School Programs Manager

State of North Carolina; Asheboro (NC); Hybrid; USD 37,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The North Carolina Zoo seeks a Museum Curator II to lead conservation education programs and oversee school, afterschool, and nature play initiatives. This role coordinates with multiple zoo departments to advance education goals and requires occasional weekend, evening, and holiday work.

Ideal candidates bring a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field plus four years of museum or related work, with demonstrated supervisory and program design experience, including educational apps content

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology, Conservation, Education, Wildlife Science, or Interpretation with four years museum or related work.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience.
• Experience designing and delivering nonformal education programs for schools and afterschool groups that meet the NC Standard Course of Study.
• Experience designing and maintaining nature play areas and experiences that connect people with nature.
• Experience developing content for educational technology (apps).

Responsibilities

• Oversees KidZone space and related nature play programs; builds partnerships with afterschool organizations.
• Develops and maintains formal education programs (pre-K to 12) onsite, offsite, and virtual; supports afterschool initiatives.
• Markets and updates the Zoo app content and manages the fleet of tablets.
• Trains, coaches/mentors, and evaluates a team of staff, educators, and volunteers.
• Designs and delivers workshops on environmental and science topics for educators and students.
• Evaluates school, library, and afterschool programs; updates experiences based on feedback.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Education program design

Nonformal education programs

Nature play area design

Educational content for apps

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Biology/Zoology/Conservation/Education/Wildlife Science/Interpretation

Job description

Agency

Dept of Natural and Cultural Resources

Division

Zoological Park

Job Classification Title

Museum Curator II (NS)

Position Number

65037834

Grade

NC07

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) enriches people’s lives through education and stewardship of North Carolina’s natural and cultural resources. DNCR manages over 100 locations across the state, including historic sites, museums, state parks, trails, aquariums, the North Carolina Zoo, the Library of North Carolina, the State Archives, the North Carolina Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. These programs and places unite North Carolinians, create a shared identity, and provide common ground. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov. We encourage you to apply to become a part of our team.

Description of Work

The North Carolina Zoo is growing, and it is an exciting time to join our team! We are looking for an enthusiastic School Programs Manager to develop and oversee the Zoo’s School, Afterschool and Nature Play education programs. The primary purpose of this position is to develop innovative conservation education programs designed for audiences that work with or are a part of the formal education sector from preschool to university students and educators. These groups include teachers, preservice teachers, informal and environmental educators, public and private school children and homeschool groups, and children in afterschool programs (e.g., Boys and Girls Club and the Dream Center). The position collaborates across Zoo departments to advance the organization’s mission and requires occasional weekend, evening, and holiday work.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversees the Zoo’s KidZone nature play space and related nature play programs, including preschool summer camps and educator workshops, while building and maintaining community partnerships with local afterschool organizations.
• In collaboration with their team, this position develops and maintains a formal education program (pre-K -12th grade – onsite, offsite and virtual) and afterschool programs focused on conservation education.
• Responsible for marketing and updating the content of the Zoo’s app and maintaining the Zoo’s fleet of tablets.
• Trains, coaches/mentors, supervises, and evaluates a team of four full-time staff, up to 15 seasonal educators and the Zoo’s Education Fellow in addition to volunteers and interns assigned to the Education section.
• Designs, delivers, and evaluates workshops that focus on a wide range of environmental and science topics (e.g., environmental education, conservation education, ecology, biology, nature play techniques and place-based learning techniques) to educators and community college/university students.
• Evaluates all school, library, Kidzone activities/pop-up programs, afterschool programs, and educator professional development workshops. Works with appropriate staff to update the experiences based off the feedback.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Please note: Job postings close at 11:59:59 p.m. the night before the listed Posting End Date above.

Recruitment Range: $37,377 - $51,500

To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must provide the information on the application form. Any information omitted from the application form, listed as general statements, listed under the text resume section, or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit.

Candidates meet the minimum qualifications of this position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed onthe vacancy announcement. Vacancy specific knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and/or management preferences are notrequired. Applicants who possess the following are preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology, Conservation, Education, Wildlife Science, or Interpretation from an appropriately accredited institution and four years of museum or related work, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering nonformal education programs for schools (private, public, charter, and homeschool) and afterschool organizations that meet the NC Standard Course of Study.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and maintaining nature play areas and experiences designed to connect people with nature.
• Demonstrated experience developing content for educational technology (specifically apps).

