New Job Zoo Education Curator - 0423 In South Carolina
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| ZOO EDUCATION CURATOR - 0423 |
ZOO EDUCATION CURATOR - 0423
Company : City of Greenville, SC
Salary : $57,800 - $80,800 a year
Location : South Carolina
Full Description
Brief Description
Job Summary
Under general direction and in compliance with standard operating procedures and policies, supervises, directs, and coordinates activities, programs, and functions of the Zoo education staff, education volunteers, and docents while ensuring compliance with applicable policies, procedures, rules, and regulations. Communicates daily with schools, teachers, parents, Zoo visitors, and staff. Develops and presents wildlife education programming both on-grounds and off. Designs new programming; evaluates existing materials and programs for all age groups. Develops and coordinates training materials for teacher workshops, docents, and volunteers. Schedules programs, data entry, and correspondence. Prepares and tracks education budget. Records income from all education revenue sources and expenses. Teaches all college and university level programming, as well as teaches pre-school, elementary, middle, high school, and some community group programming. Supervises, directs, and schedules education staff. Maintains relationships with school districts, school principals, environmental organizations and members. Assists with organizing special events. Coordinates Zoo education projects and staff; works with City departments; oversees the creation of guides, newsletters and public service announcements. Works with the animal management team to create recommendations. Participates in applicable Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) related programs. As assigned, serves as manager on duty.
Job Duties
Essential Functions
Perform Zoo Education Administration Responsibilities: Develop the annual budget for estimated revenues and expected expenses associated with the Education Department and monitor both throughout the fiscal year. Identify new revenue opportunities including grants and present to supervisor for approval. Follow all Office of Management & Budget (OMB) purchasing procedures following proper chain of command when prior approval is necessary; keep Zoo Administrator informed of any financial issues. Maintain records for the Greenville Zoo Education Foundation and provide timely communication to Foundation Board to ensure that necessary paperwork is kept up to date and accurate. Prepare and present annual financial requests to Education Foundation Board with proper justification for each request. Oversee Education Foundation expenditures, prepare proper documentation requested by the Foundation, and maintain accurate balance sheets on items that include multiple purchases for reporting purposes. Collaborate with others to complete grant applications. Manage the Zoo’s bio-fact collections inventory and ensure required federal permits are kept up to date and annual inventories are completed. Oversee and assist with the creation of education newsletters, teachers’ guides, and program evaluations. Provide a safe working and learning environment for staff and guests. Participate as a member of the Zoo Management and Animal Management Teams and various in-house staff committees. Participate on applicable AZA committees and other like-minded partnership opportunities. Maintain the Greenville Zoo Education Master Plan and update as needed to ensure relevancy and provide a roadmap for the Education Department and its staff to follow moving forward. Complete Annual Report for Conservation & Sciences (ARCS) education report for AZA.
30%
Supervise Education Program Staff: Supervise and schedule education staff, and oversee the management and training of teen volunteers, docents, and interns working within the education division. Set work standards and prioritize and assign work. Monitor and evaluate work activities/assignments on a daily basis, provide coaching and mentoring as needed. Document employee performance. As needed, prepare counseling documents, make recommendations for improvement, and recommend and administer disciplinary action. Facilitate the resolution of employee concerns and problems. Ensure that City and department policies, as well as applicable law and ordinances are consistently enforced. Oversee, direct, and implement consistent discipline procedures. Coordinate with Human Resources on various personnel matters. Provide staff training and professional development. Develop and coordinate new and existing training manuals for volunteers and docents. Review and approve general leave as appropriate. Ensure a safe workplace; documenting and reporting any workplace injuries. Ensure accurate timekeeping before authorizing timesheets in timekeeping software.
30%
Provide Education Programing and Program Development: Oversee the scheduling of education programming to ensure the Zoo is meeting the needs of the community and guests within the resources available. Maintain schedules for education area spaces. Evaluate and update as needed existing program materials for all programming in the Education Department. Develop and Implement science and conservation-based education programs, both on campus and outreach, for all ages and education levels that meet or exceed State education requirements to serve as a resource to local and regional school districts. Ensure education programs and messaging align with the Zoo's conservation priorities and animal collection. Provide an ongoing evaluation process for assessing the effectiveness of all department programs and activities as required by AZA and furnish documentation of analysis to Zoo Administrator. Monitor and maintain a short-term and long-term education master plan for the Greenville Zoo in accordance with AZA guidelines. Monitor and update bi-annually, the Institution Collection Plan (ICP) for Ambassador Animals to meet the needs of education programming. Ensure that all Ambassador Animals are maintained such that their welfare is maintained when used both on and off-site. Integrate interpretation and program development for docents to compliment exhibits and enhance the customer experience. Organize and lead teacher workshops and teach university and college level programming; teach school programming and family programming as needed. Lead the plan, design, and implementation of a comprehensive interpretive graphics program for the Zoo.
