*Pay Grade GN07 – Recruitment Range – $32,703 – $35,786***

*Job offer is contingent upon passing a pre-employment screen conducted by assigned provider.*
 
Learn about the NC ZOO: https://www.nczoo.org   

Learn about employee perks/benefits: https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/benefits
 
Primary Purpose of this Position:

The NC Zoo is seeking an enthusiastic Guest Engagement Educator to be part of its Conservation/Education/Science Department. This position is responsible for developing, presenting, coordinating, and evaluating free and fee-based on-site and virtual educational programs for complex and dynamic audiences including the public, Zoo guests, and special interest groups. Program messages include conservation, animal welfare, and wildlife science and tend to focus on the stories and programs of the North Carolina Zoo.

Primary duties include preparing, presenting, and evaluating public, Scout, and afterschool programs using live ambassador animals and biofacts. Successfully recruits, trains, and evaluates seasonal educators and volunteers for Investigation Stations, pop-up programs, revenue-generating programs, and seasonal educational attractions. Upkeep and inventory of program biofacts are responsibility of this position. 

Position also coordinates and organizes educational programming aspects of the North Carolina Zoo’s special events including development of activities, organizing staff and volunteers, and gathering any needed materials for the events. Position will also assist in writing text for interpretive signs throughout the Park and additional outlets such as social media.

Position will mentor staff and volunteers on presentation skills and may coach team members on appropriate techniques.

Job Requirements:

• Must be able to work a rotating schedule to include weekends, holidays, and hours outside of normal work shifts.

• Required to participate in the North Carolina Zoo’s occupational health program, receiving vaccinations and regular health screenings.

Primary Purpose of the Organizational Unit:

The North Carolina Zoo exists for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of all of North Carolina’s citizens and visitors to the zoo. The mission of the zoo is to encourage the understanding of and commitment to the conservation of the world’s wildlife and wild places through the recognition of the interdependence of people and nature. The Zoo displays, conserves and protects representative examples of natural beauty, plant and animal species and ecological features of the North American and African regions of the world through the presentation of live animal exhibits from these regions.

Department Information:

The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ (DNCR) vision is to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. Our mission is to improve quality of life by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature throughout North Carolina.  The Department works to stimulate learning, inspire creativity, preserve the state’s history, conserve the state’s natural heritage, encourage recreation and cultural tourism, and promote economic development.  Our goal is to promote equity and inclusion among our employees and our programming to reflect and celebrate our state’s diverse population, culture, and history by expanding engagement with diverse individuals and communities. We encourage you to apply to become a part of our team.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

*To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the application form. Any information omitted from the application form, listed under the text resume section, or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit.*

• Demonstrated working experience with development, implementation, and evaluation of interpretive programs focused on conservation education and science, animal welfare, and wildlife science. 

• Demonstrated working experience using live animals, biofacts, educational props, and other standard educational equipment within successful programs.

• Considerable working experience with development of educational components of special events and the coordination and organization of special events. 

• Demonstrated working experience with a combination of digital still cameras, digital video cameras, iPhones, iPads, microphones, and/or video editing software.

• Demonstrated working experience with writing and reviewing interpretive text such as animal habitats or other exhibits or writing interpretive text for social media and other similar outlets, including brochures or posters.

• Demonstrated communication skills that may include guest interactions, and/or public speaking interpretive engagements with widely diverse groups and groups of wide-ranging sizes and ages.

• Demonstrated experience using MS Office including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

• Must possess good hearing, good vision, loud and clear speaking voice, and the ability to safely lift 30 pounds.

• Must be able to safely handle and present live animals during programs and become proficient in the Zoo’s animal handling policies for the ambassador animals such as small mammals, raptors, snakes, turtles, amphibians, invertebrates (including tarantulas) and more.

• Required to obtain and maintain a North Carolina Driver’s License within 60 days of employment.
• Required to obtain Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) training within one year of the hire date and maintain the certification for the duration of employment.

Management Preferences:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Wildlife Science, Conservation Biology, Zoology from an accredited institution and two years of zoo or related work, preferably in a conservation education work unit.

• National Association for Interpretation’s Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) certification is preferred.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a natural science program from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of experience in the development and presentation of natural science interpretive and educational programs; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Supplemental and Contact Information

The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) selects applicants for employment based on required education and experience and job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age (40 or older), disability, National Guard or veteran status, genetic information, political affiliation or political influence.
 
Please be sure to complete the application in full. Resumes may be uploaded with your application, but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit.  “See Resume” or “See Attachment” will NOT be accepted.
 
Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.  Transcripts, and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application.
 
To obtain veterans preference, you must scan and upload a copy of your DD-214 or discharge orders.
 
Technical issues submitting your application, please call the NeoGov Help Line at 855-524-5627.
 
Applicants requesting and receiving an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are eligible to submit paper applications via mail or by fax.  Please call the human resources office for assistance.
 
If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on the closing date.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account.  Upon the closing date, applications are “Under Review” and will be screened by Human Resources for the qualified applicants. The hiring process may take an average of 6 – 8 weeks.  
 
It is the policy of the State of North Carolina and the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that all employees provide proof of employment eligibility (immigration and naturalization) on the first day of employment. We participate in E-Verify (Employment Eligibility Verification System).
 
 CONTACT INFORMATION: 
 N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
 Division of Human Resources
 4603 Mail Service Center
 Raleigh, NC 27699-4603
 Phone:  919-807-6670
 
Please visit our website at www.nczoo.org for more information regarding our facility.

An Equal Opportunity Employer, North Carolina, State Government Website http://www.oshr.nc.gov/jobs/index.html