Part Time After Hours Educator

After Hours Educator Job Description

Buttonwood Park Zoological Society

The Opportunity:

The Buttonwood Park Zoo is at a pivotal time in its 125 year history. As the 12th oldest Zoo in the country, the Zoo enjoys a deep connection with the community and a long history of creating family memories that transcend generations. Our After Hours Programs give guests an exclusive tour of the Zoo while inspiring a deeper understanding and connection to our natural world through animal encounters, education, and games.

Position Overview:

The part-time After Hours Educator assists in the delivery of educational Programs that support the Zoo’s commitment to wildlife and habitat conservation. You will be working with other After Hours Educators to give guests a unique Zoo experience that they will cherish for a lifetime. Shifts are March through June on Friday and Saturday evenings (Twilight Tour shifts will run roughly 4:30pm – 9:00pm for both staff members) or evenings into mornings (Critter Camp-Ins will run from roughly 4:30pm – 10:30pm for one staff member and 4:30pm – 9:00am for the other).

Responsibilities Include:

• Deliver informal educational experiences to groups of children and their chaperones, including Animal Ambassador encounters, tours, and games.
• Guide guests through the Zoo after dark and share information on our resident animals including but not limited to: species specific information, personal history, and conservation messaging.
• Utilize the Science on a Sphere to enhance guest experience.
• When assigned, spend the night at the Zoo to continue the After Hours Program in the morning.
• Educators will sleep in a room separate from guests but must be able to attend to guests at any point in the night if required.
• Set up, facilitate use of, and clean up designated spaces for meals, Animal Ambassador encounters, and sleeping areas.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Collaborate effectively with Overnight Coordinator and other staff member present for assigned shifts.
• Ability to work closely with the public, communicate with all age groups, and deal with the public in a courteous and respectful manner, regardless of the situation.
• Strong commitment to quality education in the Zoo world.
• Knowledge of and passion for wildlife, ecology, and conservation. Must be comfortable working in close proximity to wild & domestic animals in a zoo setting.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Work attitude focuses on positive professionalism and integrity.

Please note that other appropriate, professional tasks and responsibilities may be assigned at the discretion of the Overnight Coordinator. The After Hours Educator position is an at-will position of the Buttonwood Park Zoological Society.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Reliable transportation to and from the Buttonwood Park Zoo
• Previous education and/or animal husbandry experience preferred, but not required
• Bilingual candidates strongly encouraged to apply

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should first apply on indeed and submit a cover letter by email to lridgway@bpzoo.org. Alternatively, a single package of all requested elements may be submitted to Buttonwood Park Zoo, Attn: Laurel Ridgway, 425 Hawthorn St, New Bedford, MA 02740.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: From $15.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10 – 15 per week

Grade school specialties:

• Science

Schedule:

• Evening shift
• Night shift
• Weekends only

Work setting:

• Camp
• In-person

Work Location: In person

Salary : $15