Position Summary:

The Zoo Crew Explorer Coordinator is responsible for implementing, developing and evaluating this adolescent development program that engages high school-aged youth through professional placements throughout the Zoo while providing a myriad of resources and opportunities for their overall development.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• Recruit new members for the Zoo Crew Explorers program
• Provide training for ZCE participants through workshops
• Engage community stakeholders while creating effective partnerships relevant to program offerings
• Work with Zoo department supervisors to identify work sites and schedule hours for participants
• Supervise all Zoo Crew Explorers and evaluate performance on a consistent basis
• Help to secure funding to expand ZCE Program, including funding for Coordinator position
• Connect with participant parents through events, phone calls, letters, and activities
• Engage community through events, presentations, focus groups, and other community activities
• Implement ZCE evaluation plan to include parents, teachers, participants, stakeholders, and Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo staff and volunteers
• Represent Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo at community functions, meetings and events
• Plan and implement any and all offsite field experiences
• Identify and engage opportunities and resources that participants can utilize
• Track and monitor all participant’s school and program progress
• Prepare all reports to current and past funders
• Assist as staff in the Youth Center
• Other youth programming and organizational needs as necessary

Must have an understanding of youth development. Must be able to engage youth on a participant and supervisory level, as well as, understand fundamentals of workshops, trainings, and teambuilding. Must have, excellent oral and written communication, good organizational skills.

Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Science or related field preferred. A comparable amount of training and experience may be substituted for the minimum educational requirements. Previous experience should include at least two years’ working with adolescents. Grant management, out-of-school time care and Advanced Youth Development Certificate a plus.

You must be able to lift 50 pounds, play actively with children on their level, bend over, stand for extensive periods of time, move quickly when necessary, and work and move outside in the typical Florida climate, at times temperatures exceeding 90 degrees. Must possess a valid Florida driver’s license.