Community Outreach Specialist

It is the responsibility of this position to travel with the Zoo’s Education Outreach mobile program, provide care for the education animal collection, and to handle and present animals during formal and informal education programs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Handle and present education animals during on and off grounds programs
• Partner with the education department and outreach staff to design effective animal programs for the education outreach mobile program
• Maintain and care for Education Animal Outreach collection, including participation in the zoo-wide animal enrichment and training program
• Work with Outreach Manager and Education Supervisor to maintain animal husbandry, wellbeing, enrichment, and safety
• Maintain animal room, outside and Education hallway exhibits 
• Carry out animal diet directives from Nutritional Services department; clean and maintain food storage containers
• Communicate with Outreach Manager and Supervisor regarding animal health and safety concerns
• Train and socialize with Education Animal Outreach collection as needed
• Complete and keep animal records as required
• Handle and present a wide variety of animals for educational programs, such as birthday parties, zoo school, zoom programs, summer camps and various other education programs as needed
• May occasionally drive outreach van for programming

Qualifications:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
• The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Strong animal husbandry skills across a variety of taxa
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Ability to operate as a member of a large, diverse team
• Strong organizational and time management skills 
• Ability to maintain a professional appearance and manner out in the public
• Valid driver license with acceptable motor vehicle record to maintain zoo standards of insurability

Education and/or Experience:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Communications, Zoology, Biology, or related field preferred
• At least one-year animal handling, training, and husbandry experience in a zoo setting

Physical Demands: 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand;
• walk;
• sit;
• use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms;
• stoop,
• kneel,
• crouch,
• or crawl;
• and talk or hear.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or or move up to 75 pounds.

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• Team oriented environment
• Ability to work irregular hours (holidays and weekends)
• Ability to work outdoors in heat, cold and inclement weather
• Exposure to all types of inclement weather conditions
• Exposure to chemicals (cleaning, water chemicals, additives, etc.)
• Available to work Saturday and/or Sunday if needed
• Ability to work special events and functions as required
• This position may be safety sensitive
• This position may work around animals susceptible to specific diseases, thus may be subject to regular tuberculosis and rabies titer testing, and the routine use of personal protective equipment such as gloves, face masks 

Disclaimer

• The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed;
• it is not intended to be construed as a complete inventory of all responsibilities,
• duties and skills required for the position.
• This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.
• Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.
• Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities.
• To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.
• Continued employment remains on an at-will basis.

Benefits 

• This is a full-time position and offers the following benefits: 
• Medical and Prescription Drug (Employee Coverage 90% Employer Paid, Dependent Coverage 55% Employer Paid)
• Vision
• Dental
• Basic Life AD&D (100% Employer Paid)
• Short Term Disability (100% Employer Paid)
• Long Term Disability (100% Employer Paid)
• Supplemental Life
• Flexible Spending Account
• 401k
• Paid Time Off (Accrual Equivalent to 5 Weeks Per Year)
• PTO Rollover
• PTO Sell Back
• Free Zoo Membership
• Free Guest Passes
• Discounts on Food, Merchandise, Attractions, Admission and Programs