The Education Animal Engagement Team Lead is responsible for assisting the Animal Engagement Supervisor with the overall management of the team. This position fosters an inclusive and welcoming educational environment at animal encounters, touch pools, and animal feeding opportunities. The Animal Engagement Lead Educator also provides daily care for the ambassador animals, including habitat maintenance/enhancement, diet preparation, enrichment, and training via operant conditioning. Lastly, this position assists with the day-to-day management of the team, including personnel management, creating, and maintaining area standard operating procedures, and overseeing the team in the absence of the Animal Engagement Supervisor.
POSITION DUTIES & ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Duties
- Percentage
- Interpretation and Educational Programs
- Enhances the guest experience by initiating conversations, assisting, answering questions, and educating about the ambassador animals.
- Implements inclusive teaching strategies, modifies interpretation styles, and incorporates learning models to provide a successful learning experience for all audiences.
- Showcases ability to work autonomously by pivoting during presentations, reading animals’ behavior, and using best judgement to make decisions regarding safety.
- Develops and delivers on and off-site educational programming primarily focused on camps held at the zoo and other community organizations.
- Maintains a general understanding of the animal collection, conservation projects and sustainability initiatives to effectively communicate appropriate conservation messaging to audiences.
- Embraces a variety of teaching and learning styles as appropriate for each program, such as co-teaching, independent teaching, project-based learning, and inquiry-based learning.
- 40%
Ambassador Animal Welfare
- Performs daily animal husbandry activities, including preparing diets and delivering animal feedings.
- Observing, recording, reporting, and attending to animal behavior, health, and welfare.
- Administering medications and assisting with various animal health procedures.
- Training animals for basic husbandry, presentation, and enrichment behaviors.
- Creating and implementing various enrichment items/strategies.
- Maintains records
- Cleaning habitat and staff areas.
- Performing minor repairs and improvements.
- 30%
Assists education leadership in the development and enhancement of programs, including:
- Resource gathering and maintenance.
- Administrative support.
- Working to consistently improve knowledge of animal welfare, interpretation techniques and science education techniques.
- Assists in facilitating and implementing the Zoo and Aquarium’s mission, strategic plan, and core values.
- 15%
Supports Animal Engagement Supervisor in the day-to-day management of team and performs various leadership duties, including:
- Assisting with all aspects of personnel management, including interviewing, scheduling, coaching, evaluating, and training of new staff and volunteers.
- Assisting with the creation of area standard operating procedures and various training handbooks, ensuring compliance with AZA and USDA guidelines.
- Overseeing area in absence of Animal Engagement Supervisor, with support of Education Director.
- 15%
- This position may at times be requested to perform other duties or special projects as assigned, which are in the best interest of the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium.
- All employees must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily and, upon request, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION & FORMAL TRAINING:
- Bachelor’s degree in education, biology or related field preferred.
- High school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate accepted with at least 5 years of experience in a similar position.
EXPERIENCE:
- 1-2 years’ animal care/training/presentation experience strongly preferred.
- 1-2 years’ experience in environmental and conservation education with a working understanding of informal, place-based education techniques for a wide range of audiences preferred.
- Previous supervisory experience preferred.
- Proven communication skills that include publicly speaking to a variety of audiences
- Strong presentation, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, required.
OTHER MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Must pass a background and drug screening.
- Must have valid driver’s license.
- Can move equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without assistance
- Must be willing to become CPR/First-Aid certified.
- Must have or be able to obtain negative TB test.
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, and overnight/evening hours, in all weather extremes.
