Seasonal Instructor

The Zoological Society of Milwaukee (the Society) is seeking Seasonal Instructors, with a specific focus on early childhood instructors (2-7 year olds), to join a fun and talented team of professionals in supporting one of the most cherished community assets – the Milwaukee County Zoo. This position supports educational programming within the Conservation Education department at the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM). The seasonal instructor works closely with full time educators, Summer Camp Coordinator and the Director of Education in support of the Zoological Society of Milwaukee’s (ZSM) mission to educate people about the importance of wildlife and animals and support the Milwaukee County Zoo (MCZ), and the Conservation Education department’s vision to inspire and empower all members of our community to take conservation action. All instructors are expected to deliver engaging lessons in a variety of educational settings, both in the classroom and in an outdoor Zoo setting.

Rate of Pay: $15.50

Dates: Must be available for at least 4 weeks between June 15 – August 19 (30+ hours/week), and for mandatory training on June 6 - 7.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as an instructor for seasonal enrichment programs for more than one age band (i.e., 0-2 years, 3 years, 4&5 years, 6&7’s, 8&9’s, 10-12’s, and 13-15 years).
• Collaborate with all full and part-time staff, interns and volunteers to successfully implement and interpret curriculum, set-up, take-down and prepare classroom spaces and engage with all members of the public.
  • Implement curricula with the whole child in mind—incorporating different strategies and skill sets that are appropriate for different stages of child development, such as social-emotional learning, STEAM, and conservation education techniques.
  • Positively extend the learning experience for participants with an opportunity for handling and teaching with a selection of live animals in the classroom.
  • Communicate with full time educators to reflect on curricula and innovate.
  • Be accountable and adaptable by taking on curricula and making it your own, while adhering to the curriculum objectives and the department’s vision, values and policies.
• Employ strong customer service and interpersonal skills to connect to and relate with a variety of participants, family members, and volunteers, ranging in age and diversity.
• Participate in training, including animal handling (if applicable), to ensure a safe and engaging education experience for participants.
• Adhere to the department’s policies and procedures to ensure the safety of all participants and staff.
• Professionally represent the Society and the Conservation Education Department on Zoo grounds, community events, and with partner organizations.
• Mentor support staff and provide formal feedback for the intern program.
• Provide assistance to additional programs and processes that support the department and staff, as needed, including mentoring support staff and providing formal feedback for the intern program.
• Facilitate and support positive internal communications and organizational culture.
• Assist with Conservation Education department light housekeeping, as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree and/or equivalent experience in education, conservation, wildlife, natural resources, and/or social sciences (e.g., informal or formal education, conservation, zoology, biological sciences, forestry, human dimensions of natural resources, psychology, etc.) or other field that connects to mission and vision of the department.
• Experience teaching children in an informal or formal educational setting is required.
• Demonstration of excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Spanish or second language fluency beneficial.
• Proven ability to work independently and in teams.
• Must have reliable transportation to the Milwaukee County Zoo.
• Employer paid professional Adult & Child CPR/AED and First Aid certifications (training with skills check).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint) and/or additional collaboration platforms.
• Must be available for mandatory training on June 6 - 7.

The Zoological Society of Milwaukee believes diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI) are the hallmarks of a robust, vibrant community and have adopted DEAI as foundational to our organizations’ priorities and values. A successful candidate will embrace these values and incorporate a similar commitment within their scope of work to foster an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity, which is demonstrated through actions and words.

The Society provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The Zoological Society of Milwaukee is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in all its services. If you need accommodation in the application or interview process, please contact our Human Resources department at [email protected].