https://cincinnatizoo.org/about-us/job-opportunities/
ABOUT THE CINCINNATI ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDEN AND AMERICORPS
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden offers opportunities for everyone! CZBG and AmeriCorps have partnered to bring a variety of fun, engaging, and conservation-based opportunities to audiences including youth, visitors, animal ambassadors, and more! Together, CZBG and AmeriCorps will provide quality STEM education to economically disadvantaged PreK-12th grade students, will engage Zoo visitors, volunteers, Zooteens, and community members in environmentally conscious practices and behaviors, grow and maintain Zoo and community garden spaces, facilitate data coordination for animal welfare excellence and conservation research, and support a variety of sustainability initiatives.
This position will focus on direct service of teachers and economically disadvantaged students to improve science literacy and academic engagement.
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is known for many things- our conservation efforts, our green initiatives, our friendly staff… but did you know that we have a strong set of core values that make us the best team around, and a Top Workplace in Cincinnati? We’re more than coworkers… we’re family. By building Collaborative Relationships, displaying Positivity & Energy, having Pride, Passion & a Sense of Ownership, supporting Accountability, Mutual Trust & Respect, and embracing Progressive Thinking, we have built a team of dedicated staff that focuses on our visitors, our community & our future. This is what we believe and how we act. If this gets you fired up, we look forward to having you join our team!
ABOUT THE POSITION
The incumbent is a full-time AmeriCorps position serving 1,700 hours (40 hours per week) over an 11-month term of service (September 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023). Incumbent will work closely with schools and teachers that utilize the Zoo’s school grant, the Living Classroom Education Access Fund (LCEAF) which provides funding to undeserved students to access the Zoo. This service includes all aspects of the LCEAF grant management, guiding teachers through the entire process from signing up for field trips to teacher professional development, program instruction and evaluation. Incumbent will also collaborate with a local public school to offer urban learning garden programs in-school and after-school). They will report directly to and be supervised by the Education Programs Team. Schedules will serve 5 days a week, 8-hour days and assigned Monday-Saturday with some nights and weekends as needed.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Coordinate and oversee the LCEAF grant application process including managing the application format, guiding teachers through the application process, approving applications, administering post retrospective surveys to all LCEAF students, and tracking program targets to allow 11,700 underserved students to participate in Zoo programs, for free, annually.
- Recruit students from Avondale and the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan area from LCEAF qualifying schools and organizations to apply for Zoo on the Move & Wild Chat programs, field trips, Close Encounter programs, and Overnight Adventures.
- Coordinate all LCEAF on-site school programming including scheduling and assisting in delivery of programming as needed with the Close Encounters Program and Green Tours.
- Teach and facilitate standards-based Zoo on the Move and Wild Chats programs to LCEAF qualifying classes from preschool through high school.
- Create and maintain self-guided activities focused on meeting school standards through in-person field trips.
- Help create education-focused content for both the Teacher Connections Facebook page and for Zoo’s blog.
Urban Garden Programs
- Recruit qualifying students and teachers to attend virtual and in-person LCEAF programming opportunities related to Urban Learning Gardens. Priority recruitment on Rockdale Academy and the surrounding community.
- Serve LCEAF-funded students in the Avondale community through the Nature Club after school program in collaboration with other AmeriCorps members.
- Teach and facilitate standards-based animal programs to LCEAF qualifying classes from preschool through 6th grade in attendance at CPS neighborhood schools.
- Assist with recruitment of Rockdale school families for community learning and involvement activities.
- Co-coordinate teacher professional development and focus groups with the Education Programs Team and other AmeriCorps Members
General
- Train on and handle live animals for the education interpretive collection, employing the highest care and presentation standards as defined in the CZBG animal handling guidelines.
- Prioritize the inclusion of sustainability and conservation messaging in program curriculum. Specifically championing the Zoo’s sustainability initiatives and the Build A Better Home for Wildlife (BBHW) messaging and Plant for Pollinators campaign.
- Mentor high school students (Zoo Academy students and Zoo Teens) in conservation and environmental education.
- Potential to assist with instruction of Zoo Troop and Zoo Camp age-band(s) containing LCEAF-funded PreK-12 children September – July.
- Evaluate, assess, and report program goals and outcomes to measure impact of and goals for the program year.
- Participate in a mid-year and end of year performance review process with supervisor
- Participate in professional development workshops through AmeriCorps in-service days, service projects and Public Programs training opportunities.
- Complete bi-weekly timesheets to accurately report hours served
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Skills
- Strong writing skills
- Strong communication and public speaking skills
- Strong customer service skills
- Excellent organizational skills with ability to meet deadlines and independently manage multiple tasks and timely follow-through, with flexibility to adapt to changing needs and to work effectively with minimal supervision
- Willingness to seek and use available resources to support problem-solving efforts
- Ability to independently problem solve and think strategically
- Ability to work and build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
- Ability to work collaboratively with Education team members
Commitment to Service
- Ability to fulfill a yearlong, full-time AmeriCorps service commitment
- Dedication to CZBG and AmeriCorps’ missions
- Enthusiastic and positive attitude toward helping others
- Contribute to the overall success of the Zoo’s LCEAF program, but also seek out new challenges and learn and grow while in this position over the course of the service year.
Professionalism
- Dedication to CZBG mission, Core Values, and program areas
- Willingness to represent the CZBG to outside groups
- Maturity and good judgment in relating to CZBG peers, partners, and visitors
Project Management
- Ability to work on projects independently
- Ability to organize multiple tasks
- Attention to detail
- Ability to prioritize time and responsibilities
- Demonstrate good time management both in the office and during presentations
Additional Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree required
- A sincere commitment to wildlife and nature conservation, and desire to share that value with others
- Knowledge of informal science education, wildlife ecology, environmental science, biology, zoology and/or a related natural science
- Knowledge of/ education in/ experience in formal education, or environmental education, conservation education, or a related non-formal education field
- Knowledge of/education in outdoor education and/or urban gardens preferred but not required.
- Experience handling birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates or a strong desire and willingness to learn.
- Desire and interest in working with people of all ages and backgrounds; demonstrated patience, rapport with, and understanding of underserved audiences.
- Ability to use basic and some advanced functions of Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Publisher, Teams), web-based forms, and virtual learning platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.).
- Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed
Required
- Valid Driver’s License
- Ability to travel locally when needed
- To serve as an AmeriCorps member, individuals must be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
- Ability to stand, walk, climb and grasp objects
- Must be able to lift & move 50 pounds without mechanical assistance
- Appointment is conditional upon passing a pre-start drug screen, providing a negative TB test, providing proof of full vaccination status as defined by the CDC, and providing information to establish eligibility and complete a National Criminal History Check.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- Total living allowance of up to $20,000 to be paid on a bi-weekly basis over the course of the 11-month service term.
- Eligible to receive an education award of $6,495 upon successful completion of 1,700-hour service term. *Value dependent on Pell Grant each year.
- Health care and childcare benefit eligible
- AmeriCorps status could qualify you for forbearance and interest payments on qualified student loans during service.
- Extensive training, practice, and skill building in the fields of environmental and informal education, conservation communication, research, and horticulture for all audiences, as well as seasonal tickets and discounts provided within the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
- Making a difference in the community while being part of a dedicated service team.
