Conservation Engagement & Learning Manager

Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Zoo Membership

Free admission to Florida attractions

401K with 3% employer contribution

Excellent benefits (medical, dental, &

Paid time off

Job summary

Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is seeking a Conservation Engagement & Learning Manager to lead education programs, guest experiences, summer camps, teen leadership, and conservation campaigns.

You will work hands-on to develop people, create meaningful experiences, and turn conservation messages into action. This role emphasizes staff leadership, program development, and community impact in South Florida.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in education, learning, engagement, conservation, or related field.
• Experience supervising staff and leading programs.
• Experience developing teen volunteers/interns.
• Experience creating, implementing, and evaluating environmental education programs for diverse audiences.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• NAI Certified Interpretive Guide certification preferred.
• Florida driver’s license required within four months.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement department goals, work plans, budgets, and evaluation strategies.
• Hire, train, supervise, evaluate, and retain seasonal staff and volunteers.
• Lead Wildlife Saving Teen Leadership Volunteer Program.
• Co-create and evaluate Summer Camp, Day Camp, and Nature Play programs.

Skills

Staff supervision

Summer camp programs

Education program development

Conservation education

Volunteer management

Public speaking

Program evaluation

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Job description

What We Offer:

• A competitive salary, commensurate with your skills and experience
• An EXCELLENT benefits package (current year/plan), which includes:
  • 100% paid employee level coverage for designated medical & dental plan
  • 100% paid coverage for 100K of life insurance
  • 100% paid short-term disability
  • 100% paid long-term disability
  • 401K - Employer contributes 3% of your salary
  • Optional vision, accident and critical illness coverages available through pre-tax payroll deductions
  • Generous paid time off policy, Zoo Membership and FREE admission to other Florida Attractions!

The position will be open until filled. We will contact qualified candidates whom we have chosen to move forward in the interview process.

Palm Beach Zoo is an equal opportunity and drug free employer and makes all employment decisions, including those related to recruitment, hiring, training and promotion without regard to race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Why Palm Beach Zoo?

Join a collaborative, mission-driven team where your work has a direct impact. You'll have the opportunity to lead people, create meaningful experiences, grow professionally, and help inspire the next generation of wildlife heroes - all while contributing to our commitment to saving wildlife in wild places.

Come create connections. Inspire action. Save wildlife.

Lead programs. Inspire action. Help save wildlife.

What if your work could inspire a child to love wildlife, empower a teen to become a conservation leader, and motivate a family to take action for the planet?

At Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, that's what we do.

We're seeking a Conservation Engagement & Learning Manager to help bring our mission to life through engaging education programs, guest experiences, summer camps, teen leadership, community programs, and conservation campaigns. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who loves developing people, creating meaningful experiences, and turning conservation messages into action.

What You'll Do

Working closely with the Director of Conservation Engagement & Learning, you will:

• Help develop and implement the department's annual goals, work plans, budgets, and evaluation strategies.
• Hire, train, supervise, evaluate, and retain seasonal camp and engagement staff.
• Lead the Zoo's Wildlife Saving Teen Leadership Volunteer Program, developing conservation knowledge and leadership skills.
• Co-create, manage, and evaluate Summer Camp, Day Camp, and Nature Play programs, including staffing, scheduling, safety, logistics, and participant engagement.
• Develop and deliver conservation engagement programs for guests, schools, and the community.
• Create and support conservation campaigns and special events such as Earth Day, Florida Wildlife Corridor Day, Save the Florida Panther Day, Lights Out, Plastics Free July, and other wildlife-saving initiatives.
• Develop conservation messaging, storytelling, and hands-on activities that inspire people to take action.
• Train staff to deliver dynamic, energetic, and compelling conservation experiences.
• Present educational programs on and off Zoo grounds using biofacts and, occasionally, live animals.
• Support community engagement and program activities associated with the Zoo's IMLS-funded Wildlife-Friendly Spaces Conservation Action Campaign.
• Support staff participation in conservation programs such as camera trapping, BioBlitz, guided walks, and community science.
• Track and evaluate program data, train staff and volunteers in data collection, and use findings and feedback to improve programs and demonstrate impact.
• Collaborate across the Zoo to deliver engaging visitor experiences, conservation programs, and special events, including Zoo Lights, Brew at the Zoo, Do at the Zoo, and Gala.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in education, learning, engagement, conservation, summer camp programming, or a related field.
• Experience supervising staff and leading programs; hiring, training, evaluating, and retaining employees strongly preferred.
• Experience developing and managing teen volunteers and/or interns.
• Strong experience developing and implementing summer camp programs.
• Experience creating, implementing, and evaluating environmental education programs for K-12 students and general audiences.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with community-based social marketing and/or behavior change for wildlife conservation strongly desired.
• NAI Certified Interpretive Guide certification strongly desired.
• Must obtain a valid Florida driver's license within four months of employment.

Most importantly, we're looking for someone who understands that connection can inspire action and that great conservation engagement can change the way people see and care for wildlife.

Work Environment & Schedule

Full-time, salaried position, approximately 40 hours per week, with a typical Tuesday-Saturday schedule. Flexibility is required for evenings, weekends, holidays, special events, and other Zoo activities as needed.

This position includes frequent guest and staff interaction and regular outdoor work in South Florida's subtropical weather.