The Conservation Education & Science Department at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is looking for a dynamic, imaginative, and collaborative Educator to join their talented team! The essence of our work is to build an organization that enables us to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world. Please apply if you are passionate about educating others and want to coach and lead future generations of environmentalists.
 

Who are we?
Founded in 1952, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to the conservation and research of the Sonoran Desert region with the goal of making the Sonoran Desert accessible, understandable, and valued. It is a fusion experience zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, art gallery, natural history museum, and research institute. We are widely recognized throughout the world as a model institution for innovative presentation and interpretation of native plants and animals featured together in ecological exhibits. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has recognized the Desert Museum for over 25 years of continuous accreditation.

The essence of our work is to build an organization that enables us to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world. To accomplish this goal we need a diverse group of talented people working together with a solidarity of purpose, recognizing that the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts. We invite you to join our pack!

Job Title: Educator
Full-time: 40 hours/week
Department: Conservation Education and Science
Reports To: Education Program Manager
Wage: $13.60 per hour plus a comprehensive benefit package, which includes medical, dental, vision, life and LTD insurance, FSA, HRA, 403(b) retirement plan, paid holidays, personal business days, sick leave, and vacation. Position is covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Summary of the Role
The Educator role at the Desert Museum assists with educational and conservation programming for school groups, families, children, camps, and the general public. Programs are a mix of in-person (indoors & outdoors), virtual, and hybrid.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• The primary responsibility of this position is to engage and educate guests about the Sonoran Desert via a variety of programming (classes, informal activities, birthday parties, etc.) Learn more
• Assist with programs and orientations for school groups, teens, community groups, and camps.Must be familiar with Zoom, Teams, Google, and Microsoft Office suite, and able to learn new technology quickly.
• May handle live animals (arthropods and reptiles) and Museum artifacts for educational presentations.
• Knowledge of and comfort with communicating science topics including the natural history of Sonoran Desert species, climate change, invasive species, the age of the Earth, and dinosaurs.
• Over time, will learn and contribute to new programs.
• Maintain records of attendance and animal handling.
• Able to work most Saturdays, occasional overnights, and special events.

Supervisory Responsibilities
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Required Education and Experience

• Associate’s degree in science, education or closely related field
• 1 year of experience in early childhood or elementary education, formal or informal, paid or volunteer

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in science, education or a closely related field
• 2+ years working with children in formal groups (classrooms, clubs, teams etc.)
• Experience working with animals
• Experience working outdoors in a variety of weather
• Theater/presentation experience
• Experience creating educational resources such as slides, handouts, or activities
• Able to teach in Spanish and English

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Must have, or be able to obtain, an Arizona Driver's License with 6 years driving experience and a clean driving record
• Fingerprint Clearance Card (or ability to obtain)
• CPR and First Aid (or willing to obtain)

Language Skills
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Mathematical Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Virtual Programming, Google or PPT slide creation, spreadsheet and word processing software.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of the position, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include distance vision and peripheral vision.

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places and outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

The above description reflects a general overview of the responsibilities, reporting relationships and position requirements for this job classification. It is not intended to be a complete description of all duties and requirements that may be inherent in the position.