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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Education Specialist

💰 $ - $

EducationWildlifeConservationOutreach

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking a passionate Zoo Education Specialist to design, implement, and evaluate high-quality, research-informed informal education programs for diverse audiences. The Zoo Education Specialist will deliver on-site and virtual school visits, lead interpretive talks and keeper chats, run camps and workshops, train volunteers and seasonal educators, coordinate with animal care and conservation teams, and use best practices in experiential learning to advance conservation awareness and behavior. This role emphasizes audience-centered curriculum development, program assessment, partnership-building, and adherence to animal welfare and safety protocols.

Keywords: Zoo Education Specialist, conservation education, informal learning, curriculum development, school programs, wildlife outreach, interpretive programming, animal handling education.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Education Intern (Zoo/Aquarium)
  • Environmental Educator or Naturalist
  • Elementary/Middle School Teacher or Science Instructor

Advancement To:

  • Education Manager / Lead Educator
  • Curator of Education
  • Director of Education & Visitor Engagement

Lateral Moves:

  • Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator
  • Visitor Services or Guest Experience Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, plan, and deliver curriculum-aligned school programs (preK–12), summer camps, field trips, workshops, and virtual learning modules that meet Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and other relevant state standards.
  • Design age-appropriate lesson plans, educator guides, activity sheets, and evaluation tools that translate complex conservation science into hands-on learning experiences.
  • Lead interpretive presentations, keeper talks, living animal demonstrations, and guided tours for general public audiences, school groups, families, and homeschool groups, ensuring engaging and accurate messaging.
  • Coordinate logistics for school and group visits, including scheduling, ticketing, chaperone ratios, transportation guidance, and pre- and post-visit materials for teachers.
  • Train, supervise, and evaluate seasonal educators, docents, interns, and volunteers; develop training curricula, shadowing checklists, and ongoing professional development.
  • Collaborate with animal care staff to develop safe, animal-appropriate education encounters and to ensure program content accurately reflects animal behavior, welfare, and conservation status.
  • Develop outreach and partnership programs with local schools, community organizations, and underserved audiences to expand access and inclusivity of zoo education offerings.
  • Create, maintain, and update interpretive signage, exhibit-based activities, and multimedia content (video scripts, slide decks) to enhance on-site learning and visitor understanding.
  • Implement and monitor safety and risk management protocols for all educational activities, including animal contact, field-based programs, off-site outreach, and overnight camps.
  • Collect, analyze, and report program participation metrics, learning outcomes, and visitor feedback using CRM or database systems to inform program improvement and demonstrate impact to funders and stakeholders.
  • Manage program budgets, supplies, and inventory for education materials; prepare purchase requests, track expenses, and optimize resource allocation.
  • Write and contribute to grant proposals, sponsorship packages, and fundraising narratives to secure support for education initiatives and new curriculum development.
  • Lead and coordinate special events and themed educational days (e.g., World Migratory Bird Day, Conservation Week) that integrate animals, interpreters, and guest experiences.
  • Develop and deliver professional development workshops and continuing education for teachers and community educators on topics such as inquiry-based learning, animal behavior, and conservation pedagogy.
  • Design and pilot evaluation instruments (pre/post-tests, rubrics, surveys, observational protocols) to measure cognitive, affective, and behavioral outcomes of education programs.
  • Maintain accurate records of animals used in programming, display permits, and any necessary legal or regulatory documentation related to education presentations and off-site transport.
  • Build and maintain engaging online educational content — webinars, virtual field trips, downloadable resources, and social media series — to reach remote and global learners.
  • Coordinate volunteer scheduling, recognition programs, and retention strategies to sustain a trained corps of docents and education volunteers.
  • Advocate for accessibility and inclusive practices in program design by providing ADA accommodations, multilingual materials, and culturally relevant content.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert and point of contact for media interviews, community presentations, and internal communications regarding education initiatives and conservation messaging.
  • Support animal welfare and conservation objectives by integrating species conservation status, human-wildlife conflict topics, and actionable stewardship behaviors into all educational content.
  • Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to promote programs, produce promotional copy, and measure conversion to attendance for education offerings.
  • Facilitate internships, practicum placements, and student research projects; mentor emerging educators and provide structured feedback and evaluation.
  • Stay current with best practices in informal STEM education, environmental literacy, and zoo/aquarium pedagogy through conferences, professional networks, and literature review.

Secondary Functions

  • Maintain program databases, participant rosters, and documentation of educational program compliance and outcomes.
  • Assist with space scheduling and coordination of education facilities, classrooms, and AV equipment for events and school days.
  • Support cross-departmental initiatives (conservation programs, animal welfare, guest experience) by contributing education expertise to exhibit planning and interpretation.
  • Contribute to strategic planning for the education department by sharing programmatic insights, audience segmentation data, and recommendations for growth.
  • Participate in community outreach fairs, teacher nights, and neighborhood partnership meetings to represent the zoo’s education mission.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Curriculum development and lesson planning for informal education (preK–12)
  • Proven experience delivering live animal programs and interpretive talks
  • Knowledge of animal behavior, husbandry basics, and welfare considerations relevant to education encounters
  • Program evaluation methods: survey design, pre/post assessment, rubrics, and basic statistical reporting
  • Volunteer recruitment, training, scheduling, and supervision
  • Familiarity with K–12 learning standards (NGSS) and ability to align programs to standards
  • Classroom and group management techniques for field trip and camp environments
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Google Workspace, and CRM or participant database systems (e.g., SalesForce, DonorPerfect, Tessitura, or similar)
  • Experience developing virtual programming and using webinar/streaming platforms (Zoom, YouTube Live)
  • Grant writing and proposal development for educational programming and outreach
  • Budget management for educational program lines and supply inventories
  • Basic AV setup and troubleshooting for presentations (projectors, microphones, tablets)
  • First Aid/CPR certification for youth programming (or ability to obtain)
  • Data entry and reporting of participation metrics and impact measures
  • Familiarity with accessibility accommodations and inclusive education practices

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional verbal presentation and storytelling skills for diverse audiences
  • Strong interpersonal skills for collaboration with animal care, conservation, marketing, and school partners
  • Empathy and cultural competency when designing inclusive programs for underserved communities
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for scheduling and logistics
  • Problem-solving and risk assessment mindset to maintain safety and animal welfare during programs
  • Flexibility and adaptability to lead programs in variable outdoor and animal-care environments
  • Leadership and mentoring skills for supervising seasonal staff, volunteers, and interns
  • Creative design thinking to build engaging, hands-on learning experiences
  • Passion for conservation communication and motivating pro-environmental behavior
  • Time management and multitasking across multiple concurrent program lines

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

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

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Environmental Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Conservation Science, or a related discipline.
  • Certifications in informal education, museum education, or interpretation (e.g., NAI Interpretive Training).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Environmental Education
  • Biology / Zoology / Wildlife Ecology
  • Education / Curriculum & Instruction
  • Museum Studies / Interpretation
  • Conservation Science / Natural Resource Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of direct experience in informal education, environmental education, or zoo/aquarium education, including program development and delivery.

Preferred: 3–7+ years experience leading K–12 outreach, camps, volunteer training, and program evaluation in a zoo, aquarium, museum, nature center, or school setting; experience managing budgets, writing grants, and supervising staff.

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