Zoo Education Specialist

Facility

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo

Closing Date

[jobclosingdate]

Description

Under general direction of the Zoo Manager, the Zoo Education Specialist coordinates and supervises Happy Hollow Park & Zoo’s (HHPZ) education programs, and provides supervision to Zoo Educators, Recreation Leaders, part time staff and volunteers. The Zoo Education Specialist is a member of a committee of park & zoo supervisors responsible for daily operations of the park and zoo, coordination of programs throughout the facility, developing and implementing facility-wide policies and procedures and ensuring public safety and customer service. This position frequently serves as the Manager on Duty for HHPZ, which includes supporting and coordinating the daily opening and closing of HHPZ; ensuring the readiness of key units prior to opening, implementing the daily events and programming schedule, and maintaining the safety and cleanliness of facilities.
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Plans, develops, coordinates, conducts and evaluates a multi-disciplinary conservation animal education program for children and youth, seniors, and/or special populations.
• Develops and reviews educational curriculum content of all programs and program related material for intended audiences of all ages.
• Ensures curriculum meets California State curriculum standards.
• Supervises Zoo Educators, part time staff, and volunteers; provides training for staff development, recruits, trains and coordinates staff participating in education programs.
• Oversees the acquisition, husbandry and behavioral training of a variety of exotic and domestic animal species utilized in educational programming.
• Budget Management, including monitoring expenditures, making projections, and producing requested reports.
• Management of volunteer programs at HHPZ, including oversight of the recruitment process, training and mentoring of volunteers, facilitation of large group projects and coordination of recognition programs.
• Develops training policies and protocols for handling live animals and their use in educational programming.
• Participates in Zoo-wide strategic planning and departmental planning, actively supporting the vision of the Education Department and mission of HHPZ.
• Develops and oversees the interpretive content of facility signage.
• Establishes and maintains successful partnerships with local organizations, schools, and other key community groups to ensure ongoing success and attendance of education programs.

This position regularly works weekends, evenings, and holidays, during all climatic conditions as assigned.

For complete details on this opportunity, and to apply for the position please visit: https://cityjobs.sanjoseca.gov/psc/prod/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL
and search for Zoo Education Specialist

Education and Pre-requisites

1. Education: Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in ecology, biology, zoology, education or related field.

2. Experience: One (1) year (equivalent to 2,080 hours) experience of providing animal educational services in a zoo, science center, museum or animal care facility.

3. Acceptable Substitutions: Additional years of increasingly responsible experience providing animal educational services in a zoo, science center, museum or animal care facility may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis for up to two (2) years. There will be no substitute for required one (1) year experience of providing animal educational services in a zoo, science center, museum or animal care facility.

4. License/Certificates:
• Valid California Driver’s License, or ability to obtain within 2 months of hire.
• Valid First Aid Certificate, or ability to obtain within 2 months of hire.
• Valid CPR Certificate, or ability to obtain within 2 months of hire.

Compensation and benefits

This is a full time benefitted position with a salary range of;
Salary Min: $50,772.80 Salary Max: $61,713.60
The City of San Jose offers excellent benefits, for a complete description please visit:
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?NID=707