Conservation Program Manager Jobs in Milwaukee, WI

The Zoological Society of Milwaukee (the Society) is seeking a Senior Education Coordinator - Summer Programs, to join a fun and talented team of professionals in supporting one of the most cherished community assets - the Milwaukee County Zoo. This position coordinates all ages summer education programs within Conservation Education at the Society. A focus on innovation within summer education programs is critical, with an eye toward revenue generation that allows us to further our mission. Under the supervision of the Director of Education, this role works closely with the Conservation Education leadership and management team in support of the Society's mission to educate people about the importance of wildlife and animals and support the Milwaukee County Zoo (MCZ), and the Conservation Education department's vision to inspire and empower all members of our community to take conservation action.

This is a full-time position eligible for a competitive benefits package, including health insurance, complimentary dental, vision, life, STD and LTD coverage, 401k with up to a 5% match, PTO, paid holidays, and a complimentary Zoo Pass, up to the Household level.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate summer education programming, to include operations, budget tracking, scheduling, staffing, marketing, registration information, evaluation, improvement and innovation.
  • Work closely with the Director of Education to create the summer budget.
  • Modify, monitor and maintain summer education program budgets aligned with department strategy, adjusting programs and spending as needed to address customer feedback and generate mission-supporting revenue.
  • Coordinate scheduling of full-time and part-time staff for summer education programs, ensuring staff is adequately trained and ready for education program instruction.
  • Supervise seasonal instructors, as needed.
  • Create and maintain the summer education program main calendar, to include determination of class offerings, scheduling of all classrooms and resources, and alignment of volunteers.
  • Ensure smooth registration for summer education programs, including brochure creation, marketing via summer camp promotional opportunities, and promotion and execution of registration dates.
  • Analyze pricing, structure and portfolio of summer education programs, recommending changes to department leaders, implementing approved changes, and explaining/marketing changes to customers.
  • Collaborate on program measurement and evaluation to ensure programming is inclusive, engaging, and aligned with department strategy and vision of conservation action.
• Ensure summer camp programs are inclusive of all members of the Milwaukee area community; encourage and support active inclusion of community center programs and financial aid recipients in the department's summer camp programming.
• Incorporate tenets of national summer camp programming standards into the department's summer programs.
• Maintain responsibility for safety considerations and oversight for education programming, including but not limited to radio management, first aid supplies, and safety trainings. Serve as Safety Captain for the KPK Conservation Education building.
• Actively participate in the implementation of Tessitura (CRM platform) in support of summer education programs.
• In partnership with the Director of Education, ensure impactful and engaging seasonal education program offerings.
• In partnership with the Volunteer Program staff and Associate Director of Programs Operations, provide training and support of Education volunteers.
• In partnership with the Associate Director of Programs Operations, align summer intern program with intern learning goals and summer program needs.
• In partnership with the Arts Education Staff, provide resources for programming opportunities for cross-marketing and increased integration of the Kohl's Wild Theater program into summer education programming.
• With Vice President of Programs and the department leadership team, ensure alignment of summer education programs to accreditation standards and provide support to accreditation processes.
• Facilitate and support positive internal communications and organizational culture.
• Develop curriculum and teach courses/classes for ZSM programming as needed during the summer and during the school year
• Provide coordination support to conservation education departments throughout the school year, for example designing and leading intergenerational, family, or winter break programs, teaching weekend programs or supporting community engagement strategies.
• Participate in animal handling training, create and maintain program policies and procedures related to animal care, working in partnership with colleagues and the Zoo to ensure consistency and the well-being of animals

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in education (formal, informal, environmental, etc.) or related field (e.g., conservation, wildlife biology, zoology, etc.).
• At least 3 years of experience teaching or guiding children of all ages and/or teachers.
• Minimum two years of summer camp-related professional experience, with a demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate with people and get results from teams.
• At least one year of experience writing environmental education curriculum.
• Knowledge of zoo, aquarium, or museum education and related accreditation processes a plus.
• Proven ability to work independently and in teams.
• Proven ability to prioritize and plan work activities and use time efficiently to meet deadlines.
• Demonstration of excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills; Spanish or second language fluency a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; proficiency in additional collaboration platforms, CRMs (experience with Tessitura a plus), and resource scheduling tools preferred.
• Possession of a valid driver's license, personal vehicle and adequate car insurance with the ability to travel to program sites, meetings and professional opportunities
• Ability to become CPR/1st Aid certified within 6 months of employment.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including 1-3 weekend days per month.

The Zoological Society of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County Zoo have adopted a joint strategic plan, committing to a shared vision and mission. As part of that strategic plan, we believe our Zoo can be a thriving public space for all the diverse communities who make our region great. We bring people together around the issues they care about most, while continuing to be a zoo for all by intentionally creating an inclusive culture that welcomes and celebrates the full diversity of our community.

We apply values of Accountability, Inclusion, Innovation, Collaboration, Empathy, Fun and Respect to policies, procedures, practices and systems that shape our daily work culture.

We believe that our Zoo coalition, our animals, and our community stand to benefit when our people are fulfilled in their day-to-day roles and have the opportunity to continue growing and developing as professionals and contributors to our mission, vision, and values. We value our team members for who they are and commit to treating all people with respect and dignity all the time. We believe being a zoo for all is integral to our work in care and conservation.

The Society provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The Zoological Society of Milwaukee is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in all its services. If you need accommodation in the application or interview process, please contact our Human Resources department at hr@zoosociety.org.