Facility
Wildlife Conservation Society: Bronx Zoo
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Position Title: Coordinator of Professional Development
Location: Bronx Zoo
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Education
About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS):
WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world’s premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. We run field programs spanning 60 countries and the entire ocean. We build on a unique foundation: Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world-class zoos, aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence. Our more than 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission.
Who We Are: The Wildlife Conservation Society envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth. We actively save wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature.
The WCS Education Department works across our five parks: Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and New York Aquarium. Our mission is to inspire a diverse and inclusive movement of conservation advocates by sparking connection with animals and nature, enhancing scientific literacy through hands-on investigation, and engaging constituents in stewardship and action to conserve wildlife and wild places. WCS is proud to be an equal opportunity employment workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work and learning environment and look for future team members who share that same value.
The Opportunity: The Zoos and Aquarium Education team is looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual to serve in an exciting and unique role as the Coordinator of Professional Development. This position will primarily support the WCS efforts on the Urban Advantage initiative.
Urban Advantage (UA) is a standards-based partnership program designed to improve students’ understanding of scientific inquiry through collaborations between urban public school systems and science cultural institutions such as zoos, botanical gardens, museums, and science centers. UA involves institutions outside the formal education system that support the science-specific goals of the public school system. Urban Advantage was launched in 2004 in New York City by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in collaboration with
the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the New York Botanical Garden, the New York Hall of Science, the Queens Botanical Garden, the Staten Island Zoo, the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium, and the New York City Department of Education, with leadership funding from the New York City Council.
The Coordinator of Professional Development will be responsible for course development and delivery for Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium based UA programing. They will model best practices in science education for hundreds of UA teachers annually. They will collaborate with other WCS Coordinators of Professional Development and with AMNH staff, as well as staff at the other UA partner institutions on all aspects of UA programming. They will be responsible for incorporating and modeling best practices in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion into all UA programming. They will mentor and support WCS assigned Lead Teachers in all aspects of UA programming. In addition to their duties with UA, the Coordinator of Professional Development will support teacher education efforts throughout NYC by developing, facilitating, and assessing teacher workshops and school partnerships.
Responsibilities:
You will be responsible developing, facilitating, & assessing UA programming at the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium.
You will represent WCS at all UA partner events, including monthly meetings, Family Science Days, & the UA Expo.
You will incorporate & model best practices in DE&I education into all WCS PD programming.
You will mentor & support WCS assigned Lead Teachers in UA programming.
You will facilitate non-UA teacher education workshops, focused on conservation issues, at all five WCS facilities across NYC.
You will cultivate and maintain collaborative relationships with partners across WCS departments and UA partner institutions
Education and Pre-requisites
Master’s Degree in Conservation, Education, Biology, or a related field Classroom experience teaching in a formal education setting (K-12)
Familiarity with national and state education standards
Understanding of inquiry-based learning theory and practice
Comfort with leading by example on best practices in diversity, equity, & inclusion
Passion for wildlife conservation
Professional Qualities
You have a passion for improving education and supporting all learners in a professional development setting
You are a driven individual who is independent, yet collaboratively-minded
You are a logical, data-driven, problem-solver
You are organized and capable of prioritizing, completing large project loads, and managing multiple organizational systems
You are a strong collaborative partner who enjoys working with partners from a variety of academic and conservation focused organizations
You work independently and manage your time/tasks effectively
You are interested in mentoring and supporting direct reports around career development
Workplace Conditions and Environment
We value team members and community partners from all backgrounds and cultures with different skills, abilities, and perspectives; we ensure that everyone has an opportunity to fully contribute to our mission
This is a flexible work environment that includes some evenings, weekends and holiday work
This is an on-site position with one (1) remote day option per week when scheduling allows
While primarily based out of the Bronx Zoo, this position will require you to work at all five WCS parks in NYC (Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and the Queens Zoo)
This position includes regular local travel throughout the NYC area
Professional Impact The WCS organization by promoting our mission to diverse communities through explicit connections to our global conservation efforts in all teacher and higher education programming
The WCS Professional Development Team by assisting in reaching over 1800 teachers, undergraduate, & graduate students through PD programming yearly
Your professional growth by being able to attend regular professional development workshops to improve your pedagogical and professional skills, provide PD in areas of your expertise to your colleagues, and present at national conferences
WCS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. EOE/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled
Compensation and benefits
Salary Range:$55,000 – $59,000
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, 15 Vacation Days, 13 Holidays, 12 Paid-Time-Off Days
Application instructions
Please Visit the Wildlife Conservation Society Job Board and Apply Here: https://bit.ly/3lhgl7e