What are the responsibilities and job description for the Education Instructor - Camp Lead position at Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc.?
Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc.
Your Role: Education Instructor – Camp Lead
Your Manager: Education Manager – Reserved Programs
Your Pay Structure (FLSA Status): Full-time, seasonal, hourly/nonexempt
Safety Sensitive: This is a safety-sensitive position. Regardless of whether you are a medical marijuana licensee, you must receive a negative result on a 10-panel, pre-placement drug screening to include THC, prior to beginning work.
The Zoo
Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. (TZMI) is a nonprofit organization driven by our mission of Connecting, Caring, Advocating for Wildlife, People, and Wild Places. From trumpeting elephants to squawking parrots, each member of our team is integral to the success of the Zoo as Green Country’s largest paid daily attraction. At Tulsa Zoo, the IDEA is a zoo for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. Apply today for your opportunity to join our dynamic group of passionate individuals who bring the zoo to life each day, 365 days per year, caring for animals, interacting with guests, educating the public, and managing the Zoo’s grounds, operations, and facilities.
A Few of Your Many Benefits
- 401k
- Food, beverage, and retail discounts on zoo grounds
Your Job
The Education Instructor - Camp Lead acts as the lead instructor for seasonal camps at Tulsa Zoo. This position is responsible for groups of children with ages ranging from pre-k through high school. All camps feature age-appropriate programs, tours, games, creative projects, up-close animal encounters, and more. When necessary, this role assists in handling a selection of the department’s education ambassador animals. This is a seasonal spring and summer position.
Your Essential Responsibilities
If you disclose different abilities, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable you to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position. Other duties may be assigned to you.
- Implement assigned, pre-written, interpretive educational programming for various age groups at Tulsa Zoo camps.
- Ensure the safety of all guests and program participants.
- Provide unique, interactive, and interpretive educational experiences for Tulsa Zoo camp participants.
- Use Social-emotional Learning (SEL) strategies to foster a fun and collaborative atmosphere for campers.
- Under the direction of permanent Education staff, handle and provide care to the department’s education ambassador animals in both public and non-public situations.
- Setup and tear down classrooms for optimal camp experiences.
- Within their assigned age group, participate in all activities and monitor camper participation and enjoyment while managing camper behavior.
- Manage craft/activity supplies for each camp.
- Oversee assigned Camp Assistant and Zoo Teen volunteers assisting with camps, including giving clear direction and managing expectations while maintaining a fun environment.
- Effectively communicate and demonstrate interpersonal skills with all levels of employees in a clear and professional manner.
- Demonstrate and adhere to TZMI’s workplace values.
- Know and follow zoo policies and procedures, including emergency protocols.
- Attend and participate in staff meetings and assigned training sessions.
- Maintain facilities to ensure animal, staff, and visitor safety, and in good appearance for public viewing at all times. Identify and communicate situations for repair and maintenance.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position has no direct reports.
What We Expect
Required Qualifications, Education and/or Experience
- Must be 18 years or older, possess a valid driver’s license, and be insurable on TZMI’s insurance carrier
- Have or are working towards a bachelor’s degree in education, biology, zoology, environmental science, or a related field from college or university. One to three years experience working as a classroom teacher, an interpretive educator, or in an early childhood education setting. Equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable.
- Familiarity with a variety of teaching methods and knowledge of age-appropriate cognitive and physical abilities required
- Must be able to work in an active setting and complete assignments that require teamwork and/or self-starting
- Experience working with small invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals preferred
- Must be able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to communicate effectively before groups of customers, employees of TZMI, and the general public.
- Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
- Microsoft Office – including Word, Excel, PowerPoint (or Prezi); Past Perfect (or similar museum database system); Internet Browser(s)- Explorer, Chrome, Safari, etc.
- Working knowledge of the natural world preferred
- Research skills are required
- Proficient in public speaking and creative thinking
What You can Expect
Our Values
- We are enthusiastically committed to be part of the Tulsa Zoo community.
- We will all work together as one Zoo Team to support the Zoo’s mission.
- We will value and appreciate everyone and create a safe, understanding, and welcoming environment for all.
- We will all be accountable for achieving excellence.
- We will earn the trust of one another, acting honestly and treating each other with respect.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Moving about - frequently
- Sitting - occasionally
- Standing - frequently
- Reaching with hands and arms – frequently
- Stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling - frequently
- Exchange of in-person, phone, radio, or digital communication - constantly
- Carrying or lifting up to 50 pounds – occasionally
- Pushing and/or pulling up to 50 pounds – occasionally
- Gripping, pinching, writing, and other hand movements - frequently
- Climbing and/or balancing – rarely
- Exposure to outdoor weather conditions - frequently
- Exposure to high noise levels- occasionally
- Wet or humid environment - occasionally