20%
Perform Public Relations & Marketing: Maintain contact with school districts in SC, NC, and GA, providing information and marketing. Oversee correspondence and other communication on education programming to schools, parents, and organizations. Develop and maintain relationships with other local and regional environmental organizations and community groups. Collaborate on developing and promoting community relations and awareness of the Zoo and its mission. Assist with promotions and media relations as required. Participate in local, regional, and national professional conservation and education organizations, opportunities, and programs to advance the mission of the Greenville Zoo and the conservation of nature. In collaboration with the City's Communications and Engagement Department, promote education programming by creating informational outlines for media releases and developing and posting appropriate messaging through various social media platforms.
15%
Manage and Assist with Special Events: Manage the organization of education-associated events. Collaborate with others to organize, set-up, participate and break down special events, birthday parties, and rentals for the Zoo and the Zoo Foundation. Assist with organization, promotion, set-up, and breakdown for lectures associated with Conservation Lecture Series.
5%
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Job Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in biology, nature science, zoology, or a related field.
Over three (3) years of teaching experience in a formal or informal setting.
Two (2) years of supervisory experience in an educational setting.
Must have or obtain CPR, AED, and First Aid certification/training within one (1) year of hire.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree in a related field.
Experience in graphic interpretation and design.
Experience working in a zoo or aquarium education department.
Driver's License Requirements
Valid South Carolina Class D Driver's License.
Performance Requirements
Knowledge of:
Animals, ecology, biology, and other sciences are required for the preparation and presentation of educational programs.
Educational and teaching principles and practices for various age ranges.
Education outreach, and promotion methods.
Curriculum development.
Understanding of operant conditioning.
Zoo operations and animal care procedures and protocols.
Employee and volunteer training and direction methods, techniques, and objectives.
Budget development and tracking processes.
Ability to:
Create and manage budgets.
Manage the Zoo educational and community outreach programs.
Research, create, organize, advertise, and implement programs and activities to promote and market the Zoo, its mission, and wildlife appreciation to the community.
Supervise the safety of Ambassador Animals.
Represent the Zoo and act as liaison to the public, news media, community organizations, and schools.
Utilize a variety of communication and interpersonal skills to interact successfully with people at many levels inside and outside the organization.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City departments, news media, general public, and stakeholders.
Respond to and resolve difficult customer inquiries and complaints, and advise visitors on policies, procedures & regulations.
Communicate Zoo educational material compellingly to a variety of audiences in a respectful and knowledgeable manner.
Understand and follow all safety regulations.
Think independently, conceptualize and develop new or improved procedures, techniques, or programs.
Participate with all team members in a collegial and collaborative manner, considering issues and making decisions from the view of the Zoo as a whole, without partiality to areas of responsibility.
Exercise effective judgment and professional thinking to make decisions within limits of authority.
Supervise, motivate, train, evaluate, counsel, and discipline employees and volunteers.
Prioritize workload and manage time efficiently, meet deadlines, and complete assignments in a timely manner.
Work in inclement weather conditions including cold rain, wind, heat, snow, sleet, etc.
Work a highly flexible schedule; weekend, evening, holiday, and after-hours.
Read, analyze, and interpret procedures, financial reports, and animal care regulations.
Make mathematical calculations and draw logical conclusions; work with fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurements.
Write reports, prepare business letters, summarize meeting minutes, and compose emails in a clear and professional manner.
Operate general office equipment to include scanner, printer, copier, telephone, and computer with Microsoft Office Suite.
Utilize specialized software and systems to include zoo software systems.
Other Information
Working Conditions
Primary Work Location: Office environment, outdoors for behind-the-scenes as well as class activities in the Zoo, and off-site locations such as universities, schools, and community centers.
Protective Equipment Required: Designated PPEs for specific areas and activities within the Zoo. Goggles, gloves, and occasionally face mask.
Environmental/Health and Safety Factors: Occasional exposure to unpleasant environmental conditions and/or hazards. Occasional outside work. Monthly exposure to extreme temperatures, wetness and/or humidity, and chemical hazards from cleaning agents. Seasonal exposure to respiratory hazards.
Physical Demands: Continuously requires using vision and hearing. Frequently requires standing, fine dexterity, walking, and talking. Occasionally requires lifting, carrying, sitting, reaching, handling, kneeling, crawling, pushing/pulling, using foot controls, bending, crouching, and twisting. Medium strength demands include exerting 20-50 pounds occasionally, 10-25 pounds frequently, or up to 10 pounds constantly.
Mental Demands: Frequently requires time pressures, frequent change of tasks, performing multiple tasks simultaneously, working closely with others as part of a team, and tedious or exacting work. Occasionally requires working an irregular schedule/overtime, and working in a noisy/distracting environment.
Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance
The City of Greenville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. Prospective and current employees should contact Human Resources to request an ADA accommodation.
Disclaimer
The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.