Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Program Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Program Coordinator is responsible for designing, delivering, and evaluating educational and visitor-facing conservation programs that advance the zoo’s mission. This role develops curricula for school groups, camps, and public programs; trains and supervises program staff and volunteers; manages program logistics and budgets; and fosters partnerships with schools, community organizations, and donors. The Coordinator balances strong animal welfare practices with engaging interpretive strategies, ensuring programs meet learning objectives, accessibility requirements, and safety standards while increasing attendance, revenue, and community impact.

Keywords: Zoo Program Coordinator, conservation education, visitor engagement, animal welfare, outreach programs, curriculum development, volunteer management, environmental education, program evaluation, zoo education jobs.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Education volunteer or docent at a zoo, aquarium, or museum
Animal care technician, keeper assistant, or wildlife rehabilitator
Visitor services associate or outreach coordinator

Advancement To:

Education Manager / Curator of Education
Senior Program Manager — Conservation & Outreach
Director of Public Programs or Community Engagement

Lateral Moves:

Volunteer & Community Engagement Coordinator
School & Group Sales Manager
Events and Facility Programming Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and continuously refine a full calendar of educational programs (school field trips, summer camps, after-school programs, family programs, and adult workshops) that align with the zoo’s mission, state and national learning standards, and measurable learning outcomes.
Create detailed lesson plans, activity guides, and interpretive materials that incorporate animal behavior, habitat science, conservation messaging, and age-appropriate pedagogy for audiences ranging from preschool to adult learners.
Lead day-to-day delivery of education programs by directly instructing school groups and public audiences; modeling exemplary visitor engagement techniques and safe animal interactions when appropriate.
Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise seasonal educators, part-time instructors, interns, and volunteer docents; maintain training records and evaluate staff performance to ensure program quality and consistency.
Design and administer assessment tools and evaluation protocols (surveys, rubrics, observation checklists) to measure participant learning, satisfaction, and long-term program impact; use data to inform program improvements and to produce evaluation reports.
Manage program budgets and purchasing: prepare annual program budgets, track expenses, process purchase orders, and identify cost-savings while maintaining high-quality educational materials and supplies.
Coordinate logistics for off-site outreach and school-based programs, including transportation, lesson-packaging, safety protocols, and communication with teachers and chaperones to ensure a seamless experience.
Ensure all programs comply with animal welfare policies, safety protocols, organizational guidelines, and local/state regulations; conduct routine safety briefings and emergency preparedness drills for program staff and volunteers.
Cultivate and maintain partnerships with local schools, universities, community centers, NGOs, and government agencies to expand program reach, secure in-kind resources, and co-develop joint initiatives.
Write and manage program-related grant proposals, sponsorship packages, and donor communications to secure funding for program expansion, scholarships, and specialized conservation initiatives.
Oversee program registration systems and CRM entries: maintain accurate participant records, waitlists, attendance logs, and demographic data; coordinate invoicing and receipt of program fees or scholarships.
Develop and implement strategies to increase program attendance and revenue, including targeted marketing plans, seasonal promotions, and collaborations with visitor services and membership teams.
Produce high-quality interpretive signage, digital content, and take-home materials that reinforce conservation messages and extend learning beyond the visit; coordinate with marketing for consistent branding.
Lead special events and themed programming (e.g., Species Spotlight Days, Conservation Weeks, Family Science Nights), managing vendor logistics, staff assignments, programming schedules, and post-event evaluations.
Provide subject-matter expertise to exhibit planning and animal training teams to ensure educational objectives are integrated into animal presentations and guest experiences.
Maintain inventory of educational materials, animal-safe props, PPE, and first-aid equipment; implement restocking schedules and coordinate with procurement to ensure resources are available when needed.
Serve as primary point of contact for school and group bookings: conduct pre-visit planning calls, send pre-visit materials, coordinate on-site logistics, and follow up with post-visit surveys and resource links.
Provide basic animal handling and husbandry support during educational encounters when authorized and trained; ensure all interactions prioritize animal welfare and minimize stress.
Train front-line staff on core program messaging and visitor engagement techniques so that visitor services and guest experience teams deliver consistent interpretive messages across the site.
Maintain and update program documentation, manuals, training SOPs, and risk assessments; ensure new hires and volunteers can access up-to-date protocols.
Monitor and interpret program metrics and KPIs (attendance, retention, revenue, learning outcomes) to create monthly or quarterly reports for senior leadership and to inform strategic program development.
Coordinate with IT and digital learning teams to develop online or hybrid program offerings, including virtual field trips, distance-learning modules, and recorded content to broaden accessibility.
Actively represent the zoo at community events, conferences, career fairs, and school meetings to promote programs, recruit participants, and strengthen institutional visibility.

