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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Program Assistant

💰 $ - $

Animal CareEducationConservationGuest Services

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Program Assistant supports animal care, visitor engagement, and education initiatives across a zoological facility. This role combines hands-on animal husbandry, interpretive program delivery, volunteer coordination, and exhibit maintenance to advance the zoo’s mission in conservation, education, and guest experience. The Zoo Program Assistant works closely with zookeepers, education staff, curators, and volunteers to plan and deliver safe, accessible, and impactful animal- and conservation-focused programs for diverse audiences.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Volunteer or intern roles in zoos, wildlife centers, or aquariums
  • Entry-level animal care or guest services positions (e.g., Guest Services Representative, Animal Care Technician)
  • Educational program support positions (e.g., Camp Counselor, Naturalist Assistant)

Advancement To:

  • Education Coordinator / Public Programs Coordinator
  • Junior Zookeeper / Animal Care Specialist
  • Conservation Outreach Officer
  • Senior Program Manager (Education & Community Engagement)

Lateral Moves:

  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • Visitor Services Supervisor
  • Exhibit Maintenance Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Deliver engaging, educational interpretive programs (talks, tours, demonstrations, and school outreach) for children, families, school groups, and adult audiences, ensuring content aligns with zoo conservation messages, learning objectives, and safety protocols.
  • Assist zookeepers with daily animal husbandry tasks including feeding, cleaning exhibits, preparing diets, and monitoring behavior and health indicators to support high standards of animal welfare and AZA-aligned care plans.
  • Design, set up, and evaluate enrichment activities and behavioral training sessions in consultation with senior animal care staff to promote species-appropriate stimulation, mental welfare, and cooperative care.
  • Serve as a visible ambassador on the exhibit floor by answering guest inquiries about animals, conservation initiatives, species biology, and husbandry practices while modeling safe viewing and handling practices.
  • Coordinate and supervise volunteers and seasonal staff during programs and special events, including training, scheduling, task assignment, and documentation of hours and performance.
  • Support the development and delivery of curriculum-aligned school programs, summer camps, and family workshops; prepare lesson plans, learning materials, and pre/post-visit resources to enhance participant learning outcomes.
  • Maintain accurate animal records and program documentation, including enrichment logs, behavioral observations, feeding charts, incident reports, and visitor participation metrics, using institutional databases and spreadsheets.
  • Assist with animal transports, transfers, and restraint procedures under direct supervision; prepare crates and equipment and ensure compliance with permits, quarantine procedures, and welfare guidelines.
  • Collaborate with education, conservation, and marketing teams to create interpretive signage, program scripts, digital content, and outreach materials that increase visibility of conservation priorities and drive engagement.
  • Plan, coordinate, and execute outreach and community engagement initiatives (pop-up programs, school visits, community events) to extend the zoo’s educational reach and promote conservation actions in local audiences.
  • Participate in daily exhibit maintenance tasks such as cleaning viewing areas, maintaining display props, monitoring climate and water systems, and reporting facility issues to maintenance and animal care leadership.
  • Support veterinary and animal care teams during routine health checks, sample collection, basic medical treatments, and medication administration as trained and authorized by supervising veterinary staff.
  • Facilitate visitor safety and animal containment by enforcing zoo policies, monitoring guest interactions, managing crowd flow during peak periods, and responding rapidly to unusual animal or guest incidents.
  • Assist with exhibit and program budget tracking, inventory management for educational supplies and animal care items, and procurement requests to ensure timely availability of materials and cost control.
  • Collect, organize, and analyze program evaluation data (surveys, attendance logs, learning assessments) to measure program effectiveness and recommend improvements to content, format, or delivery.
  • Implement and model conservation messaging that drives actionable behaviors (e.g., sustainable visitor practices, local habitat protection) through interpretive talks, call-to-action materials, and hands-on demonstrations.
  • Provide administrative support for program scheduling, reservation systems for school groups and private programs, invoicing, and communication with teachers, group leaders, and external partners.
  • Lead and support special events such as fundraising nights, member-only experiences, seasonal festivals, and behind-the-scenes programs, coordinating logistics, staffing, animal involvement, and guest communications.
  • Train and mentor interns, seasonal educators, and volunteers on program delivery techniques, animal handling basics (as authorized), safety protocols, and documentation standards to build organizational capacity.
  • Liaise with conservation partners, research collaborators, and local schools to coordinate citizen science projects, service-learning opportunities, and collaborative outreach that enhance the zoo’s conservation impact.
  • Maintain high standards of professional conduct, including compliance with institutional safety policies, biosecurity procedures, diversity, equity and inclusion practices, and ongoing professional development in education and animal care.

