Join a mission-driven team dedicated to protecting wildlife and inspiring action! Palm Beach Zoo is seeking a Volunteer Manager to lead and grow a dynamic volunteer and intern program that supports animal care, guest engagement, education, and conservation initiatives.
About the Role
- As the Volunteer Manager, you’ll oversee the full volunteer lifecycle—from recruiting and onboarding to training, scheduling, communication, and recognition.
- You’ll work closely with teams across the Zoo to ensure volunteers are prepared, supported, and meaningfully connected to our mission.
- This role is highly collaborative and relationship-focused, playing a key part in strengthening our culture of inclusion, guest service, and conservation.
Key Responsibilities
- Recruit, onboard, train, and retain volunteers and student interns.
- Match volunteers to Zoo departments based on operational needs and interests.
- Develop and deliver engaging training that prepares volunteers to support staff and engage guests.
- Maintain accurate records and track hours, participation, and program metrics.
- Lead communication and provide ongoing support through check-ins, feedback, and coaching.
- Coordinate volunteer involvement in Zoo events, outreach, and conservation programs.
- Implement appreciation initiatives and lead the annual volunteer recognition event.
- Ensure volunteers understand and model the Zoo’s values, guest service standards, and conservation mission.
What You Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in Education, Communications, Hospitality, Nonprofit Management, or related field.
- 3+ years of experience managing volunteers or community engagement programs (zoo, museum, or nonprofit preferred).
- Strong presentation, training, and communication skills.
- Experience with volunteer management systems (e.g., Volgistics) and Microsoft Office.
- Exceptional relationship-building, organization, and customer service abilities.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively across departments.
- Availability for weekends, evenings, holidays, and special events.
- Why Join Us
- At Palm Beach Zoo, you’ll be part of a passionate team making a real impact. Volunteers play an essential role in caring for animals, engaging guests, and supporting conservation—and you’ll be at the heart of that work. If you're energized by connecting people to purpose and building a thriving volunteer community, we’d love to meet you.
What We Offer:
Competitive wages
An EXCELLENT benefits package, which includes:
- 100% paid employee level coverage for designated medical & dental plan
- 100% paid coverage for 100K of life insurance
- 100% paid short-term disability
- 100% paid long-term disability
- 401K – Employer contributes 3% of your salary
- Optional vision, accident and critical illness coverages available through pre-tax payroll deductions
- Generous paid time off policy, Zoo Membership and FREE admission to other Florida Attractions!
- The position will be open until filled.
- We will contact qualified candidates whom we have chosen to move forward in the interview process.
- At Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, we are committed to saving wildlife in wild places. Our mission is to create meaningful connections between people and animals—sparking awe, awareness, and action for conservation.
- Every employee plays a role in this mission, whether supporting local partners here in Florida, contributing to international efforts in Africa and Central America, or diving into coral restoration as part of our Zoo’s conservation dive team.
- Whoever you are, wherever you’re from—you are welcome here. We believe anyone can be a wildlife hero.
- You’ll be part of a dedicated team working to preserve wildlife and inspire future conservationists—while enjoying a vibrant, mission-focused workplace in the heart of South Florida.
- Palm Beach Zoo is an equal opportunity and drug free employer and makes all employment decisions, including those related to recruitment, hiring, training and promotion without regard to race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Experience Required
- Min 3 years
Perks
- Join a passionate team where great benefits meet a culture of collaboration and conservation
Salary
- 70,000
