NatureStart Programs - Coordinator, Play Programs

Brookfield Zoo Chicago•Brookfield, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join the PRIDE! At Brookfield Zoo Chicago, we believe that "play" is serious business. We’re looking for a high-energy Play Programs Coordinator to join our Hamill Family Play Zoo team as we create and facilitate nature play experiences that connect children to animals and the natural world. This position contributes to the success of Brookfield Zoo Chicago (“BZC”) by providing innovative nature play programs and experiences for children and families founded on the practices and philosophies of the BZC NatureStart initiative. Under the guidance of Play Program supervisors, this position develops and facilitates play programs, settings, and experiences in the Hamill Family Play Zoo (“HFPZ”), as well as at other BZC events and programs. These programs contribute to BZC’s goals of providing extraordinary guest experiences and promoting innovations in conservation education, training, and leadership.

Requirements

High school diploma or educational equivalent (e.g., GED.) required.
Basic computer literacy required. Experience with Windows, Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel required.
Minimum two years’ experience required in any of the following areas: facilitation of play, art, drama, music, or other creative activities, working with and/or supervising adult and youth volunteers, and/or early childhood education or other educational and/or recreational experience with children.
Must be able to work with and handle live animals safely including small mammals, herps, birds, and invertebrates.
Excellent customer service skills and/or demonstrated ability to work with the public effectively required.
Solid interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.
Strong ability to communicate effectively with children of diverse background aged birth-10 and their caregivers required.
English fluency at working professional proficiency required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts, Science, Fine Arts, Drama, Early Childhood Education, Environmental Education, or related field or eight years’ equivalent combination of training and/or experience is preferred.
Minimum one-year experience in a zoo, aquarium, museum, nature center, art studio environment, or early childhood classroom preferred.
A genuine interest in nature, animals, and children preferred.
Creative skills and abilities such as those demonstrated by a musician, actor, dancer, artist, gardener, farmer, naturalist, craftsman, costume designer, seamstress, or other relevant skills that could be applied to play experiences preferred.
Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency highly desirable.
Experience with PowerPoint and other office software packages preferred.
Valid driver’s license preferred.

Responsibilities

Facilitate play with children aged birth-10, including holding live animals, in both indoor and outdoor settings, as assigned.
Responsible for the daily care of equipment, property, play program materials, and play settings, including but not limited to, daily set-up, clean-up, inventory, and proper use of all equipment and property.
Create, develop, and implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences and programs with an emphasis on nature play for children aged birth-10 and their families for Education and Community Engagement (“ECE”) programs, BZC special events, and other programs as requested by HFPZ supervisory team members.
Create, develop, and implement play programs and developmentally appropriate learning experiences for children aged birth to age 10 and their families at HFPZ.
Serve as the floor assistant for the HFPZ exhibit in a support role to the supervisor on assigned days. Duties may include adjusting the day’s schedule to reflect any crew changes, special activities that need accommodation, etc. Serve as the primary point of contact for radio calls including first aid and lost child situations. Attend to needs of crew, guests, and exhibit such as providing bathroom breaks, answering guest questions, cleaning up spills and calling custodial crew for larger cleaning needs, receiving deliveries, and closing the building at the end of the day as scheduled.
Provide guidance to adult and youth volunteers as directed.
Other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

Paid Time Off (PTO)
Eight paid holidays per year
Medical Insurance (HMO or PPO Plan)
Dental Insurance (PPO plan)
Vision Care Coverage (employee-paid)
Mental Health Support (EAP)
Retirement Savings (automatic enrollment at 6%, employer match up to 3%)
Short-Term Disability benefits
Long-Term Disability benefits
Basic Term Life insurance
Basic AD&D insurance
Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for healthcare and/or dependent care expenses
Supplemental Term Life Insurance
Group Accident Insurance
Supplemental Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
Group Critical Illness Insurance
Supplemental Dependent Life Insurance
Identity Theft Protection