outreach programs.
Grant writing and fund development: experience drafting proposals, budgets, and funder reporting.
Budgeting and financial oversight: creating program budgets, tracking revenue/expenses, and forecasting.
Volunteer management systems and training program development.
Knowledge of animal welfare best practices and protocols for live animal interactions and demonstrations.
Familiarity with accreditation and regulatory frameworks (AZA standards, USDA regulations, local permitting).
Data collection, program evaluation, and basic statistical or survey analysis to measure learning outcomes and program impact.
Interpretive techniques: storytelling, guided inquiry, experiential learning, and public speaking.
Educational technology and digital content creation (learning management systems, virtual field trip platforms, video creation, and Google Workspace/Microsoft Office).
Project management tools and methodologies (Asana, Trello, Smartsheet, or equivalents).
Multilingual program design or bilingual communication skills (preferred in communities served).

Soft Skills

Leadership and team-building: inspire and develop staff and volunteers while fostering a collaborative culture.
Clear, persuasive verbal and written communication tailored to diverse audiences (teachers, families, donors, regulators).
Strong interpersonal skills and cultural competency for engaging diverse communities and stakeholders.
Strategic and systems thinking to design scalable programs that align with institutional goals.
Problem-solving and adaptability in dynamic, public-facing environments.
Empathy and patience when working with young learners and visitors with special needs.
Facilitation and presentation skills for classroom, auditorium, and outdoor settings.
Attention to detail in safety protocols, scheduling, and reporting.
Time management and the ability to prioritize during peak seasons.
Networking and partnership development to grow program reach and resources.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Education, Environmental Education, Biology, Conservation, Zoology, Natural History, Museum Studies, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Education, Environmental Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Conservation Education, Museum Education, or related graduate degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Education
Zoology / Animal Science
Education / Curriculum & Instruction
Conservation Biology
Museum Studies / Interpretive Studies
Nonprofit Management / Public Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–7 years of progressive experience in informal education, program management, or environmental education within a zoo, aquarium, museum, park, or nonprofit setting.

Preferred:

5+ years managing education programs and teams in a zoological or similar institution, demonstrated success in grant-funded programming, and a track record of measurable program impact and community partnerships.