Secondary Functions

Assist with merchandise planning and pop-up education retail during events, ensuring items align with conservation messaging and program goals.
Support social media and email marketing efforts by providing content ideas, program highlights, participant success stories, and educational tips for families.
Facilitate occasional animal enrichment sessions in collaboration with keepers and behavior staff to demonstrate welfare-focused practices for program audiences.
Collaborate with grant-writing teams to compile program impact metrics, participant testimonials, and budget narratives for submissions.
Perform light exhibit maintenance checks related to program spaces (classrooms, portable habitats, AV equipment) and report needs to facilities staff.
Maintain relationships with local media and community partners to secure coverage for high-profile programs and fundraising events.
Assist development staff with stewardship activities related to program donors, including impact reports, donor acknowledgments, and program tours.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Program design & curriculum development: skilled at building standards-aligned lesson plans and age-differentiated activities for informal settings.
Educational assessment & data analysis: experience creating evaluation tools, analyzing survey and attendance data, and summarizing impact for stakeholders.
Budgeting & financial management: ability to manage program budgets, reconcile accounts, and forecast program revenue and expenses.
Safety, risk management & first aid: certified in CPR/First Aid (adult & pediatric preferred) and experienced in conducting activity risk assessments and emergency plans.
Animal handling & husbandry familiarity: demonstrated experience or certification in animal interaction protocols and zoonotic disease prevention (as required).
Volunteer & staff supervision: experience recruiting, training, scheduling, and evaluating volunteers, seasonal educators, and interns.
Grant writing & fundraising support: experience drafting proposals, preparing budgets, and compiling program metrics for funders.
CRM and registration systems: proficiency with database tools (e.g., Salesforce, Tessitura, Blackbaud, or similar) and online registration platforms.
Learning technologies & virtual programming: experience delivering virtual field trips or online educational modules and using basic AV equipment.
Microsoft Office and Google Workspace: advanced skills in Word/Docs, Excel/Sheets (including pivot tables/basic analysis), and presentation software.
Familiarity with accessibility and inclusion best practices in education design (UDL principles).

Soft Skills

Exceptional verbal and written communication tailored to diverse audiences (teachers, families, donors, children).
Strong public speaking and interpretive storytelling skills with the ability to engage large groups and quiet learners alike.
Leadership and people management with an emphasis on coaching, feedback, and team development.
Strong organizational and project management skills with attention to timelines, logistics, and detail.
Creative problem solving and adaptability to respond to weather, animal behavior changes, and unexpected schedule shifts.
Cultural competency and commitment to inclusive programming that serves diverse communities.
Customer-service orientation with tactful conflict resolution and complaint handling.
Collaboration and relationship-building skills to work across departments and with external partners.
Time management and prioritization in a fast-paced, multi-program environment.
Passion for conservation education and translating scientific concepts into actionable behaviors.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Education, Environmental Education, Conservation Biology, Biology, Zoology, Natural History, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Environmental Education, Museum Studies, Science Communication, or related field (preferred but not always required).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Education
Biology / Zoology
Education / Curriculum & Instruction
Museum Studies / Interpretive Planning
Conservation Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of professional experience in informal education, environmental education, museum or zoo settings, or related program coordination roles.

Preferred:

3–5+ years coordinating educational programs in a zoo, aquarium, museum, school district, or nonprofit conservation organization.
Demonstrated experience supervising staff and volunteers, managing program budgets, and leading outreach partnerships.
Experience with grant writing, program evaluation, and digital/virtual education platforms is highly desirable.