Assistant Director Of Education

The Zoo's Assistant Director of Education is instrumental in developing and implementing innovative educational programs that meet the Zoo's educational and revenue-generation goals and objectives. Collaborating closely with the Education Director, this role focuses on operational management, staff supervision, program oversight, and fostering a positive, unified team. The primary goal is to ensure that educational offerings meet high standards, align with the organization's strategic objectives, and contribute significantly to the Zoo's mission of connecting people with our world's vanishing wildlife and wild places to inspire conservation action.

Employment Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Starting Pay: $62,093.39-$71,407.40 Annually

Experience Required: Four (4) years of experience working in a full-time professional role in an educational setting within a zoological or similar institution including three (3) years in a full-time supervisory role.

Minimum Education Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Education, Environmental Science, Biological Science, or a related field; Master's degree preferred. 

Department: Conservation, Education, Science

Direct Supervisor: Director of Education

Supervisory Responsibility: Direct (4); Indirect (10+) 

Primary Work Location: Zoo Setting both indoors and outdoors.

Certification: Valid Oklahoma driver's license 

Other: This position is safety sensitive. It is subject to pre-employment and/or periodic background checks, restricted registry checks, and drug testing. Ability to complete CPR/1st Aid certification within 30 days of hire and completion of OKC Zoo Health and Safety Institute training in the first six (6) months of employment. This position works around animals susceptible to specific respiratory diseases.

Essential Job Functions

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential duties:

• Support the Education Director in implementing the department's vision, values, and goals, 
• Oversee day-to-day operations, including scheduling appropriate staffing, ensuring assigned programs are delivered without disruptions, and maximizing output in outcomes, efficiencies, and revenue generation.  
• Manage supervisors and part-time staff, including recruiting, selecting new hires, conducting performance reviews, providing training and professional development opportunities, and ensuring that staff effectively contribute to educational goals.
• Assist Supervisors with the development, evaluation, and revision of Educational programs. Ensure that educational programs are aligned with the appropriate standards (i.e., Oklahoma Academic State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) skill development and emerging education principles). 
• Ensure that programming meets the Zoo's strategic conservation education outcomes, provides the most impact, and achieves revenue goals. 
• Assist Education Director with budget planning and oversite
• Present ambassador animals. 
• Work in a manner that supports and protects the health of the assigned collection, to include wearing assigned PPE and limiting exposure to known contagions. 
• Train staff on safety and emergency protocols and schedule and coordinate regular safety drills. Be prepared to handle crises effectively, ensuring the safety and well-being of all children and staff.
• Foster a positive, forward-thinking, unified team approach, in which all education staff feel responsible for supporting each other to ensure the team's success
• Participate on internal teams, ad-hoc committees, and in AZA-sanctioned and job-related external collaborations and cooperative programs.
• Collaborate with other Zoo departments.
• Participate in conservation activities to support Zoo's mission.
• Obtain and maintain appropriate certifications and professional training.
• Lead with patience, empathy, flexibility, reliability, and positivity. 
• Take ownership of assigned team's engagement, motivation, morale, and participation in meeting the OKC Zoo's organizational goals and objectives
• Practice and model the Zoo's values centered on wildlife and wild places, conservation, people, and leadership

The Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden connects people with our world's vanishing wildlife and wild places to inspire conservation action. We're  seeking candidates who are passionate about the planet and all that inhabit it. Join our team of hardworking experts and get ready for a career that you're wild about! To learn more about the Oklahoma City Zoo and our conservation efforts, please visit www.okczoo.org.Oklahoma City is one of the fastest-growing metros in the United States and is the 20th largest city in the nation. For nearly two decades our residents have continually invested in our community to make it a place people can find belonging, visit and call home. Our employees are at the heart of those investments-delivering essential services our residents expect and creating a strong and thriving city for all people.