Demo

Habitat Hero - Zoo Educator

John Ball Zoo
Grand Rapids, MI Full Time
POSTED ON 5/3/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/31/2026
The Habitat Hero Zoo Educator supports the development and facilitation of Habitat Hero education programs at the Zoo. The Habitat Hero Zoo Educator may also support other school and youth programming including, but not limited to, STEM programs and Zoo Camp. The role includes curriculum development including programming at the school and on Zoo grounds, creation of supplemental materials for teachers, and program evaluation. The Zoo Educator will also coordinate some scheduling with individual schools/teachers as well as assist with directing the daily work of seasonal staff and volunteers.

This is a grant funded position, and the position’s pay range is between $17.20 - $20.24 per hour

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A HABITAT HERO ZOO EDUCATOR AT JBZ

The Habitat Hero will coordinate the facilitation of the Habitat Hero school program. They will lead a combination of on-site and off-site programs to over 30 urban school classrooms. The curriculum primarily focuses on conservation action around native pollinator species like butterflies and songbirds but also emphasizes local habitat design and implementation. The Habitat Hero will work closely with classroom teachers and the Zoo education team to refine curriculum and evaluate the impact of the program. In addition to this work, they may also help facilitate other zoo STEM programming throughout the school year and serve as a lead zoo camp teacher throughout the summer.

Who We Are:

At John Ball Zoo, our mission is to inspire our community to be actively engaged in the conservation of wildlife and our natural environment. John Ball Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1983 which assures excellent animal care and a dedication to conservation. As one of the top attractions in Grand Rapids, we welcome over 700,000 guests each year who are able to experience over 2,000 animals of over 230 species that represent the beautiful wildlife living in our world! We are passionate about our mission focused on education and conservation but know that our 400 employees guided by our core values accomplish this mission. Our core values are:

  • Conservation
  • Education
  • Community
  • Celebrate
  • Compassion


Benefits At Jbz

  • We offer incredibly competitive benefits. This includes FREE:
  • Medical plan option
  • Dental & Vision for employees & family
  • Short-term disability
  • Long-term disability
  • Life Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • 12 Full weeks of parental leave


Additional Benefits

We offer 9 days of personal time, generous vacation time and 11 paid Holidays each year. We offer a 4% match and 3% employer contribution to your 401k, zoo discounts, employee-only zoo experiences, tuition reimbursement, additional medical benefits to meet your and your family's needs, and a FREE Premium Zoo membership for you and your family.

Qualifications For a Habitat Hero Zoo Educator At Jbz

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Zoology, Biology, Botany, Ecology, Environmental Science, Science Education or closely related field.
  • Experience in interpretation, classroom teaching, educational outreach experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
  • Teaching certification preferred
  • Affinity for the mission and values of John Ball Zoo
  • Ability to interact positively and objectively with co-workers, education program participants, volunteers, and members of the general public from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and with widely divergent levels of educational attainment and social skills.
  • General understanding of Michigan State Education Standards, including but not limited to science, and English language arts
  • High level of computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, and Excel
  • Required to work evenings and weekends regularly as required per the operating calendar and program schedules


John Ball Zoo is a drug-free workplace under federal regulations. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Salary : $17 - $20

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