Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoology Program Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a detail-oriented and mission-driven Zoology Program Coordinator to design, implement, and manage educational and research programs focused on animal care, conservation, and field biology. The Zoology Program Coordinator will act as the operational lead for program delivery, liaise with veterinarians and researchers, supervise interns and volunteers, ensure regulatory compliance, and optimize program outcomes using data-driven evaluation and stakeholder communication. Ideal candidates will combine hands-on animal experience with strong project management, curriculum development, and grant management skills.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Animal Care Technician / Zookeeper I with 1–3 years of experience in husbandry and public programs
Field Research Assistant or Wildlife Technician who has coordinated small projects and collected data
Environmental Education Coordinator or Outreach Specialist with experience delivering animal-focused programs

Advancement To:

Senior Program Coordinator / Program Manager (Zoology, Conservation, or Education)
Conservation Program Manager or Wildlife Program Director
Curator of Education or Curatorial Assistant (for institutional settings)
Research Coordinator or Project Lead for funded conservation initiatives

Lateral Moves:

Volunteer & Community Engagement Manager
Animal Welfare & Compliance Officer
Fundraising & Grants Coordinator (conservation-focused)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Coordinate the day-to-day delivery of zoology programs including classroom instruction, field excursions, hands-on animal encounters, and community outreach events, ensuring alignment with learning objectives and animal welfare standards.
Develop, review, and refine curricula and lesson plans for K–12, undergraduate, public, and professional audiences that integrate animal behavior, ecology, conservation biology, and species-specific husbandry.
Oversee animal care scheduling for program activities—coordinate feeding, training demonstrations, enrichment, and transport in partnership with animal care teams and veterinarians to guarantee animal welfare.
Manage internship, practicum, and volunteer programs: recruit, screen, onboard, train, schedule, supervise, and evaluate participants to support program operations and career development pathways.
Serve as the primary liaison with veterinarians, researchers, conservation partners, permitting agencies (state and federal), and institutional review boards (IACUC), ensuring timely communication and adherence to protocols.
Write, edit, and manage grant proposals, foundation requests, and sponsorship packages to secure program funding; track deliverables and prepare grant reports for funders.
Create and manage program budgets, purchase requisitions, inventory of supplies, and vendor relationships to maintain fiscal responsibility and uninterrupted program delivery.
Coordinate field research logistics: site selection, travel planning, sampling protocols, equipment procurement, and safety planning for teams conducting surveys, trapping, telemetry, or behavioral studies.
Maintain detailed animal and program records, health logs, behavioral observations, training histories, and data needed for accreditation, permitting, and research publications.
Monitor program KPIs and outcomes—collect, clean, analyze, and interpret program and research data to produce annual reports, impact summaries, and recommendations for continuous improvement.
Ensure compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations governing animal use, transport, and public interactions (IACUC, USDA, state permits), document compliance activities and support audits.
Plan and execute public and private events such as open houses, conservation nights, lectures, and special exhibits, coordinating staff, volunteers, speakers, permits, and emergency response plans.
Develop and implement safety protocols and emergency procedures for fieldwork and on-site animal interactions; provide or coordinate first aid/CPR and wildlife first aid training for staff and volunteers.
Supervise, mentor, and evaluate program staff, interns, and seasonal employees—conduct performance reviews, set goals, identify training needs, and support career development.
Design interpretive materials and multimedia content (presentations, handouts, web content, social media posts) that translate complex zoological concepts into engaging, accessible outreach.
Coordinate scheduling and logistics for external collaborators (universities, NGOs, government biologists), including MOUs, collaborative research agreements, and data-sharing arrangements.
Lead pilot projects and program expansions: develop scope, timelines, staffing plans, evaluation metrics, and stakeholder communication plans to scale successful initiatives.
Manage permit applications and renewals for species handling, collection, or field research; compile supporting documentation and respond to agency inquiries in a timely manner.
Facilitate community science projects and citizen-science initiatives, training participants in data collection methods, data quality standards, and ethical wildlife interactions.
Prepare manuscripts, technical reports, educational materials, and presentations summarizing program findings for scientific conferences, funders, boards, and community stakeholders.
Coordinate animal transport logistics for inter-institution transfers, field release/recovery, and emergency evacuations, ensuring appropriate containment, documentation, and veterinary oversight.
Implement monitoring protocols for welfare and program efficacy, including behavior-based welfare assessments, health screening schedules, and data-driven adjustments to husbandry and program practices.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data and reporting requests from leadership and external partners; produce GIS maps, distribution models, and simple statistical summaries to inform program decisions.
Contribute to the organization's strategic conservation education roadmap by identifying program gaps, emerging audience needs, and partnership opportunities.
Collaborate with communications and development teams to align program messaging, marketing materials, and donor reports with program outcomes and impact metrics.
Participate in staff meetings, curriculum committees, grant review panels, and cross-functional planning sessions to integrate zoology programming with broader institutional initiatives.
Provide administrative support for program documentation, meeting minutes, scheduling, facility maintenance coordination, and record archiving.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Animal husbandry and handling experience across a diverse set of taxa (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates) with emphasis on safety and welfare.
Program and project management: program design, scheduling, resource allocation, timeline creation, and stakeholder coordination.
Regulatory compliance: working knowledge of IACUC processes, state and federal wildlife permitting, AZA/USDA guidelines, and humane handling standards.
Curriculum development and instructional design for formal and informal learning environments, including assessment design and learning outcome alignment.
Grant writing and reporting: proposal development, budget creation, outcomes tracking, and funder relationship management.
Budgeting and financial administration: budget tracking, purchase orders, expense reconciliation, and basic financial forecasting.
Research support and field methods: survey techniques, sampling protocols, telemetry basics, capture/handling safety, and sample chain-of-custody practices.
Data collection and analysis: experience with Excel, Google Sheets, R or SPSS (basic), and database management for program metrics and animal records.
GIS and mapping fundamentals for ecological planning and outreach materials (ArcGIS, QGIS, or similar).
Learning Management Systems (LMS) & CRM familiarity (e.g., Moodle, Blackboard, Salesforce, Donor/Volunteer databases) for participant tracking and communication.
Technical writing: ability to draft scientific reports, grant narratives, SOPs, and policy documents.
Event planning and logistical coordination for public programs, field trips, and symposiums.
Basic veterinary coordination skills: interpreting veterinary notes, arranging treatments, and facilitating specimen transport under direction.
Permit application preparation and documentation management for transport, collection, and research activities.

