RAPTOR Inc. Director of Education

About RAPTOR Inc.

RAPTOR Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey through rehabilitation, education, research, and community engagement. Our primary business location is in Milford, OH. In 2024, we aided 401 birds of prey from 33 counties in Ohio and Kentucky.

RAPTOR Inc.'s Director of Education is responsible for the day-to-day management and execution of RAPTOR Inc.’s Educational Program activities, both on-site and off-site. This is a hands-on role focused on developing, presenting, marketing, and administering dynamic and engaging raptor educational programs that further our mission of inspiring bird of prey conservation for today and future generations. The role includes responsibility for the training and enrichment of RAPTOR’s Avian Ambassadors.

The role is a full-time position, 40 hours of work per week, and may require frequent evening/weekend work. Compensation will range from $40,000 - $50,000, based on experience. The Director of Education will be entitled to three (3) weeks of paid vacation and five (5) days of paid sick time. No company-paid health insurance benefits are available.

Responsibilities

• Create and present raptor educational programs that further the RAPTOR Inc. mission by increasing personal connections between people and wildlife that inspire conservation in the communities that we serve.
• Expand the number of annual education events and their community reach each year. Identify and pursue new opportunities for programs and follow up with interested groups.
• Develop new educational programs with content appropriate to engage a broader range of audiences and expand the reach of RAPTOR Inc.
• Serve as the primary trainer and work with resident education birds (Avian Ambassadors) on an ongoing basis to foster and reinforce good, reliable bird behavior to achieve a positive educational experience for those attending RAPTOR Inc. educational events.
• Work in collaboration with the Executive Director to find new, creative ways to leverage our Educational Programs to expand RAPTOR Inc.’s membership, donor base, and volunteer staff.
• Serve as the primary contact, coordinator, and scheduler of RAPTOR Inc.’s educational programs and activities, including booking, invoicing, and record keeping.
• Recruit, train, mentor, schedule, and supervise volunteer assistants involved in educational services at RAPTOR Inc. Use approved procedures and training materials when training volunteers and ensure their ongoing adherence to the training. 
• Create and maintain our training manual as well as policies for training, handling, transport, and presentation of education birds. Write and maintain policies and procedures related to RAPTOR Inc.’s educational programs and activities. Prepare annual educational permit reports as required.
• In collaboration with the Director of Avian Operations, monitor the health and behavior of education birds to ensure their long-term well-being, including injury/illness and unusual behavior identification or the need for beak/talon coping or damaged jesses, etc.
• Participate in training courses, trade organizations, and other technical exchanges to stay abreast of new techniques, treatments, and methodologies related to avian training and environmental education.
• Prepare a monthly board report, attend board meetings, write a quarterly article about education, and maintain a list of public programs for the website, quarterly newsletter, and other publications.

Qualifications

• The knowledge, expertise, and experience to develop and present raptor educational programs.
• A bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent knowledge gained from relevant training and experience, with a minimum of two (2) years of experience as an avian keeper or trainer and avian or animal educational programming.
• The management skills required to direct, train, and supervise a team of volunteer assistants involved in our educational services at RAPTOR Inc.
• Must be a capable public speaker, able to deliver interesting and engaging educational programs to a wide range of audiences ranging from young children to adults.
• Ability and commitment to train our resident educational birds to ensure reliable, good behavior during events.
• Competent command of Microsoft Office and other standard computer software applications.
• Must be able to hold a 3-pound bird on a glove for lengthy periods of time.
• Must be able to stand, walk, and effectively engage with an audience while handling a bird on a glove.
• Requires a flexible schedule to attend events that may occur outside of business hours or on weekends.