Director of Zoo School

Collaborate with a passionate Zoo Crew in San Antonio. Choosing where to grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the place you choose to work at will support and guide you. With a diversity of passionate people, San Antonio Zoo is a place where you can collaborate with others securing a future for wildlife.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

• The Education Director of Will Smith Zoo School assumes a pivotal role in leading and overseeing the comprehensive development, implementation, management, oversight, and evaluation of our nature-based preschool and early childhood programming.
• As the Director of Zoo School, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people in San Antonio.

Here, you will make an impact by:

• Access and understand education trends, education research, and push program towards excellence and joy in the pursuit of strong early childhood education.
• Apply principles and theories related to systems, organizational behavior, and change in problem solving and decision making.
• Be fully committed to the mission of San Antonio Zoo to create awareness that inspires action to care for the wild world we steward and animals we protect.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships and partnerships with other local and national organizations to increase opportunities for young children and families to connect with nature.
• Continually experiment with new programs, and review and enhance existing programs.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other departments to support early childhood program initiatives.
• Develop new initiatives to support the strategic direction of the program.
• Develop outreach and response strategies and build a core team to champion out-reach efforts.
• Develop, interpret, and contribute to early childhood research, practice, and resources regularly.
• Engages in effective conflict-resolution strategies with families and family advocates, early childhood educators, specialists and service providers, community leaders, regulatory agencies, and policymakers
• Ensure high-quality early childhood educational programming and act as a resource on pedagogical theory.
• Ensure programs follow best practices for nature-based preschools, including guidelines set by NAAEE, NAEYC, and the Natural Start Alliance.
• Ensure proper student assessment methods that align with the mission of Will Smith Zoo School and promote sustainability education.
• Ensure the program is in alignment with San Antonio Zoo’s strategic direction and in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Foster the growth and expansion of the program, enhancing its capacity to provide transformative experiences for students.
• Identify and address barriers to envisioning and developing an educational approach that differs from the traditional early childhood education. Create new ways of envisioning the profession and its role, and work to bring colleagues to the visioning process.
• Identify resources and research that support developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate practice, which benefits all young children.
• Interview, train, motivate, and supervise early childhood instructors, empowering them to actively engage children's sense of wonder and exploration in relation to sustainability and the natural world.
• Involves others in setting annual goals for program improvement, provides resources and support for meeting objectives, and assesses progress toward achieving program goals.
• Oversee and ensure consistent implementation of a nature-based curriculum.
• Provide financial, programmatic, and operational information to the Vice President of Education and recommend appropriate action.
• Uphold all company policies as outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures, Team Member Handbook, and Code of Business Conduct.

Staff Management and Development:

• Actively develop and maintain positive relationships with parents. Promote the importance of nature experiences with families and foster a sense of community that extends the nature-based knowledge beyond the preschool years.
• Assure compliance with all relevant governmental and institutional regulations.
• Carefully consider how departmental/personal goals fit into broader Zoo priorities and provide positive leadership and support for volunteers and other members of the Education Department and Zoo.
• Create an environment where adults can be engaged in learning and development by actively supporting others’ professional development.
• Foster a culture of diversity, inclusion, and respect.

Fiscal Responsibilities:

• Implement good business management strategies, including budgeting, reporting, tracking, and strategic planning.
• Maintain all financial records and approve expenses.
• Manage the annual budget to ensure operational costs are consistent with the financial philosophy of the school.
• Prepare an annual budget to be approved by the Board of Directors

Other Responsibilities:

• Performs other work-related duties as required and assigned.

Your Skills and Expertise

• To set you up for success in this role from day one, the San Antonio Zoo recommends the following skills/qualifications:
• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field is required.
• Three (3) years of experience in nature-based education, prefer a background in nature-based preschool or similar experience is required.
• Three (3) or more years of experience as director of the state-licensed child-care facility is required.
• Hold a valid Child Care Center Director's Certificate from the State of Texas or has the qualifications to obtain a certificate within 30 days of hire.
• Experience in financial management, including budget development, financial reporting, and oversight.
• Strong pedagogical foundations and understanding of current research in emergent and nature-based education, social emotional learning, and inclusive education practices.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in strategic planning, public speaking, facilitating meetings, managing projects, and developing policies and procedures.
• Experience building relationships and creating shared purpose among groups with diverse needs and perspectives, including staff, volunteers, partners, families, students, and community members.
• Strong background in state licensing regulations, staffing, enrollment and budget management
• Experience in financial management, including budget development, financial reporting, and oversight.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in education and creating positive community work culture.
• Believes in, values, and is committed to leadership development that empowers, encourages, cultivates, and supports others to become agents of change.
• Demonstrated highly effective organizational, time management, and multitasking skills.
• A proven track record in hiring, developing and retaining staff.
• Strong commitment to building positive relationships with families and immersing young children in nature.
• Skilled at managing multiple tasks and communicating well with various departments and leadership.
• Successful candidates must complete a pre-employment drug screening and background check.
• Must be able to work in varying climate and weather conditions (rain, snow, hot, or cold).
• We enjoy year-round operation for all staff, must be available day, and occasional special after-hour assignments.
• The San Antonio Zoo is an equal opportunity employer. 
• San Antonio Zoo will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

Perks

• We offer robust benefits including medical, dental, vision and 403B.
• As well as Zoo memberships and Zoo discounts throughout the park.

Salary

• $60,000 Annual