The Houston Zoo seeks Education Programs Specialist

The Houston Zoo’s Education Programs Specialist develops and implements programs and experiences connecting guests to nature and inspiring actions on behalf of animals in the wild. As part of the Conservation Education team, this role assists primarily with Camp Zoofari and functions as an advocate for childhood communities, ages 6-12. This role helps shape wildlife-saving identities by cultivating a community of campers interested, aware, equipped, and ready to take action to save wildlife. They will utilize engaging teaching strategies and best practices to shift program participant’s attitudes and awareness, as well as coach seasonal staff in camp facilitation. They promote a positive culture of innovation, empowerment, and collaboration to meet the Zoo’s mission.

Our Mission: Houston Zoo connects communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife.
Our Vision: Houston Zoo will be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife.

As an Education Programs Specialist, you will:

• Engage with program participants and Zoo guests to help create memorable experiences and forge empathetic connections with animals.
• Collaborate with various Zoo teams on wildlife-saving messaging, age-appropriate conservation education programming, and guest engagement.
• Build relationships and partnerships with experts in the community.
• Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse group of Zoo staff, volunteers, and the public.
• Handle and care for ambassador animals with respect and in accordance with AZA standards.
• Facilitate training programs for staff and volunteers involved in implementing educational programs.
• Utilize sound evaluation principles to drive program modifications and development, including designing evaluation tools to measure program impact.
• Support other team members in their roles such as assisting in various program instruction, collaborating on program development and creating a culture that values the team above individual achievement.
• Contribute to saving animals in the wild through: reduction of waste, water and energy use and inspiring guests and staff to take wildlife protecting actions
• Interact directly with seasonal staff, assisting in their training, continued coaching, and observations and feedback.

Professional Requirements & Qualifications:

• Self-motivated and self-directed individual with the ability to partner in a fast-paced environment while working on multiple projects both independently and on a team.
• Demonstrate a high level of communication skills.
• Develops action plans in collaboration with Zoo and community stakeholders; can adjust plans when necessary.
• Possesses excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Comfortable taking risks to try approaches and solutions that have not been tried before.
• Comfortable learning from failure.
• Willingness to learn.

This position includes:

• Driving in Zoo vehicles to partner campuses and nature spaces in the Greater Houston area.
• Lifting and transport of animals; ability to lift up to 50lbs is required.
• Mon-Fri schedule with some weekends and evenings.

An ideal candidate will have:

• Bilingual in Spanish/English (preferred).
• Interpretive experience in an informal learning environment such as, but not limited to, a zoo, aquarium, museum, park, historical site, and/or botanic garden.
• Experience designing and developing age-appropriate education programs, especially for informal learning audiences.
• Experience leading programming for diverse audiences and various group sizes.

If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know by contacting education@houstonzoo.org. In your application, please feel free to share which pronouns you use.

About Houston Zoo

The Houston Zoo is made up of many moving parts with over 6,000 permanent residents (our animals) for whom we provide housing, meals, medical care and, yes, even education! There are over 2 million guests each year who come to experience our incredible variety of animals and ecosystems, as well as attend special private and public events and entertainment. Our dedicated staff works around the clock to ensure that the Zoo is always running smoothly for the safety and well-being of our residents and guests. We strive to ensure the protection of all the counterparts of the animals we have at the Zoo and in the wild.

Join the Houston Zoo and become a part of an organization that is focused on the preservation of wildlife and their habitats by combining conservation with education and promotion of sustainable livelihoods in the local communities. Houston Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

How to Apply

Apply directly here: https://us63.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePortal/en-US/houstonzoo/Posting/View/1667