Are you passionate about research, education, and conservation? Join the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden as our Postdoctoral Fellow in Education! 🌿 This dynamic role focuses on advancing the science behind informal learning, nature connection, and behavior change. You’ll conduct impactful research, collaborate with internal teams and external partners, and mentor the next generation of conservation-minded leaders.
- Help us improve our programs and inspire action to protect wildlife and wild places.
- Ready to make a difference? Apply today and be part of something wild! 🌎✨
Employment Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status:
- Exempt
Pay Rate:
- $45,000 - $53,000 / Annual Salary Starting Range
Experience Required:
- History of peer-reviewed publication as well as strong research, statistical analysis, and writing skills are required.
Minimum Education Requirements:
- Ph.D. in Education, Psychology, or related field.
Department:
- Conservation, Education, and Science
Direct Supervisor:
- Director of Education
Supervisory Responsibility:
- Direct (0); Indirect (0)
Primary Work Location:
- Zoo Setting both indoors and outdoors.
Certification:
- Valid driver’s license and pass a driver’s history check.
Other:
- Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.
- This position works around animals susceptible to specific respiratory diseases and thus is subject to annual tuberculosis testing.
Job Summary:
- The Postdoctoral Fellow in Education is responsible for expanding the scientific scope and evaluation of the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden’s (the Zoo) education programs. Under the direction of the Director of Education and the Senior Director of Conservation, Education, and Science, the postdoctoral fellow will conduct and publish research in one or more of the following areas:
- education, informal learning, child development, nature connection, behavior change, visitor studies.
- Research results will be used to improve and adapt education and outreach programs.
- The postdoctoral fellow will collaborate internally across Zoo departments, serve on the Zoo’s Scientific Review Committee, and may also collaborate with university staff and other external partners and mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
- This position helps ensure that educational offerings meet high standards, align with the organization's strategic objectives, and contribute significantly to the Zoo's mission of connecting people with our world’s vanishing wildlife and wild places to inspire conservation action.
Essential Job Functions
- An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential duties:
- Conduct independent and collaborative research in the field of education, including but not limited to designing studies, receiving ethical approval though an Institutional Review Board, collecting and analyzing data, and disseminating findings
- Assist in developing program outcomes and identify or develop tools to measure those outcomes
- Evaluate the Zoo’s education programs, using quantitative and qualitative methods, and apply results to guide curriculum development and improve programs
- Conduct visitor studies/audience research to evaluate effectiveness of educational and conservation messaging and use results to improve messaging
- Write grant proposals to secure external funding to support research and education programs
- Mentor Zoo staff and/or undergraduate and graduate students on research design, methodology, data analysis, and writing
- Serve on the Zoo’s Scientific Review Committee as assigned
- Participate in conservation activities to support Zoo’s mission.
- Foster constructive attitudes and team unity among staff; positively communicate and collaborate with Zoo personnel and professional colleagues.
- Practice and model the Zoo’s values centered on wildlife and wild places, conservation, people, and leadership.
- Work in a manner that supports and protects the health of the assigned collection, to include wearing assigned PPE and limiting exposure to known contagions.
- Publish research results in peer-reviewed journals and communicate research results through other channels (e.g., staff seminars, reports, conference presentations, press releases, blogs, and popular publications).
- Assist with statistical analysis and manuscript preparation for existing datasets
- Teach in formal and informal settings at ages ranging from 2-years-old to adult
- Engage in professional development activities to enhance research skills, stay abreast of developments in the field of education, and build a strong network of collaborators
- Participate in public relations activities
- Interact with Zoo guests and enhance the guest experience
Non- Essential Job Functions
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Salary
- $45,000 - $53,000 / Annual Salary Starting Range
