Director of Conservation & Education

Al Ain Zoo; Abu Dhabi Emirate; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading conservation institution in the UAE is seeking a Director of Conservation & Education. This senior role involves leading the overall management of conservation and education departments, securing funding, and developing innovative programs. The ideal candidate should have an advanced degree in a relevant field and substantial managerial experience, along with strong communication and leadership abilities.

Qualifications

• Preferred experience managing conservation or education programs.
• Managerial experience in a zoo or relevant organization.
• Comprehensive knowledge of conservation regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversees conservation and education program management.
• Secures funding for departmental operations and initiatives.
• Represents the institution in professional and governmental settings.
• Develops innovative educational offerings for the public.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strong communication skills

Management and administrative skills

Interpersonal skills

Ability to engage with diverse groups

Education

Advanced degree in biological science, conservation ecology or related field

Job description

Overview

JOB OVERVIEW Senior staff position responsible for leadership and overall organization, management, and administration of the Conservation & Education departments. Directs program development, budgeting, implementation, and evaluation of the facility’s conservation and education programs. The Director of Conservation & Education should possess leadership experience, a capacity to engage with passion and vision, an ability to bring together individuals and groups from various perspectives for collaboration, intellectual curiosity, and a deep appreciation for and familiarity with new conservation projects that address the complex needs of a modern facility, exceptional communication skills to enhance the visibility of the facility’s work and its contribution to the UAE, willingness to explore new models of conservation collaborations, and a faculty for critical evaluation and strategic implementation within a zoological setting.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the senior manager for conservation and education programs with oversight for all departmental sections, staff, operations, and activities.
• May develop and maintain one or more conservation and research projects in his / her area of expertise.
• Provides leadership in planning and coordinates all phases of personnel management.
• Works to secure funds in support of departmental operations and initiatives: this includes, but is not limited to, assisting with the identification of funder prospects, drafting budgets and creating narratives and funder / sponsorship prospectuses, and drafting reports.
• Represents the institution in diverse settings that include active participation in professional, funders, board, and governmental arenas.
• Oversees development and monitoring of departmental and programmatic budgets.
• Serves as liaison and provides guidance to develop strong programmatic collaborations.
• Represents the Zoo in key professional committees, such as those administered by AZA / WAZA.
• Leads the team to develop new and innovative Educational offerings for school groups and the general public

Minimum Qualifications, Experience and Skills

Qualifications: An advanced degree (biological science, conservation ecology, environmental science, environmental education or research in a related field) is preferred, with experience managing a conservation / research programs, and / or environmental education programs at another institution or organization possibly considered equivalent.

Years of Experience: Managerial experience in a zoo, living museum setting, conservation organization, or other relevant organization with increasingly responsible assignments, most recently at a senior level. Previous participation in European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) or AZA programs or other related professional organizations is highly desirable.

• Comprehensive knowledge of the Zoo’s purpose and philosophy as well as government regulations pertaining to conservation.
• Capacity for long term visioning and ability to foresee and mitigate roadblocks and limitations to conservation programs.
• Demonstrated excellence in supporting fundraising for large-scale conservation and research projects.
• Well-developed management and administrative skills.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills. Ability to get along with diverse groups. Tactful, mature, and professional.
• Strong leadership ability. Ability to establish credibility and be decisive – but be able to recognize and support the organization’s preferences and priorities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with governmental agencies and funders / sponsorships.
• Ability to prepare comprehensive reports and budgetary records.
• Ability to express oneself clearly and effectively in oral and written form. Engaging public speaking skills are essential.

Performance Competencies

Applying The Farah Way While Managing Yourself

• Create Smiles
• Share What You Know
• Deliver Excellence
• Work as One
• Build Proactive Partnerships

Note : This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; you may be required at any time to perform any other duties to meet the needs of the business.