Are you passionate about?

…Providing exceptional care for animals?

…Saving wild animals and wild places?

…Inspiring guests to connect with nature and take action to impact the future of our world?

…Being part of a dynamic, growing zoo that is welcoming to all?

With a mission centered in conservation, the Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participates in over 50 Species Survival Plans for threatened and endangered species. Reid Park Zoo cares for over 200 exotic animal species from around the world, maintains a state-of-the-art elephant program, a cutting-edge veterinary clinic that serves as a teaching hospital for the University of Arizona veterinary program, and is a leader in the Monarch and Songbird Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) programs. With more than 600,000 visits annually, the Zoo is in the midst of an exciting expansion project, Pathway to Asia, that will add four acres to its campus, bringing new species such as red panda, Komodo dragon, and Lar gibbons, as well as a breeding facility for critically-endangered Malayan tigers when it opens in 2026.

Reid Park Zoo’s mission is to connect people with animals, inspiring the protection of wild animals and wild places. Be a part of a vibrant, growing organization as Reid Park Zoo continues to support local and global conservation and the highest standards in animal care while providing educational opportunities and family fun. 

No phone calls or visits, please. This position is open until filled.  We are an Equal Opportunities Employer. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff by creating an inclusive environment.

Pay Range: $42,000.00 to $49,350.00 annually

Benefits: This is a fully benefited position, including group medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; paid holiday, vacation, and sick time; retirement plan; zoo membership; employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement, and discounts on concession and gift shop purchases.

Overview: Leads and expands the Zoo’s conservation initiatives, partnerships, and community engagement strategies. Strengthens the Zoo’s conservation identity by coordinating conservation projects, building collaborative relationships with regional partners, and guiding the integration of conservation action into all guest experiences.

Supervises on-call education staff and leads the review and revision of education programs and materials to ensure clear conservation messaging. This conservation messaging helps participants recognize and act on opportunities to further conservation both globally and within their own communities, especially within our region.

Reports To:   Director of Education & Conservation

General Duties

•  Demonstrates and models the core values of the Reid Park Zoological Society (RPZS or the Zoo)
• Perform duties in accordance with RPZS policies and procedures
• Provide excellent customer service as a component of all job duties
• Follows Zoo safety protocols and procedures

Community-based conservation

Lead the development, implementation, and coordination of the Zoo’s conservation programs, with emphasis on community-based conservation efforts in Tucson and Southern Arizona. Build and maintain strong partnerships with groups such as conservation organizations, tribal partners, NGOs, government agencies, schools, and community groups. Oversee or support conservation campaigns, citizen-science opportunities, community engagement efforts, and local conservation action projects. Represent Reid Park Zoo in AZA SAFE programs, regional conservation committees, and other professional networks that support conservation priorities. Serve as lead coordinator for major community conservation events such as Party for the Planet/Earth Day, and strengthen community collaboration.

Conservation Messaging in Education Programs

Lead the Zoo-wide effort to embed clear, actionable conservation messaging into all education materials and programs, ensuring participants understand how to take conservation action locally and globally. Guide and collaborate with staff and volunteers to integrate conservation calls-to-action and community relevance into interpretive experiences. Conduct or oversee evaluation of conservation messaging effectiveness and visitor learning outcomes.

Interpretation

Assist in developing Zoo-wide conservation messages and ensure alignment with AZA standards and institutional conservation priorities. Contribute to conservation-focused content for marketing, social media, and public communications as approved by the Director. Support the development of on-site and off-site programs that highlight conservation issues, field projects, and actionable steps for the Tucson community.

Conservation Program Support and Interpretation

Manage the Education Department’s programming information and educational content on the website and social media. Work with the Marketing Department to promote upcoming programming on an as-needed basis. Coordinate the development of marketing and educational materials as requested by the Director. 

Animal Ambassador Coordination (Conservation-focused)

Work with the Conservation Learning Center Keeper to ensure ambassador animal handling supports the Zoo’s conservation storytelling goals and maintains welfare standards. Attain Lead Trainer status and ensure ambassador animal use is tightly aligned with conservation outcomes and guest understanding of conservation actions.

Education Programs

Participate in education programs on an as-needed basis, including classroom programs, behind-the-scenes tours, and camps

Administrative Functions

Assist with grants and reporting related to conservation and conservation education initiatives. Complete documentation, purchasing, and other administrative tasks per Zoo and Society policies.

Supervisory Duties

•  Ensures the Zoo’s commitment to attracting and retaining a diverse staff by creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong
• Ability to constructively mentor and develop staff to promote their professional growth and skills
• Provides timely feedback, coaching, course correction, along with recognition and positive feedback about performance throughout the year
• Completes 90-day reviews for new hires and jointly creates a work plan with goals for the year
• Delivers annual performance reviews for direct reports and collaborates with them to align on work plan goals for the coming year
• Addresses areas of necessary improvement (tardiness, performance) in a timely way and documents issues in accordance with the Zoo’s performance policies
• Participates in recruitment, selection, and hiring decisions
• Is involved in promotion and status changes and makes recommendations
• Supervises and schedules assigned staff
• Trains and provides coaching to assigned staff to ensure compliance with safety policies and practices
• Ensures completion of company (including HR required) training is on time by assigned staff
• Participates in employee relations concerns in partnership with Human Resources and the direct supervisor
• Facilitates communication and completion of administrative tasks, events, or other company requirements by staff
• Participates in emergency drills
• May act as a Drill Master or Incident Commander for Zoo emergencies and drills

Minimum Required Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in biology, conservation biology, ecology, or related field and minimum 5 years’ experience developing conservation or conservation education programs, ideally with a partner organization, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• Supervisory or team leadership experience
• A valid, current, unrestricted driver's license
• Complete pre-hire background check and pre-employment drug screen (we do not test for THC)
• Comply with quarterly random drug testing if selected
• Proof of negative TB test within the immediate past 12 months, OR, complete a pre-hire TB test (company paid) to be renewed annually
• Completes all training as required
• Participates in emergency drills
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to maintain positive, constructive relationships, at all levels, with a diverse population of staff, guests, vendors, and the public
• Assertive, energetic, and enjoy working in a fast-paced, public/guest attraction-focused environment
• Ability to take direction, constructive feedback, and act or change direction as needed
• Regular physical attendance at work
• Reliable and able to work to a schedule
• Must be able to work a flexible work schedule including evenings and weekends

 Physical Requirements

•  Must be able to lift to 30 pounds occasionally
• Bend, stoop, kneel, and reach frequently
• Stand and walk for long periods of time
• Repetitious motions with hands
• Must be able to work outside in either cold or hot weather conditions the majority of the time

 Preferred Qualifications, Skills and Abilities

•  Additional years of experience working in an AZA-accredited zoo facility or other park or public attraction environment strongly preferred
• Experience with program evaluation, grant writing, community partnerships , and ambassador animal programming
• Bilingual (Spanish or ASL)

 Please note that this list is not exhaustive. It is intended to give a reasonable idea of what might be required.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Reid Park Zoological Society to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, don't hesitate to contact the Human Resources Dept.