| Location | Phoenix, AZ |
Job Title: Instructor III
Department: Learning and Engagement
Supervisor: Supervisor of Night Camps
Supervises: None
FLSA Status: Part time; Regular; Non-exempt
Pay: $21.50
General Statement:
The Instructor III is an educator for the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation (ACNC) and the Phoenix Zoo. This position assists in the presentation and facilitation of education programs about the natural world to groups of people of all ages. Most of these programs will be Night Camps (October-May) and Day Camps (both summer and seasonal), but this position may also be asked to assist with Zoo events on or off Zoo grounds.
Instructor III positions are trained and certified to handle Level II Ambassador Animals. These are animals that are safe and appropriate to bring to educational programs, such as non-venomous snakes, lizards, frogs, insects, and small mammals. Animal Handling includes presenting educational and entertaining presentations at Phoenix Zoo camps, events, and birthday parties while following all animal handling protocols. This position may have the option to participate in Level III Animal Handling which includes animals such as raptors and larger reptiles and mammals. Instructor III also serves as a Camp Lead. This is a leadership role within the Night Camp programs, with responsibility to manage the logistics of individual camp programs, direct teammates, and communicate safety policies to camp guests attending the program.
Instructor III must have availability for:
Nighttime and overnight shifts during the Night Camp season (October-May).
Some daytime shifts during the Summer Camp Zoo season (June-July) and/or Seasonal Camp Zoo weeks (school holidays).
All mandatory meetings and trainings.
Some daytime weekend availability to handle animals at Zoo events.
Essential Duties:
Provide quality guest service to all Zoo guests by maintaining a WILD (friendly, helpful, positive, and professional) working attitude and appearance.
Present and facilitate scheduled programs about the natural world utilizing a variety of animals, plants and media or other props.
Follow an established curriculum and schedule in order to provide high quality guest experiences to audiences of all ages and sizes.
Serve food to program guests in camps.
Attend scheduled meetings and training for all department team members to become familiar with experiences, logistics and responsibilities.
Check e-mail at least once a week and respond in a timely manner when appropriate.
As a secondary responsibility, assist Program Supervisors and the Formal Learning & Engagement Manager as needed in the development of education programs.
Responsible for knowing and abiding by proper handling, transportation, presentation, and interaction protocols for a diverse collection of animals in preparation for and during programs. After completing animal handling training, must be able to pass a written and practical test to certify. Must re-certify each year to maintain animal handling certification.
When assigned lead shifts, oversee logistics of Night Camp program which includes checking in the camp group, providing needed information to main contacts, ensuring the successful facilitation of program curriculum, directing and delegating to teammates, and acting as the program representative when Program Supervisor and Assistant Supervisor are unavailable.
Resolve problems in a timely, effective, and professional manner.
As an optional responsibility, certify on presentation protocol for Level III animal handling in order to present live ambassador animals for multiple programs.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. Management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g. emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs, or technological developments.)
Qualifications and Required Skills:
High School diploma or equivalent.
Friendly, responsible, and enthusiastic.
Maintains a positive and respectful attitude with guests and teammates.
Good listening skills and open to giving/receiving feedback to help the team grow.
Can effectively and respectfully communicate with a diverse audience and teammates (including all age levels, cultures, neurodiversity, and level of abilities).
Ability to work a flexible schedule including overnights, evenings, weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
Excellent time management and guest service skills.
Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
Interest in learning, understanding, and communicating science and conservation concepts and messages to Zoo guests.
Able to give and receive constructive feedback with a growth mindset and solution-oriented approach.
Demonstrate comfort with the handling of a variety of animals (including non-venomous snakes, insects such as cockroaches, etc.).
Problem solving experience and the ability to make decisions and communicate in a calm, professional manner during a high-stress situation.
Experience working with children in an educational setting (formal or informal) preferred.
Experience working in a camp setting or zoo/aquarium setting preferred.
Excellent public speaking and presentation skills preferred.
Ability to evaluate an audience and tailor the program to provide information and entertainment at an appropriate level preferred.
Existing knowledge about education, geology, ecology, conservation and/or biology preferred.
Experience working with animals within a professional setting preferred.
Demonstrated leadership and guest service experience in a fast-paced environment preferred.
Ability to perform all duties in an outdoor environment even during extremes of weather.
Ability to lift up to 30 pounds; regularly bend, crouch, and kneel; stand and walk for extended periods of time; work in both indoor and outdoor environments in extreme weather conditions.
Possession of valid driver's license.
Ability to pass pre-employment background check, drug test, DMV check, clear annual TB test, and obtain a Food Handler's License within 1 month of hire date.