Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc.
Your Role: Education Interpreter
Your Manager: Education Manager – Visitor Programs
Your Pay Structure (FLSA Status): Part-time, hourly/nonexempt
Safety Sensitive: This is a safety-sensitive position. Regardless of whether you are a medical marijuana licensee, you must receive a negative result on a 10-panel, pre-placement drug screening to include THC, prior to beginning work.
The Zoo
Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. (TZMI) is a nonprofit organization driven by our mission of Connecting, Caring, Advocating for Wildlife, People, and Wild Places. From trumpeting elephants to squawking parrots, each member of our team is integral to the success of the Zoo as Green Country’s largest paid daily attraction. At Tulsa Zoo, the IDEA is a zoo for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. Apply today for your opportunity to join our dynamic group of passionate individuals who bring the zoo to life each day, 365 days per year, caring for animals, interacting with guests, educating the public, and managing the Zoo’s grounds, operations, and facilities.
A Few of Your Many Benefits
- Free family-level Tulsa Zoo membership
- Unlimited virtual visits with a mental health therapist at no cost to you
- Food, beverage, and retail discounts on zoo grounds
Your Job
The Education Interpreter supports the TZMI Education department by providing valuable educational experiences for zoo guests through engaging interactions, exhibit interpretation, and public presentations.
Your Essential Responsibilities
If you disclose different abilities, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable you to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position.
- Provide unique, interactive, and educational experiences for zoo visitors through approved and prepared topics, concepts, and messages from the Education department.
- Initiate visitor interactions and answer visitor questions.
- Create a friendly and inviting atmosphere for zoo visitors.
- Staff interpretive stations within assigned areas of the zoo.
- Provide excellent customer service interactions.
- Lead presentations outside of animal exhibits and during animal demonstrations as scheduled.
- Guide tours of zoo areas, as scheduled.
- Ensure visitor safety through practicing professional zoo-visit management, enforcing all policies, and maintaining order at all times.
- Handle animals in the Education ambassador animal collection in both public and non-public situations.
- Work cooperatively with other TZMI departments.
- Assist other divisions of the Education Department as assigned.
- Stay current with information and skills pertaining to the Tulsa Zoo, education, the environment, animals, and any other field pertinent to this position.
- Assist with daily operation of the Nature Exchange, including opening and closing procedures, interacting with traders, managing inventory, and managing the facility.
- Help maintain the Nature Exchange trader database.
- Deliver a high level of guest service to traders and their families at the Nature Exchange . Provide unique, interactive, and interpretive educational experiences for program participants and zoo visitors.
- Assist with the non-living collections as needed.
- Recognize signs of pest infestation in animal areas and combat pests/nuisance wildlife as directed.
- Maintain necessary certifications as required (First Aid, CPR, etc.).
- Train, assist, and oversee work of volunteers/interns and ensure their safety while performing duties.
- Maintain area compliance with all local, state, federal, and international regulations and standards are met (USDA, AZA, etc).
- Attend and participate in staff meetings and assigned training sessions.
- Participate in visitor education programs, formal and informal animal presentations and outreach programs, scheduled keeper talks, and provide accurate information to the public.
- Maintain necessary testing/vaccinations as required (TB, rabies, etc.).
- Maintain facilities to ensure animal, staff, and visitor safety, and in good appearance for public viewing at all times. Identify and communicate situations for repair and maintenance.
- As assigned, assist Animal Health Department with medical treatments.
- Observe animal collection daily for injury, illness, aggression, stress, breeding activity, diet intake, and fecal consistency.
- Maintain accurate records.
- Effectively communicate and demonstrate interpersonal skills with all levels of employees in a clear and professional manner.
- Demonstrate and adhere to TZMI’s workplace values.
- Know and follow zoo policies and procedures, including emergency protocols.
- Attend and participate in staff meetings and assigned training sessions.
- Other duties may be assigned to you.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position has no direct reports.
What We Expect
Required Qualifications, Education and/or Experience
- Must be 18 years or older, possess a valid driver’s license, and be insurable on TZMI’s insurance carrier
- Must have a high school diploma or GED and/or college experience in a related topic; Six months related experience in customer service or an interpretive education setting
- Must be able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Must have familiarity with a variety of teaching methods and knowledge of age-appropriate cognitive and physical abilities; experience in interpretive education; working knowledge of the natural world; working with small invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals in public and non-public situations
- Proficient in public speaking and creative thinking
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to communicate effectively before groups of customers, employees of TZMI, and the general public.
- Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
- Ability to use Microsoft Office – including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (or Prezi); Internet Browser(s)- Explorer, Chrome, Safari, etc.; Apple and Samsung tablets
What You can Expect
Our Values
- We are enthusiastically committed to be part of the Tulsa Zoo community.
- We will all work together as one Zoo Team to support the Zoo’s mission.
- We will value and appreciate everyone and create a safe, understanding, and welcoming environment for all.
- We will all be accountable for achieving excellence.
- We will earn the trust of one another, acting honestly and treating each other with respect.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Moving about - frequently
- Reaching with hands and arms – frequently
- Stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling - frequently
- Exchange of in-person, phone, radio, or digital communication - constantly
- Carrying or lifting up to 50 pounds – rarely
- Pushing and/or pulling up to 50 pounds – rarely
- Gripping, pinching, writing, and other hand movements - frequently
- Climbing and/or balancing – rarely
- Foot action (i.e. pedals, brakes, etc.) – occasionally
- Exposure to outdoor weather conditions - frequently
- Exposure to high noise levels- frequently
- Exposure to strong smells – frequently
- Work near moving mechanical parts – occasionally
- Wet or humid environment - frequently
