Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Program Officer

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Program Officer leads, implements, and evaluates public-facing and conservation-oriented programs within a zoo or wildlife facility. This role blends program design, animal welfare oversight, education and interpretation, stakeholder engagement, grant writing and reporting, volunteer coordination, and operational compliance. A successful candidate will drive measurable conservation and audience-impact outcomes while maintaining the highest standards of animal care and regulatory compliance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Conservation Program Assistant or Coordinator
Education Coordinator / Interpretive Specialist
Animal Care Technician / Keeper I

Advancement To:

Program Manager / Senior Program Officer
Director of Conservation Programs or Head of Education
Curator of Education, Conservation, or Animal Care

Lateral Moves:

Volunteer & Community Engagement Manager
Grants & Development Manager
Visitor Experience or Marketing Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, implement, and manage a portfolio of conservation education and public programs (school field trips, interpretive talks, workshops, camps, mobile outreach) that align with the zoo’s mission, strategic goals, and AZA (or regional equivalent) priorities.
Lead species-specific outreach and conservation initiatives (including Species Survival Plan (SSP) participation where applicable), coordinating with curators, research staff, and external partners to translate scientific priorities into public-facing programming.
Develop, write, and manage grants, proposals, and donor-facing program materials to secure funding for conservation initiatives; prepare timely and accurate grant reports, budgets, and impact summaries.
Create and manage program budgets, track expenses, forecast resource needs, and ensure programs are delivered within budget while maximizing conservation and education impact.
Monitor and evaluate program outcomes using quantitative and qualitative metrics (attendance, learning outcomes, behavior change indicators, conservation action metrics) and produce actionable reports for leadership and funders.
Lead the design and implementation of interpretive materials and curriculum (lesson plans, educator guides, signage, digital content) to ensure educational integrity, accessibility, and alignment with learning standards.
Supervise, train, and mentor program staff, seasonal educators, and volunteers; develop training materials, conduct performance reviews, and establish standard operating procedures for program delivery.
Serve as the primary liaison with schools, community groups, partner NGOs, government agencies, and academic institutions to build collaborative programs, joint funding opportunities, and community science projects.
Coordinate animal handling, behavioral training, and welfare protocols in collaboration with animal care and veterinary teams for animals used in programs; ensure all handling complies with institutional welfare standards and legal/regulatory requirements.
Oversee scheduling, logistics, and risk management for field trips, traveling exhibits, outreach vans, and off-site programs; prepare risk assessments, emergency response plans, and participant waivers.
Lead community engagement and public-facing conservation campaigns that drive conservation action, volunteer recruitment, and membership growth; use social media, email, and on-site events to amplify impact.
Manage program-related data systems (CRM, registration platforms, volunteer databases), ensure accurate record-keeping of participants, contacts, and program outcomes for reporting and continuous improvement.
Design and implement evaluation instruments (pre/post surveys, observation protocols, rubrics) to measure learning outcomes and behavior change; present findings to internal and external stakeholders and recommend program refinements.
Identify and steward strategic partnerships with universities, zoos, aquariums, conservation NGOs, and government wildlife agencies to expand program reach and scientific collaboration.
Develop and deliver professional development for educators, docents, and keeper staff to improve interpretive techniques, animal welfare understanding, and visitor engagement outcomes.
Coordinate with marketing and communications to promote programs, increase attendance, and elevate institutional profile using SEO-driven content, email campaigns, and press outreach.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (USDA, state wildlife laws, workplace safety), AZA accreditation standards, and internal policies for program delivery and animal use.
Draft and maintain program SOPs, curriculum maps, animal handling protocols, and training manuals; ensure documentation is current and readily available for staff and auditors.
Lead community science and field research components associated with zoo conservation programs: design protocols, recruit volunteers, manage data collection, and ensure ethical data and sample handling.
Facilitate donor stewardship and recognition related to programmatic giving: prepare impact reports, coordinate donor site visits, and support capital campaigns as needed.
Manage vendor relationships and contracts for program needs (transportation, catering, exhibit fabrication, external educators) and ensure vendor compliance with institutional policies.
Champion inclusivity and accessibility by designing programs that meet ADA requirements and are culturally responsive to diverse audiences, ensuring broader community engagement.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests, exploratory data analysis, and reporting needs related to program metrics and visitor engagement.
Contribute to the organization's program strategy and roadmap by recommending priorities based on evaluation data and community needs.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (animal care, vet, operations, marketing, fundraising) to translate program goals into operational requirements and measurable outputs.
Participate in project planning sessions, agile-style program sprints, and institutional planning retreats to align program work with enterprise objectives.
Represent the institution at regional and national conferences, present program outcomes, and stay current on best practices in zoo education and conservation programming.
Assist with special events, seasonal programming, and emergency operational support as needed to maintain continuity of visitor services.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Program design and management: curriculum development, lesson planning, and program lifecycle management.
Grant writing and grant management: developing proposals, budgets, and compliance reporting.
Budgeting and financial tracking using spreadsheets and finance systems.
Data collection, analysis, and program evaluation (surveys, pre/post tests, qualitative coding, KPI reporting).
Familiarity with animal welfare standards, husbandry protocols, and basic animal handling safety in collaboration with animal care teams.
Knowledge of AZA accreditation standards and regulatory compliance (USDA, wildlife permits, biosafety).
CRM and registration platforms (e.g., Tessitura, Salesforce, Altru, Eventbrite) and basic database management.
Content creation for education and marketing: interpretive signage, educational materials, e-learning modules, and SEO-optimized web copy.
Project management tooling and methodologies (Asana, Trello, Microsoft Project) and experience managing multi-stakeholder timelines.
Volunteer management systems and techniques for recruitment, training, scheduling, and retention.
Familiarity with community science platforms and data management standards (e.g., iNaturalist, eBird) for citizen science programs.
Basic GIS or spatial data awareness for habitat or field-study program coordination (preferred).

Soft Skills

Exceptional written and verbal communication; able to write compelling proposals and clearly present evaluation results to diverse audiences.
Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills with funders, community organizations, and academic partners.
Leadership and team development: mentoring staff, fostering inclusive teams, and managing performance.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills; adept at balancing simultaneous program deliverables.
Problem-solving and adaptive decision-making under changing conditions (fieldwork, weather-related cancellations, animal health considerations).
Public speaking and on-site interpretive delivery to a broad range of audiences (children, educators, donors).
Cultural competency and empathy; ability to design programs that serve diverse communities and remove participation barriers.
Attention to detail and high standards for documentation, reporting, and compliance.
Creativity and innovation in program design to maximize engagement and conservation outcomes.
Collaborative mindset with the ability to work cross-functionally and translate technical conservation concepts into audience-appropriate content.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Biology, Zoology, Environmental Education, Conservation Science, Nonprofit Management, Education, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Conservation Biology, Environmental Education, Museum/Zoo Studies, Public Administration, or Education with a focus on informal science learning.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Wildlife Biology / Zoology
Environmental Education / Interpretation
Conservation Science / Ecology
Nonprofit Management / Public Administration
Curriculum & Instruction / Informal Education

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressively responsible experience in program development, education, or conservation roles within zoos, aquariums, museums, NGOs, or related organizations.

Preferred: 5+ years of experience managing public and conservation programs in a zoo, aquarium, wildlife organization, or environmental education institution; demonstrated success in grant writing, partnership development, and program evaluation.