Support and mentor conservation education staff focused on cultivating and equipping conservation leadership for our community and support diverse and accessible conservation workforce development in the Zoo’s employee pipeline. Guide the development and facilitation of programs to inspire teens and early career professionals to act on behalf of animals in the wild. Promote a positive culture of innovation, empowerment and collaboration to meet the Houston 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.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Encourages and models the core values of the Houston Zoo through leadership, program development and implementation.
- Manages and supports development, implementation, and evaluation of audience-focused conservation education programming including teen programs, adventure programs and a year-round leadership experience for early career conservation professionals.
- Directs the development of domestic and international travel programs to connect teens and early career professionals with our field conservation partners.
- Responsible for the safety and security of youth when traveling domestically and internationally. Will be required to maintain American Red Cross CPR/First Aid and Wilderness First Responder certifications.
- Oversees alignment of audience programming to ensure a continuum of learning that is accessible and engages diverse audiences from the Greater Houston area.
- Communicates and partners effectively within the team, across all Zoo departments, and with other zoo, museum and aquarium personnel, community organizations, educators, informal/formal educational organizations, contractors, program funders and other professional organizations.
- Supports Education Program Supervisors and Coordinators in the areas of hiring, program development, program evaluation, and training.
- Responsible for developing and training staff on safety and security protocol during off-grounds programming including local, regional and international adventure programs.
- Works with staff to create and implement the department’s budget.
- Assist in the development of Conservation Education Department goals and objectives, and manage the implementation of new initiatives accordingly.
- Collaborates with all departments to implement Zoo and CE department initiatives.
- Utilizes sound evaluation principles to drive program modifications and development.
- Seeks out and fosters best practices from other well-respected educational institutions.
- Design evaluation tools to measure program impact.
- In absence of Sr. Director this role will make decisions on behalf of the department.
- Collaborate with marketing team to create a marketing plan for all youth conservation programs.
- This position requires supervision / management / direction of selection, training, development, appraisal and work assignments of personnel.
- Schedules programs and staff, orders materials, prepares and maintains facilities and vehicles related to education-based programming.
- Reviews and update operational procedures for staff and volunteers for programs.
- Uses proper techniques to confidently handle and present ambassador animals to Zoo guests in an engaging and age-appropriate manner, prioritizing exemplary animal care, health, and well-being.
- In collaboration with Animal Care teams, helps to develop and facilitate Education and Interpretive staff training for proper ambassador animal handling techniques.
- Required to be able to travel outside of the United States with a current and valid passport.
- Contributes to saving animals in the wild through: reduction of waste, water and energy use and inspiring guests and staff to take wildlife protecting actions
Performs other duties as assigned
- Education and Experience
- BA/BS degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Minimum of five (5) years’ relevant work experience
- Ability to communicate with all levels of management
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Excellent oral and written communications skills
- Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills
- Ability to partner across teams and with all levels of staff
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 the promotion of sustainable livelihoods in the local communities. Houston Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer
