Educator I

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

Position Title : Educator I

Department : Education

Supervisor : Family Programs Manager

Position Status : Full Time

Company Overview :

Nashville Zoo is dedicated to inspiring a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation, and leadership.

With a diverse collection of animals and a commitment to wildlife preservation, we provide engaging experiences for visitors of all ages.

Position Description :

The Educator I is part of a dedicated team who is committed to integrating education into the guest experience and recognizes the significance of education in fostering community support for the Zoo.

The Educator I is experienced in non-formal education with the demonstrated ability to adapt programming to a variety of audiences and program settings.

Duties and Responsibilities :

• Serves as educator for a wide variety of programming.
• Has a strong knowledge of all program content.
• Design and facilitate age-appropriate curricula for a wide variety of programming.
• Assists in the development of new programming and curriculum.
• Works with various animals during programming, including small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
• Assists with administering program evaluations and maintaining accurate statistics for all programming.
• Engages with guests and program participants regularly, providing excellent service to ensure a positive guest experience.
• Builds positive relationships within the Education Team and with other Zoo Departments.
• Supports all Zoo education programs as needed.
• Participates in workshops, conferences and continuing education classes.
• Assists with internal and external online registration systems.
• Participates in Nashville Zoo teams and projects.
• Effectively handles customer service concerns.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Skills :

• Comfortable working with ambassador animals.
• Desire to work with and speak to the public.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to represent the zoo.
• Ability to work well independently without direct supervision.
• Excellent multitasking and time management ability.
• Ability to respond to emergency situations calmly and follow protocols.

Education / Experience :

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• High school diploma or GED equivalent.

Desired Skills :

The following skills and experience are desired or are considered a plus :

• Bachelor’s degree, or working towards, in Biology, Zoology, Environmental Education / Interpretation, Education, or related field.
• Familiarity with technology relevant to use in a zoo education setting.
• Knowledge and experience with live animal education programming.

Physical Responsibilities :

• Ability to work outdoors in temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Stand, sit, or walk for an extended period. Applicants must be able to bend, stoop and extend themselves, etc., as required for assigned tasks.
• Move, lift, carry, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 25 pounds without assistance.

Work Schedule :

• August through May : Tuesday- Saturday, 8 : 00am to 4 : 30pm.
• May through August : Monday- Friday, 8 : 00am to 4 : 30pm.
• Must have flexibility to adjust working days / hours as needed.

Benefits :

Nashville Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, Employee Assistance Programs, a 401(k) plan with company match, paid time off, sick leave, long-term disability coverage, park discounts, and membership benefits.

Pre-employment requirements :

Nashville Zoo is an EEO Institution and a Drug Free Workplace

• Candidates must submit to a criminal background check and pass a drug test.
• Candidates for this position are subject to pre-employment Tuberculosis Screenings.
24 days ago