Secondary Functions

  • Support data collection and basic analysis for program KPIs such as attendance trends, learning outcome metrics, and revenue from educational programming to inform strategic planning.
  • Assist marketing and communications by providing program highlights, animal stories, and photos for social media posts, newsletters, and website updates to boost online visibility and SEO for zoo programs.
  • Contribute to grant applications and donor reports by preparing program descriptions, impact statements, participant testimonials, and attendance statistics under supervision.
  • Maintain and troubleshoot educational technology used in program delivery (projectors, tablets, sound systems) and ensure digital resources are accessible and up to date.
  • Participate in cross-departmental projects such as exhibit design reviews, curriculum refresh teams, and conservation campaign planning to align programmatic and institutional goals.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Animal husbandry and basic animal handling skills appropriate to small mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates; experience preparing species-specific diets and enrichment.
  • Enrichment design and implementation with the ability to document, evaluate, and adapt enrichment plans based on behavioral outcomes and welfare metrics.
  • Educational program development and lesson planning, including creating age-appropriate learning objectives, worksheets, and hands-on activities for school and family audiences.
  • Public speaking and interpretive presentation skills with experience delivering talks, guided tours, and interactive demonstrations for diverse audiences.
  • Recordkeeping and data entry proficiency, including experience with animal management databases, CRM systems, reservation platforms, and spreadsheet tools (Excel, Google Sheets).
  • Volunteer and seasonal staff coordination, including onboarding, scheduling, training, and performance tracking.
  • Basic veterinary support skills such as assisting with restraint, sample collection, medication preparation, and recognizing clinical signs requiring veterinary attention (as authorized).
  • Event logistics and operations experience, including setup/takedown, crowd management, equipment coordination, and vendor liaison for public programs and special events.
  • Familiarity with health, safety, and biosecurity protocols in captive animal settings and ability to ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory policies.
  • Content creation for outreach and marketing: writing interpretive copy, creating fact sheets, and collaborating on digital media assets to support conservation messaging.

Soft Skills

  • Clear and engaging communicator able to translate complex science into accessible, memorable messages for all ages.
  • Strong observational skills and attention to detail to monitor animal behavior, maintain accurate records, and identify potential welfare concerns.
  • Customer-service orientation with patience, empathy, and conflict-resolution skills when interacting with diverse visitors and stakeholders.
  • Team player mentality with the ability to collaborate across departments, share knowledge, and support colleagues in high-paced environments.
  • Adaptability and problem-solving skills to respond to changing schedules, animal needs, and unexpected incidents with calm, solution-focused actions.
  • Organizational and time-management skills to prioritize multiple programs, animal care tasks, and administrative responsibilities efficiently.
  • Cultural competency and inclusive communication practices to create welcoming learning environments for visitors of varying backgrounds and abilities.
  • Initiative and continuous learning mindset, seeking feedback and professional development opportunities in animal welfare, education pedagogy, and conservation practice.
  • Leadership potential for supervising volunteers and mentoring peers while modeling professional and ethical conduct.
  • Strong written skills for curriculum development, grant support, and program reporting.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent with demonstrated experience in animal care, education, or related fields.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Zoology, Environmental Education, Wildlife Conservation, Natural History Interpretation, or related fields.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Biology / Zoology
  • Environmental Education / Interpretive Studies
  • Conservation Science
  • Animal Behavior / Ethology
  • Museum Studies / Informal Learning

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–4 years of relevant experience in zoos, aquariums, wildlife rehabilitation centers, nature centers, or environmental education programs.

Preferred:

  • 2+ years of combined animal care and interpretive programming experience, prior volunteer coordination, and documented success delivering school programs or camps.
  • Certifications such as First Aid/CPR, basic animal handling training, or AZA-related coursework are strongly preferred; valid driver’s license and clean driving record may be required for outreach and animal transport responsibilities.
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