Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary

The Education Specialist is responsible for the year-round implementation of the on-site and community-based education programs at both Great Plains Zoo and Butterfly House & Aquarium locations in Sioux Falls, SD, and requires the ability handle and train the ambassador animal collection. Programming and animal related duties occur on weekdays, weekends, holidays, evenings and overnights. 

Reports To: Education Director

Essential Functions

Maintain an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to job responsibilities and accountability. Strive to anticipate workload and initiate proper acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision or instruction.

Education

• Promote the organization's mission of "Creating connection and inspiring the conservation of wild species and spaces" by conducting education programs so that learning is a fun, engaging, memorable experience for your audience.
• Present a variety of Education programs for a wide range of ages and audiences.  Utilize appropriate techniques to engage and educate participants, based on age, interest, and learning abilities. 
• Provide excellent customer service to teachers and informal educators, students, volunteers, and visitors in all types of programming and special events. 
• Communicate with appropriate contacts to schedule Education department programming. Answer correspondence and provide informational services in response to telephone, written or personal inquiries.
• Work closely with the Education Director and permanent and seasonal Education staff to ensure effective planning, preparation, and execution of all Education programs, including but not limited to camps, early childhood programs, overnights, on-grounds programming and outreach.
• Develop lesson plans for programs for all grade levels and align lessons with cross-curriculum components in accordance with both South Dakota and national Education standards. Work in coordination with the Education Director and other Education staff with ideas, comments, evaluations tools and suggestions for future program development. Prepares written material when required for Education Department programs (lesson plans, information sheets, etc.).
• Track attendance, time on programs, and other needed data on education programming as needed in appropriate documents 
• Demonstrate teamwork and coordination when dealing with other departments including facilities, guest services, volunteers, and animal care.
• Duties may include supervision, training, scheduling, and communicating with teen, adult, and group volunteers and interns.
• Handle and present ambassador animals in a safe, professional manner. Assist Director of Education in training teen volunteers and seasonal staff on appropriate animal handling protocols.
• Work with the Training Coordinator and area Zookeepers to train and maintain husbandry and show behaviors for the ambassador animal collection to ensure their safe program use.  Maintain accurate records of training as required.
• Report any signs of illness, lethargy, or injury to the Director of Animal Care, Veterinarian, or Area Supervisors as appropriate. 

• Follow all protocols and procedures to ensure that all ambassador animals are maintained in a safe and secure environment when transporting, training and conducting programs.

Additional Duties

• Assist with cleaning, inspecting, and cataloging of museum artifacts.
• Provide support to development and guest engagement teams during special events, fundraisers, and donor events.
• Assist Education Director with seasonal attractions team as needed, by acting as daily contact person or covering locations (farm attendant, walkabout kangaroo, carousel, and train). 
• Assist Director of Experience & Engagement with conservatory and/or touch tank monitoring as needed.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

Competency

• Excellent communication skills.
• Must be comfortable with people and able to give presentations to various sized groups of people of all ages.
• Manual dexterity is necessary to carefully handle a variety of ambassador animals and museum artifacts.
• Must be flexible, self-motivated, enthusiastic and a team player.
• Must demonstrate punctual attendance, reliability and good time management skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office products (Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint) and the ability to produce written materials for various publications and marketing tools.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position may help to oversee and train Junior Zookeepers, interns, volunteers and seasonal employees; however, this position does not have any direct reports.

Work Environment

• Work may occasionally be performed in the Conservatory, which is typically 85 degrees with high humidity year-round, and the Containment Room, which is usually 80 degrees, and the Aquarium Gallery, which is typically 70 degrees with high humidity. A high tolerance for warm temperatures is necessary for this role.

• Will also include time in an office setting using standard office equipment including computers, telephones, photocopiers and filing cabinets.

• Must be able to tolerate and be exposed to strong odors, toxic or caustic chemicals, dust, hay, animal fur/hair/dander, and wet or humid conditions (non-weather) and all variable outdoor weather conditions. 

Physical Demands

• Must be able to climb ladders/stairs, lift crates/animals and or equipment/food/animal supplies weighing 70lbs or more repetitively. The role may be exposed to temperature and humidity changes. 

• Ability to ascend and descend ladders and stairs as needed

• Competence in operating large vehicles/vans

• Agility and flexibility to navigate around animals in exhibits, corrals, and holding areas

• Demonstrated hand and finger dexterity for tasks such as handling small equipment and operating controls

• Strong visual acuity to accurately assess and respond to situations involving animals, equipment, and work environments

Travel

Must have the ability to drive locally and long distance for outreach programs (max of 300 miles round trip).

Required Education and Experience

• Requires a college degree in biological science, education or related field. Applicable experience may be considered in place of degree requirements.
• Experience presenting informal or formal education programs, preferably in an animal-related setting

Preferred Education and Experience

• Experience handling small animals and/or birds (raptors, parrots, reptiles, invertebrates, small mammals) would be advantageous.

Additional Qualifications

• Maintain a current tetanus vaccination (5 years) and be willing to be TB tested annually.
• Must be certified or able to become certified in CPR/AED within 1 year of employment.
• Must be able to work weekends, holidays, evenings, and overnights as required. 
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to pass a pre-employment background check
• Maintain a driving record acceptable to the Zoo and its insurer upon and throughout employment.

Other Duties

This job description is not designed, nor should it be interpreted to cover or contain a comprehensive list of all qualifications, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.  Qualifications, duties and/or responsibilities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. 

*Applications accepted through 9-30-2024

Job Tags

Holiday work, Permanent employment, Outdoor, Long distance, Flexible hours, Night shift, Weekend work, Afternoon shift, Weekday work,

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