Position/Physical Requirements

• Work schedule: Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm
• Must be able to work weekends, holidays and after regular work shifts.
• This position is designated asEssential/Mandatoryandis required to work adverse weather events andmay be calledto work special events.
• Required to participate in the zoo’s occupational health program.
• Must have a valid driver’s license issued from within the United States or be able to obtain one within 90 days of employment.
• Required to obtain Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) training within one year of the hire date
• Must be able to work with computers and MS Office including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Experience with video editing software a plus.
• Must possess good hearing and vision (including appropriate assistive technology), a loud and clear speaking voice, be able to safely move 30 pounds, and be able to get around the Zoo.

This position is deemed eligible for hybrid telework under DNCR’s Telework Policy.

This position is located at:

4401 Zoo Parkway

Asheboro, NC 27205

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Bachelor’s degree in Art History, Biology, Botany, Conservation, Education, History or Zoology from an appropriately accredited institution

AND

four years of museum or related work,

OR

an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Section/Unit Description

The Conservation, Education and Science (CES) Section is responsible for executing activities and programs central to the mission of the North Carolina Zoo. The section plans, organizes and executes scientific research and wildlife conservation programs within North Carolina and internationally.CESstaff are actively involved in conducting research and wildlife conservation activities in the field both independently and in partnership with State, Federal and international organizations, and agencies.CESis responsible for the management of natural areas on over 2,800 acres of zoo-owned land.CESis also responsible for all educational activities and programs conducted by the Zoo in furtherance of the zoo’s mission andDNCRgoals. Educational programming coordinated byCESis wide ranging and includes (but is not limited to) developing interpretive displays at zoo exhibits, organized programs for visiting school groups, educational camps, teacher training workshops, college research internships, activities promoting outdoor recreation and play, developing educational content for zoo social media, community outreach programs and virtual education programs. TheCESsection oversees the Zoo’s extensive volunteer program, which consists of over 300 active volunteers performing over 50,000 hours of service annually. Volunteers are active across many areas of zoo operations, including education, visitor services, horticulture, wildlife rehabilitation, and facilities maintenance.CESmaintains its own ambassador animals and is responsible for overall care and management of this collection. This includes collection planning, animal acquisitions and dispositions, animal care, animal propagation, animal training and animal behavioral enrichment programs.CESstaff facilitates, conducts, and develops all on-site research, with a particular focus on animal welfare and behavioral monitoring as well as education evaluation. Research staff approve, track and coordinate proposals from outside institutions (e.g., universities) and agencies, initiate and participate in multi-institutional research programs, and implement zoo visitor perception and satisfaction surveys.CESstaff serve as liaisons for multiple professional societies, including with several Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) conservation and science programs.

Division Description

The North Carolina Zoo exists for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of all our citizens and guests. The North Carolina Zoo mission is to protect wildlife and wild places and inspire people to join in conserving the natural world. This mission encompasses both domestic and international efforts, focusing on wildlife conservation, habitat preservation and promoting environmental stewardship.

Learn more about the North Carolina Zoo: https://nczoo.org

Supplemental and Contact Information.

The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) selects applicants for employment based on required education and experience and job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age (40 or older), disability, National Guard or veteran status, genetic information, political affiliation, or political influence.

We are an Employment First state, ensuring that people with disabilities have equal opportunities to succeed in the state government workplace. DNCR supports pay equity for women, establish paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and foster care, and implement fair chance policies. Join a team that welcomes, values, respects and supports all members of our work community.

ADA Accommodations

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), DNCR is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, DNCR will ensure that persons with disabilities, or known limitations covered by the PWFA, are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the person indicated below.

Employment Eligibility

It is the policy of the State of North Carolina and DNCR that all employees provide proof of employment eligibility (immigration and naturalization) on the first day of employment. We participate in E-Verify (Employment Eligibility Verification System).

CONTACT INFORMATION

N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

North Carolina Zoo

4401 Zoo Parkway

Asheboro, NC 27205

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.