Education Coordinator - Volunteers [Full-Time]

San Antonio Zoo; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a vibrant team dedicated to wildlife conservation at an established zoo in San Antonio. As the Education Coordinator for Volunteers, you'll empower a diverse group of volunteers through engaging educational programs and hands-on activities. Your role will involve coordinating events, mentoring volunteers, and collaborating with various departments to maximize conservation efforts. This position offers a unique opportunity to inspire change within the community while fostering a love for wildlife. If you're passionate about education and conservation, this role is perfect for you!

Qualifications

• Strong desire to work with volunteers and empower them effectively.
• Proven team player with strong mentorship skills and a positive outlook.
• Experience developing and evaluating educational curriculum preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support daily operations of the Volunteer Team and Education Department.
• Plan and coordinate volunteer opportunities and events for the zoo.
• Mentor and train volunteers to achieve the zoo’s goals and mission.

Skills

Mentorship Skills

Communication Skills

Volunteer Management

Team Coordination

Nature Interpretation

Event Planning

Adaptability

Conservation Knowledge

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Education

Experience with Volunteer Programs

Job description

Job Details

Description

Education Coordinator - Volunteers

Collaborate with a passionate Zoo Crew in San Antonio

Choosing where to grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the place you choose to work at will support and guide you. With a diversity of passionate people, San Antonio Zoo is a place where you can collaborate with others securing a future for wildlife.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

The Education Coordinator - Volunteers empowers volunteers through impactful nature interpretation, hands-on activities, and engaging conservation-focused events that spark curiosity, inspire wonder, and motivate zoo and community audiences to make action-based behavioral changes. In addition to educational content creation, this position frequently collaborates with departments throughout the zoo to provide support for special events, theme days, outreach, and other zoo initiatives, before during and after operational hours. Supporting the day-to-day operation and development of volunteer opportunities for education-based Docents and young adults, department-based interns, and event-based episodic volunteers, the Education Coordinator – Volunteers is perfect for those with a passion for people, programs and conservation.

Education

As an Education Coordinator, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people in San Antonio. Here, you will make an impact by:

• Support Volunteer Team and Education Department daily operation.
• Develop, implement, train, and model the use of conservation-focused nature interpretation and immersive educational activities for volunteers and their zoo and community audiences.
• Plan, communicate, and coordinate volunteer opportunities and events that support and fulfill San Antonio Zoo’s mission, values, and goals both during and outside of zoo operating hours.
• Contribute to ongoing evaluation and success of volunteers’ conservation messaging, accuracy of information, presentations, and impact, as well as the success and impact of the volunteer program.
• Work strategically to recruit, onboard, schedule, train, and motivate volunteers and interns to best achieve the zoo’s goals and mission, including reviewing volunteer applications, scheduling and facilitating interviews, processing onboarding, assisting with placement and record keeping.
• Provide positive mentorship, coaching and constructive feedback for volunteers and interns, as well as their other Education Department and zoo team members.
• Support volunteers’ continuing education, program satisfaction, and sense of community.
• Collaborate with zoo staff to ensure accurate dissemination of information as well as maximize use of the zoo’s resources to support conservation education.
• Develop, implement and maintain collaborative volunteer initiatives and opportunities for San Antonio community partners and corporate volunteers.
• Carefully consider how departmental and personal goals fit into larger zoo priorities.
• Support other education teams as needed.
  
  

Other Responsibilities

Performs other work-related duties as required and assigned

Your Skills And Expertise

To set you up for success in this role from day one, the San Antonio Zoo recommends the following skills/qualifications:

• Strong desire to work with volunteers of all ages and the ability to empower volunteers and educators with varied interests, skills and abilities.
• Proven team player with strong mentorship skills, positive outlook and ability to work effectively and diplomatically with diverse groups of people.
• Ability and confidence to maintain the safety of volunteers, staff, and program participants before, during, and after program experiences.
• Poised, professional, and highly effective communicator, internally and externally, in person, by email and on the phone.
• Skilled at collaborative coordination with multiple departments and management teams.
• Ability to manage concurrent tasks, be attentive to details, and proactively exercise sound judgment.
• Capable of responding effectively and appropriately under pressure.
• Capable of motivating staff and volunteers to engage zoo guests in joyful, effective educational experiences.
• Skilled nature interpreter, capable of instructing interpretation to others preferred.
• Experience developing, promoting, implementing, and evaluating educational curriculum preferred.
• Capable of adapting vocabulary/delivery to effectively communicate conservation concepts at different levels of understanding.
• Commitment to conservation and zoo mission.
• Knowledge of conservation, zoology, ecology, animal behavior and related topics preferred.
• Prior experience volunteering, working with volunteer groups, or coordinating volunteer activities required.
• Knowledge of human resources, volunteer management systems, and teambuilding preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in volunteer management, education, human resources, or related field preferred.
• 2 years’ experience with volunteer programs at a similar facility preferred.
• Ability to effectively communicate, internally and externally, in person, by email and on the phone.
• Ability and flexibility to accommodate last minute program and schedule changes with a positive and supportive attitude.
• Must be able to work in varying climate and weather conditions (rain, snow, hot, or cold).
• We enjoy year-round operation; must be available day, nights, weekends, holidays, and occasional after-hour assignments.
  
  

The San Antonio Zoo is an equal opportunity employer. San Antonio Zoo will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.