Educational
Coordinator
Ventura Wildlife’s
Animal Encounters and Ventura Wildlife’s Zoological Gardens
Closing Date: Until
sufficient applicants have been received
Contract: Full time
Overview:
The person is
responsible for delivering a creative guest engagement program: that is
creating a positive, fun, memorable experience for our guests, and in doing so
achieving our mission to raise awareness and inform visitors and other
audiences about the natural world and associated conservation issues. The
Educational Presenter will achieve this through the development and delivery of
practical learning programmes. Ventura Wildlife’s Animal Encounters give
audiences of all ages the chance to meet up close, handle and learn about a
selection of our invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The
role will include animal husbandry for the animal encounter species that you
will be working with. Experience with the following species is advantageous:
meerkat, armadillo, skunk, coati, raccoon dog, various bird, reptile, and
amphibian species. The role will also include school visits, home visits,
events, which include birthdays and corporate functions, and more. There could
also be additional project work which will involve working with various
different sections of Ventura Wildlife’s Zoological Gardens.
The successful
candidate will need to be engaging, confident talking to large groups, have
experience performing projecting their voice, be approachable, keen to learn
animal information and have an interest in animals.
Main Duties:
• Having
excellent presentation skills and having the ability to adapt to all audiences
to achieve the enjoyable and educational experiences which are regularly
evaluated
• Being
able to vary presentation techniques between different audiences, e.g. large
scale talks to big audiences as well as smaller story and enrichment making
workshops
• Researching
the content material for talks and demonstrations to ensure all relevant
information being given to visitors is correct
• Being
considerate and as inclusive as possible to meet varying visitor expectations
• Ability
to carry out animal husbandry to a high standard, and with efficiency
• To
provide educational talks to schools, home visits, events, which include
birthdays and corporate functions, and more
Knowledge and
Experience:
Desirable:
• Educated
to degree level or equivalent (zoology, or teaching)
• Experience
in a zoological setting or interactive animal experiences
Essential to have
one or more of the following:
• Be
able to demonstrate experience of delivering formal and informal events
• Excellent
written and oral communication skills
• Good
organisation/planning skills with the ability to work within strict deadlines
• Excellent
customer service skills
• Experience
working with children and communicating with the public
• Working
in an animal related field
• Experience
and knowledge of working with children and adults with a range of learning
difficulties and/or physical and mental disabilities
• Required
to liaise with colleagues of all departments and levels of Ventura Wildlife’s
Animal Encounters and Ventura Wildlife’s Zoological Gardens
• High
level of communication and interpersonal skills required on a daily basis to
empathise and engage with visitors when imparting information, or dealing with
highly sensitive situations such as an animal incident or lost child. It is
essential that the post holder deals with visitor enquiries in a professional
manner whilst dealing with sensitive and sometimes confidential zoo
information.
Responsibility:
• Required
to regularly check presenter equipment such as sound equipment and props and
report any faulty equipment to management
• Being
first point of call at some points, ensuring full functionality of interactive
activities
• Decorating
event spaces in which to deliver presentations
• Evaluate
live interpretation events to measure and guarantee visitor satisfaction
• Be
able to deliver animal husbandry to a high standard for Ventura Wildlife’s
Animal Encounters animals and support for Ventura Wildlife’s Zoological Gardens
when needed
• Handling
a range of animals during talks or other live events
• Operating
the opening and closing of animal enclosures during animal experiences at the
Zoological Gardens and be responsible for the welfare of visitors and animals
in
those exhibits
• Confidentiality
is required when relaying information and answering visitor questions such as
relating to animal health and welfare
• Occasionally
being responsible and handling money raised during fundraising events
Flexibility:
• High
levels of flexibility required in order to respond to daily problems across a
wide range of areas (staff absence, change or cancellation of events, equipment
failure, visitor queries and other situations)
• Within
live interpretation planning sessions explaining your own ideas as well as
being open to suggestions
• The
job is varied and requires a practical and creative mind-set
• Ability
to learn new skills and information within strict time limits such as
performance skills, animal interaction and working with different departments
• The
ability to multi-task is paramount
• Tasks
vary throughout the year and can be interrupted at any time by unplanned
requirement
Working Conditions:
• This
post involves spending a large amount of time outdoors in all weather
conditions as events continue to be held in all conditions
• Occasional
early and late working will be required to accommodate deadlines or special
events
• Weekend
working is a regular feature of this job
• Working
bank holidays and other holiday time is a regular feature of the job
• We
operate a non-smoking working environment
• A
full UK or EU driving license is essential
How to apply:
Please send your CV
and a cover letter to Sam Bullock at keepingteam@venturawildlife.co.uk
detailing what role you have applied for and your suitability for the
position.
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant        |
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