Conservation Awareness Coordinator

Conservation Awareness Coordinator

Salary

$23.45 - $28.60 Hourly

Location

Garden City, KS

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

00657

Department

Lee Richardson Zoo

Division

Zoo Administration

Opening Date

07/09/2026

Closing Date

7/24/2026 4:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits

Description

The city of Garden City Zoo is hiring for a Conservation Awareness Coordinator. This positon plans, schedules, coordinates, and presents educational programs. Assists Conservation Awareness Manager with development and coordination of programming, teacher in-services, special events, maintaining best practices with animal ambassadors, and volunteer training and supervision. Recruits, coordinates training, and supervises gate attendants.

Examples of Duties

• Coordinates volunteer program under Conservation Awareness Manager's guidance. Maintains volunteer hour records for grant funding and recognition purposes and coordinates volunteer scheduling for programs. Guides/implements volunteer training and evaluations.
• Recruits, coordinates training and supervises gate attendants. Responsible for learning and utilizing best practices of the City of Garden City regarding personnel management by participating in leadership development activities.
• Develops, schedules, confirms, promotes, and presents educational programs, both on & off site using live animals & biofacts.
• Develop, analyze, update, or expand education programs to meet the needs of area educators and school curriculum objectives.
• Develop and implement zoo day camp and other youth programs as well as special events (conservation awareness days, Earth Day, Birthday Party packages, teacher in-services and workshops, etc.).
• Responsible for data entry, invoicing and tracking payments related to programs.
• Responsible for library and biofacts loan materials, and their usage by staff and public.
• Schedules and coordinates reservations for educational use of Finnup Center (classrooms, lecture hall, ITV studio) with Department Administrative Assistant.
• Assists Communication Specialist with research and development of educational graphics, maintenance, and upkeep of Finnup Center graphics and interactive exhibits.
• Assist with or coordinate setup for educational programming and special events, including folding tables, chairs, tents, displays, etc.
• Participates in staff training sessions for emergency preparedness, first responders, and basic firearms safety.
• Assists with handling and operant conditioning/training of animal ambassadors and maintaining best practices for those animals.

Typical Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Skill in teaching, public relations and communication principles and practices. Knowledge of wildlife biology, zoo management, and educational methods. Ability to coordinate a variety of work activities with excellent attention to details. Ability to communicate with City staff and officials, community organizations, and the general public using a variety of communication mediums. Ability to use computers and computer technology, various software, scanning equipment; DL equipment, (including cameras, speakers, microphones, televisions, monitors, studio lights, etc.); ability to understand and communicate clearly, in English, written and verbal instructions, and to communicate well through written and verbal means with individuals of all ages and abilities.

Education, Certification and Experience:

Graduation from a college or university with a four-year degree in wildlife biology, education, or related field or two-year college degree with work experience in a related field. Minimum of one-year experience in zoo or environmental educational activities. Experience with program animals preferred. Valid Kansas driver's license required.

Supplemental Information

Environment:

Majority of work is performed indoors (75%) and the rest outdoors. Indoor work is performed in a controlled environment. Outdoor work is performed in all types of weather, i.e., extreme, moderate, and temperate heat and cold temperatures, snow, fog, ice, rain, sleet, high and gusting winds, humid and dry conditions.

Surfaces: Carpet, tile, brick, and concrete floors inside. Grass, asphalt, cement, brick, wood, dirt, woodchips, mulch, and sand outdoors. Subjected to allergens, fur, dust, plants, paints, etc.

Equipment/Tools Used:

Equipment: Computers, laptop computers, video conferencing equipment, digital projectors, printers, slide projector, VCR, DVD, 2-way radio, copy machine, scanner, fax, calculator, multi-line telephone, digital camera, digital video camera, golf cart, utility vehicle, automobile, weather lab equipment, microscopes, video disc player, digital message repeaters, vacuum cleaner, ladder, step stool, hot glue gun, labeling machine, and laminator.

Tools: (Power) drill, screwdriver, small air compressor.

(Manual) Screwdriver, hammers, paper punch, pens, pencils, scissors, paint brush, wrenches, tape measure, broom, mop and mop bucket, paper cutter, mat cutter, utility knife and exacto blades.

Physical Characteristics:

Ability to lift up to 60 lbs.; walk, sit, stand, kneel, crawl, bend, climb ladder, push, reach, hear, see, write, drive and type and speak aloud to public audiences.

The City of Garden City offers a wide range of competitive benefits. Some of the benefits include:

• Health/Dental Insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas

• Group Life Insurance

• Eligibility to sign-up for supplemental insurances such as:

• Voluntary Life Insurance

• Short-Term Disability

• Accident

• Hospital Indemnity

• Critical Illness

• Identity Protection

• Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) or Kansas Police & Fire (KP&F) Retirement

• Paid Leave:

• Vacation

• Sick

• Personal

• Wellness

• P/T Education Conference, Bereavement, FMLA, Military, Jury Duty, Voting

• Employee Recognition Plan

• Years of Service Bonuses

• Performance Evaluations

• Wellness Program

• Grow Well Clinic Access available

• Employee Assistance Program

Employer City of Garden City (KS)

Address 301 N. 8th Street

Garden City, Kansas, 67846

Phone 620-276-1175

Website https://www.garden-city.org/