Education Specialist

Safety-Sensitive: This is a safety-sensitive position.  Candidates, regardless of whether they are a medical marijuana licensee, must receive a negative result on a 10-panel, pre-placement drug screening to include THC, prior to beginning work.

• Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. (TZMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of “Connecting, Caring, Advocating for Wildlife, People, and Wild Places.”
• A dynamic group of passionate individuals brings the zoo to life each day, 365 days per year, caring for animals, greeting guests, educating the public and managing the facilities.
•   Each member of the team is integral to the success of the zoo as a key asset in the City of Tulsa and the Northeast Oklahoma region, delivering recreational opportunities, providing unplugged family time and conserving animal species for future generations.

Position Summary:

• The Education Specialist supports the Education department through all aspects of interpretive, formal and informal programming including daily husbandry of the education ambassador animals, developing and teaching camps, classes, on-grounds interpretive programs, school and off-site programs and managing the programs and daily operations of the Tulsa Zoo Nature Exchange (NEX).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Other duties may be assigned in keeping with the mission of Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. (TZMI).
• Develops and teaches assigned formal and informal education programs at the Tulsa Zoo including school programs, library programs, off-site programming, teacher professional development, etc.
• Completes animal husbandry routines, including enrichment/training, administering medications, and record-keeping for ambassador animal collection.
• Maintains all supplies and records associated with the animal collection.
• Assists with daily operation of the NEX, including opening and closing procedures, interacting with traders, managing inventory, and managing the facility.
• Assists with maintaining the NEX trader database and recommends upgrades and maintenance as needed.
• Adjusts work schedule as needed to accommodate any programming times that are outside the typical assigned work schedule.
• Ensures participants’ safety through practicing professional classroom and zoo-visit management, enforcing all policies, and maintaining order at all times.
• Assists with the coordination and supervision of volunteers and seasonal, part-time, and contract staff.
• Oversees the care and use of the Education department technology and all formal programming equipment, including the care and upkeep of the outreach van.
• Handles animals in the education ambassador animal collection in both public and non-public situations.
• Oversees the HDC classrooms and their storage areas by maintaining inventory and ensuring orderliness, cleanliness, and safety.
• Provides assistance with the non-living collections as needed.
• Works cooperatively with other TZMI departments.
• Develops and maintains professional relationships with personnel from outside organizations and facilities.
• Stays current with information and skills pertaining to education, the environment, animals, and any other field pertinent to this position.
• Maintains necessary certifications as required.
• Maintains necessary testing/vaccinations as required (TB, rabies, etc.).
• Recognizes signs of pest infestation in animal areas and combat pests/nuisance wildlife as directed.
• Maintains area compliance with all local, state, federal and international regulations and standards are met (USDA, AZA, etc.)
• Responds to emergency calls after normal operating hours.

Supervisory Responsibilities:    

• This position currently has no supervisory responsibilities.

Values:                                                     

• To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies as they relate to TZMI core values:
• We are enthusiastically committed to be part of the Tulsa Zoo community.
• We will all work together as one Zoo Team to support the Zoo’s mission.
• We will value and appreciate everyone and create a safe, understanding, and welcoming environment for all.
• We will all be accountable for achieving excellence.
• We will earn the trust of one another, acting honestly and treating each other with respect.

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.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in education, biology, zoology, environmental science, or a related field from college or university
• One to three years related experience working in an interpretive education setting
• Equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable

Language Skills

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers, employees of TZMI and the general public.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
• Ability to perform these operations using units of American money.

Computer Skills

• Microsoft Office – including Word, Excel, PowerPoint (or Prezi)
• Past Perfect (or similar museum database system)
• Internet Browser(s)- Explorer, Chrome, Safari, etc.
• Other Skills, Abilities or Qualifications
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and be insurable on TZMI’s insurance carrier
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays
• Must have a valid drivers’ license and be insurable by the insurance carrier
• Familiarity with a variety of teaching methods and knowledge of age-appropriate cognitive and physical abilities required
• Experience in interpretive education, including program development and implementation, preferred
• Working knowledge of the natural world preferred

Research skills are required

• Experience working with small invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals in public and non-public situations preferred
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Ability to work with both adult and teen volunteers
• Proficient in public speaking and creative thinking
• Capable of self-motivating and working without direct supervision

Physical Demands:  

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• This position involves substantial standing; substantial walking; moderate sitting; substantial reaching with hands and arms; minimal climbing or balancing; substantial stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling; substantial talking or hearing; moderate lifting up to 50 pounds

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• This work environment involves moderate work in outdoor weather conditions; moderate work with loud noise level.