Soft Skills

Clear, persuasive verbal and written communication tailored to scientists, public audiences, funders, and regulatory bodies.
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple concurrent programs and deadlines.
Leadership and team-building: ability to train, mentor, and motivate staff, volunteers, and interns.
Problem-solving orientation: pragmatic decision-making in dynamic field and on-site conditions.
Cultural competence and community engagement: experience working with diverse audiences and stakeholder groups.
Adaptability and resilience when coordinating field logistics and emergency responses under changing conditions.
Stakeholder management and diplomacy: building and maintaining partnerships with universities, NGOs, government agencies, and donors.
Instructional and presentation skills for delivering engaging public talks, workshops, and school programs.
Time management and prioritization to balance administrative duties, fieldwork, and outreach responsibilities.
Ethical judgment and integrity in animal welfare decisions, data handling, and reporting.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Zoology, Wildlife Biology, Biology, Conservation Science, Environmental Education, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Zoology, Conservation Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Education, or related discipline; or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Zoology / Animal Biology
Wildlife Ecology / Conservation Biology
Environmental Education / Science Education
Veterinary Technician programs or Animal Behavior
Natural Resource Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–7 years of progressively responsible experience in animal care, wildlife research, conservation education, or program coordination.

Preferred:

3–5+ years coordinating zoology or conservation programs in zoos, aquariums, field research projects, universities, or conservation NGOs.
Demonstrated experience with permit applications (IACUC, state/federal), grant writing, volunteer/intern supervision, and curriculum development.
Proven track record of successful program delivery, measurable impact, and collaborative partnerships with scientific and community stakeholders.