Director Of Zoo School

Director of Zoo School
Collaborate with a passionate Zoo Crew in San Antonio
Choosing where to grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the place you choose to work at will support and guide you. With a diversity of passionate people, San Antonio Zoo is a place where you can collaborate with others securing a future for wildlife.
The Impact You’ll Make in this Role
The Education Director of Will Smith Zoo School assumes a pivotal role in leading and overseeing the comprehensive development, implementation, management, oversight, and evaluation of our nature-based preschool and early childhood programming.
As the Director of Zoo School, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people in San Antonio. Here, you will make an impact by:

• Develop outreach and response strategies and build a core team to champion out-reach efforts.
• Provide financial, programmatic, and operational information to the Vice President of Education and recommend appropriate action.
• Ensure the program is in alignment with San Antonio Zoo’s strategic direction and in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Engages in effective conflict-resolution strategies with families and family advocates, early childhood educators, specialists and service providers, community leaders, regulatory agencies, and policymakers
• Develop, interpret, and contribute to early childhood research, practice, and resources regularly.
• Ensure proper student assessment methods that align with the mission of Will Smith Zoo School and promote sustainability education.
• Ensure high-quality early childhood educational programming and act as a resource on pedagogical theory.
• Apply principles and theories related to systems, organizational behavior, and change in problem solving and decision making.
• Identify resources and research that support developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate practice, which benefits all young children.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other departments to support early childhood program initiatives.
• Foster the growth and expansion of the program, enhancing its capacity to provide transformative experiences for students.
• Access and understand education trends, education research, and push program towards excellence and joy in the pursuit of strong early childhood education.
• Identify and address barriers to envisioning and developing an educational approach that differs from the traditional early childhood education. Create new ways of envisioning the profession and its role, and work to bring colleagues to the visioning process.
• Be fully committed to the mission of San Antonio Zoo to create awareness that inspires action to care for the wild world we steward and animals we protect.
• Oversee and ensure consistent implementation of a nature-based curriculum.
• Involves others in setting annual goals for program improvement, provides resources and support for meeting objectives, and assesses progress toward achieving program goals.
• Develop new initiatives to support the strategic direction of the program.
• Continually experiment with new programs, and review and enhance existing programs.
• Uphold all company policies as outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures, Team Member Handbook, and Code of Business Conduct.
• Interview, train, motivate, and supervise early childhood instructors, empowering them to actively engage children's sense of wonder and exploration in relation to sustainability and the natural world.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships and partnerships with other local and national organizations to increase opportunities for young children and families to connect with nature.
• Ensure programs follow best practices for nature-based preschools, including guidelines set by NAAEE, NAEYC, and the Natural Start Alliance.

Staff Management and Development:

• Foster a culture of diversity, inclusion, and respect.
• Carefully consider how departmental/personal goals fit into broader Zoo priorities and provide positive leadership and support for volunteers and other members of the Education Department and Zoo.
• Assure compliance with all relevant governmental and institutional regulations.
• Actively develop and maintain positive relationships with parents. Promote the importance of nature experiences with families and foster a sense of community that extends the nature-based knowledge beyond the preschool years.
• Create an environment where adults can be engaged in learning and development by actively supporting others’ professional development.

Fiscal Responsibilities:

• Implement good business management strategies, including budgeting, reporting, tracking, and strategic planning.
• Maintain all financial records and approve expenses.
• Manage the annual budget to ensure operational costs are consistent with the financial philosophy of the school.
• Prepare an annual budget to be approved by the Board of Directors

Other Responsibilities:

• Performs other work-related duties as required and assigned.

Your Skills and Expertise
To set you up for success in this role from day one, the San Antonio Zoo recommends the following skills/qualifications:

• Three (3) or more years of experience as director of the state-licensed child-care facility is required.
• Demonstrated highly effective organizational, time management, and multitasking skills.
• Strong pedagogical foundations and understanding of current research in emergent and nature-based education, social emotional learning, and inclusive education practices.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in strategic planning, public speaking, facilitating meetings, managing projects, and developing policies and procedures.
• Experience building relationships and creating shared purpose among groups with diverse needs and perspectives, including staff, volunteers, partners, families, students, and community members.
• Skilled at managing multiple tasks and communicating well with various departments and leadership.
• Experience in financial management, including budget development, financial reporting, and oversight.
• Strong commitment to building positive relationships with families and immersing young children in nature.
• Three (3) years of experience in nature-based education, prefer a background in nature-based preschool or similar experience is required.
• Successful candidates must complete a pre-employment drug screening and background check.
• A proven track record in hiring, developing and retaining staff.
• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field is required.
• Must be able to work in varying climate and weather conditions (rain, snow, hot, or cold).
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in education and creating positive community work culture.
• Believes in, values, and is committed to leadership development that empowers, encourages, cultivates, and supports others to become agents of change.
• Experience in financial management, including budget development, financial reporting, and oversight.
• Hold a valid Child Care Center Director's Certificate from the State of Texas or has the qualifications to obtain a certificate within 30 days of hire.
• We enjoy year-round operation for all staff, must be available day, and occasional special after-hour assignments.
• Strong background in state licensing regulations, staffing, enrollment and budget management

The San Antonio Zoo is an equal opportunity employer. San Antonio Zoo will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.