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Position Summary

The Director of Education provides visionary, strategic, and hands-on leadership for the development, execution, and evaluation of all mission-driven, science learning and conservation education initiatives for the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. This role serves as the lead of the zoo's educational programming, transforming the guest learning journey into an immersive, story-driven experience that deepens curiosity and inspires personal conservation action across guest of all age groups.

The Director of Education oversees a year-round calendar of on-site and digital classes, seasonal camps, and youth development pipelines. This position manages a dedicated team of professional educators and ensures all curriculum aligns with AZA and New York State learning standards.

Essential Duties & Specific Program Responsibilities

Camp Administration & Seasonal Programming

• Summer Zoo Camp Oversight: Direct the operational planning, curriculum design, and safe execution of the zoo's Summer Zoo Camp program, spanning nine themed weeks for ages 4–12.
• Advanced Youth & Specialized Camps: Oversee the specialized, career-oriented Animal Care and Conservation Camp for grades 7–12, ensuring strict adherence to safety protocols (including mandatory TB testing validation), and manage the Counselor-in-Training (CIT) leadership programs.
• Logistics & Camp Management Systems: Supervise the camp software system (CampBrain) to ensure streamlined online registration, secure medical/emergency record keeping, and high-quality customer service, while managing extended care (Before/After Care) and collaborative weekly camper meal plans.

Multigenerational Classes & Public Engagement

• Early Childhood & Youth Classes: Lead the development of early-stage learning and family programs, and interactive events.
• Adult & Community Learning: Oversee specialized adult learning workshops, community science initiatives, and education programs that deep-dive into conservation psychology, wildlife habitats, and the ecological frameworks of an AZA institution.
• Guided Visitor Experiences: Manage the booking, logistics, and content frameworks for the zoo's public Guided Tours, ensuring educational docents deliver accurate messaging on species conservation, animal adaptations, and habitat management.

School District, Group, & Virtual Education

• Uniquely Adapted Partnerships: Cultivate and expand collaborative relationships with regional school districts and teachers, delivering impactful learning experiences across in-person classrooms, project-based learning units, and specialized Teacher Professional Development sessions.
• Virtual Programs: Drive the growth and continuous innovation of the zoo's live, interactive Virtual Programming, expanding the zoo's reach to distance learners and classrooms far beyond physical zoo attendance.

Teen Pathways & Workforce Development

• Paid Internship Pipelines: Champion the ZooGuides program (ages 16–18), managing the recruitment, training, and scheduling of local high school and college youth to build real-world communication, responsibility, and STEM career skills.
• Youth Governance & Leadership: Guide the Teen Leaders for Conservation (TLC) youth council, mentoring members ages 14–18 as they create interactive guest materials, support fundraising events, learn nonprofit governance, and act as liaisons to zoo leadership.
• Educational Equity: Manage the strategic allocation of the Zoo Camp Scholarship program to remove financial barriers and ensure equitable access to nature for underserved youth across Central New York.

Technical Compliance & Institutional Alignment

• Ambassador Animal Collaboration: Work directly with veterinary and animal teams to assist in care, handling, and strict safety/welfare protocols for the outreach and ambassador animal collections utilized across public, camp, and digital programs.
• Build a strong collaborative partnership with animal care team and zoo leadership staff to ensure alignment with current AZA practices and education curriculum.
• Fiscal & Philanthropic Excellence: Generate and maintain the education department's operating budget. Work closely with other departments to secure educational grants, scholarship funding, and identify fresh revenue streams via educational programming.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Experiences & Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Education, Biological Sciences, Environmental Studies, or a closely related field. A Master's degree or equivalent advanced study is preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive leadership experience in science learning, camp administration, or mission-driven public engagement, with at least 3 years in a formal supervisory/management role within a zoo, aquarium, nature center, or museum setting.
• Program & Industry Literacy: Deep operational understanding of camp safety regulations (NYS Children's Camp codes), database management systems, and a solid working knowledge of AZA accreditation standards.
• Strategic & Collaborative Mindset: Demonstrated success in balancing the operational needs of public/county partners with the mission-driven goals of a nonprofit organization. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills are mandatory.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, and evening events, to support peak camp seasons, community outreach schedules, and public programming.
• Must be able to traverse a large, multi-terrain physical campus in all Central New York weather conditions and occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.

Established in 1970, Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo is a non-profit organization and dedicated partner of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo that exists to raise philanthropic support for and public awareness of the zoo. We are resourceful, passionate, and dedicated about what we do.

The Friends and the Rosamond Gifford share a joint mission of connecting people with the natural world by providing engaging guest experiences, exceptional animal care and unparalleled conservation education. We strive to provide our guests with experiences that excite, memories that endure, and knowledge that inspires worldwide conservation.