"Conservation Education Coordinator"

Job Description Summary

The application deadline for this position is 11:59pm EST on February 26, 2026.

The Santa Fe College (SF) Teaching Zoo is a unique, 10- acre zoo in Gainesville, Florida, and is the only zoo on a college campus accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Home to over 70 different species of animal and maintained by SF students in the premier Zoo Animal Technology program, the zoo showcases a diverse collection that contains both native and exotic species for all to enjoy.

The Conservation Education Coordinator is responsible for providing knowledge and assistance to visitors at the SF Teaching Zoo with specific responsibilities for conservation and public education. This role integrates conservation learning experiences, public engagement, and ambassador animal programming to ensure the highest standards of education and mission delivery. The Coordinator models professional zoo education practices, reinforces teamwork behaviors, and actively mentors students, interns, and staff. Through collaborative leadership, this role also supports the zoos operational excellence, educational mission, and AZA accreditation standards.

Additionally, the Coordinator designs, evaluates, and enhances conservation education and interpretive programming for both the zoo and students in the ZAT program. This includes developing educational materials and supporting resources that ensure a meaningful educational experience. As an educator, the Coordinator develops content, prepares instructional materials, and occasionally leads tours, interpreting topics such as animal backgrounds, care and handling, conservation issues, and other subjects of interest. This position also supervises assigned staff and is responsible for training, scheduling, and evaluating direct reports to ensure high-quality conservation and public education. This position may work weekends, holidays, events or during college closures.

Job Description

Responsibilities and Duties Include:

• Develops, evaluates, and continuously improves mission-based conservation education and interpretative programming for visitors and ZAT students, including tours, outreach, presentations, tabling events, and conservation initiatives.
• Collaborates with zoo faculty and curatorial leadership to align educational programs with curriculum goals, animal management priorities, and conservation messaging, serving as a resource for faculty and students involved in guest-facing activities.
• Partners with the Zoo Curator to ensure ambassador animals are selected, housed, presented, and utilized in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, AZA standards and internal procedures.
• Models, trains, and evaluates ethical ambassador animal handling practices for students, interns, staff, and volunteers, ensuring all interactions prioritize animal welfare and guest safety.
• Collects, analyzes, and reports program participation and impact data to guide continuous improvement and support institutional planning and accreditation requirements.
• Supports grant development for the zoo and provides donor stewardship through guided tours, customized educational experiences, and representation at donor-facing events.
• Leads all conservation education components of AZA accreditation, including writing, editing, and assembling required documentation, coordinating team contributions, and preparing for evaluations.
• Maintains awareness of evolving AZA conservation and education standards, industry initiatives, and best practices, ensuring programs meet or exceed accreditation expectations.
• Ensures all education staff and ZAT students adhere to established communication and animal handling protocols, providing ongoing training and corrective guidance as needed.
• Works collaboratively and proactively with all zoo staff and internal departments to support guest-facing elements of operations, including signage, wayfinding, habitat changes, public messaging, social media content, interview requests, event planning, accessibility initiatives, and sustainability projects.
• Develops and maintains partnerships locally and within the AZA network, coordinating activities and communication with conservation organizations and partners.
• Supervises, mentors, and provides guidance to direct reports, students, and volunteers involved in conservation and public education programming.
• Represents the zoo at various internal and external committees, meetings, and community events.
• Provides support for zoo-wide operations, special projects, and cross-departmental initiatives as a staff member of the zoo.
• Complies with all published College Rules, procedures, guidelines, and laws/regulations governing public employees, including but not limited to those related to document retention and destruction, FERPA, and confidentiality.
• Strictly honors the privacy, security, and confidentiality of records and other sensitive information according to appropriate state, federal, and college regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Provides service excellence through courteous, informed, accessible, and professional engagement.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

An associates degree in zoo animal technology, biology, education, or a related field with four (4) years of conservation and/or education experience within an animal facility, or a combination of education and/or experience equal to six (6) years.

Additional Requirements:

A criminal background check will be conducted. Must possess a valid Florida Class E Operator (drivers) license and be authorized to drive for the college.

Preferred:

A bachelors degree in a related field. Prior experience working in an AZA-accredited facility, as well as experience with program development and evaluation.

General Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work successfully in a multi-cultural environment.
• Adaptability to Change – able to be flexible and supportive, able to positively and proactively assimilate change in rapid growth environment.
• Analytical Aptitude & Problem Solving - able to analyze information, problems, situations, practices and/or procedures, collect and interpret data, reason logically, establish facts, identify and define existing and potential issues, recognize the interrelationships among elements, draw valid conclusions, develop recommendations, as well as alternative courses of action, select appropriate course, follow up, and evaluate.
• Communication – able to effectively communicate in a professional, diplomatic, empathetic, and tactful manner using preferred method and level as applicable to the job.
• Critical Thinking & Judgement - able to make well-reasoned, sensible, and timely decisions based on careful, objective review and informed analysis of available information, considerations, and other factors.
• Customer Service – ability to respond promptly and courteously to all questions from students and faculty, demonstrating patience and persistence when helping students with little or no computer skills.
• Ethics – able to demonstrate integrity, professionalism, civility, and a high degree of ethics in all job-related actions.
• Leadership – has demonstrated success as an entrepreneurial, high energy, driven, hands-on leader. Possess expertise in selecting, training, developing, coaching, mentoring, and retaining a highly motivated workforce.
• Organization & Time Management – able to plan, schedule, and organize tasks related to the job to achieve goals within or ahead of established time frames.
• Problem Solving – proven skills in identifying issues, determining their cause, developing creative solutions, and following through with implementing resolutions.
• Team Orientation & Interpersonal — highly motivated team-player with ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with all levels within and external to the organization.
• Relationship Management – able to personally provide high level of interactive service to others, building relationships and addressing identified needs.
• Results Orientation – proven ability to set and exceed established targets.
• Systems & Software - proficient level of knowledge of Microsoft Office and/or relevant position software programs.
• Detail Oriented - Proven accuracy and attention to detail.
• Multi-task - Ability to expeditiously organize, coordinate, manage, prioritize, and perform multiple tasks simultaneously to swiftly assess a situation, determine a logical course of action, and apply the appropriate response.