What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manager of Professional Development position at Wildlife Conservation Society?
Job Description
Position: Manager of Professional Development (Urban Advantage)
Reports to: Director of Professional Development
Position Managed: Coordinator of Professional Development (x4)
Location: Hybrid (1-2 remote days/week)
Department: Education
Scope: Multi-Site: Based out of Bronx Zoo, but works at all five WCS parks
Position Type: Full Time
About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world’s premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. We run field programs spanning 60 countries and the entire ocean. We build on a unique foundation: Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world-class zoos, aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence. Our more than 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission.
Job Summary
The WCS Education team is looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual to serve in an exciting and unique role as the Manager of Professional Development, focusing on managing the Urban Advantage program for WCS at the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium. Urban Advantage (UA) is a standards-based partnership program designed to improve students' understanding of scientific inquiry through collaborations between urban public school systems and science cultural institutions such as zoos, botanical gardens, museums, and science centers. UA involves institutions outside the formal education system that support the science-specific goals of the public school system. UA was launched in 2004 in New York City by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in collaboration with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the New York Botanical Garden, the New York Hall of Science, the Queens Botanical Garden, the Staten Island Zoo, the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium, and the New York City Department of Education, with leadership funding from the New York City Council.
The Manager of Professional Development plays a pivotal role in overseeing the WCS's involvement in the UA program at both the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium. This role extends to setting strategic goals and formulating effective strategies to ensure the program's overall success. Additionally, the Manager is tasked with supervising all instructional staff dedicated to the UA program at WCS. Overseeing all program aspects, the Manager plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and strategic implementation of the UA program at the Zoo and Aquarium. Their responsibilities include setting strategic goals, supervising instructional staff at both locations, developing and teaching courses, and managing the UA program budget, including monthly invoicing. They collaborate closely with AMNH staff and other UA partner institutions. Additionally, they develop the WCS UA Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, & Inclusion plan for comprehensive DEA&I practices in UA programming. Beyond UA, the manager supports teacher education citywide through workshop development, facilitation, and assessment, collaborating with peers and the Director of Professional Development for strategic visioning in WCS teacher and higher education programming. This position includes regular travel to multiple sites including but not limited to the five WCS facilities and UA partner institutions.
Major Responsibilities
Qualification Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:
WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and engaging a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information or any other covered status or characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a person’s membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS sponsored recreational activities and facilities. Note that the salary offer will reflect the selected candidate’s individual experiences, skills and qualifications, internal equity, work location and country of work.
Salary Range
$70,000.00 - $75,000.00
Position: Manager of Professional Development (Urban Advantage)
Reports to: Director of Professional Development
Position Managed: Coordinator of Professional Development (x4)
Location: Hybrid (1-2 remote days/week)
Department: Education
Scope: Multi-Site: Based out of Bronx Zoo, but works at all five WCS parks
Position Type: Full Time
About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world’s premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. We run field programs spanning 60 countries and the entire ocean. We build on a unique foundation: Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world-class zoos, aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence. Our more than 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission.
Job Summary
The WCS Education team is looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual to serve in an exciting and unique role as the Manager of Professional Development, focusing on managing the Urban Advantage program for WCS at the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium. Urban Advantage (UA) is a standards-based partnership program designed to improve students' understanding of scientific inquiry through collaborations between urban public school systems and science cultural institutions such as zoos, botanical gardens, museums, and science centers. UA involves institutions outside the formal education system that support the science-specific goals of the public school system. UA was launched in 2004 in New York City by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in collaboration with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the New York Botanical Garden, the New York Hall of Science, the Queens Botanical Garden, the Staten Island Zoo, the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium, and the New York City Department of Education, with leadership funding from the New York City Council.
The Manager of Professional Development plays a pivotal role in overseeing the WCS's involvement in the UA program at both the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium. This role extends to setting strategic goals and formulating effective strategies to ensure the program's overall success. Additionally, the Manager is tasked with supervising all instructional staff dedicated to the UA program at WCS. Overseeing all program aspects, the Manager plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and strategic implementation of the UA program at the Zoo and Aquarium. Their responsibilities include setting strategic goals, supervising instructional staff at both locations, developing and teaching courses, and managing the UA program budget, including monthly invoicing. They collaborate closely with AMNH staff and other UA partner institutions. Additionally, they develop the WCS UA Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, & Inclusion plan for comprehensive DEA&I practices in UA programming. Beyond UA, the manager supports teacher education citywide through workshop development, facilitation, and assessment, collaborating with peers and the Director of Professional Development for strategic visioning in WCS teacher and higher education programming. This position includes regular travel to multiple sites including but not limited to the five WCS facilities and UA partner institutions.
Major Responsibilities
- Project management on all aspects of the WCS UA program, including supervising UA assigned instructional staff and Lead Teachers at Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium.
- Creating and managing strategic goals around teacher enrollment, program reach, and course content.
- Managing the monthly invoicing process for UA services.
- Facilitating UA programming at the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium.
- Representing WCS at all UA partner events.
- Developing and managing the WCS UA diversity, equity, accessibility, & inclusion plan and ensuring that all direct reports are maintaining best practices in DE&I in all aspects of UA programming.
- Facilitating teacher education workshops, focused on conservation issues, at all five WCS facilities across NYC.
Qualification Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:
- Master's Degree in Conservation, Education, Biology, or a related field
- Experience in teaching in a formal education setting (K.-12 or higher education) with a strong understanding of inquiry-based learning theory and practice
- Comfort with leading by example on best practices in diversity, equity, & inclusion
- Familiarity with national and state education standards
- Passion for wildlife conservation
- Experience with or interest in budget management
- Experience with improving education and supporting adult learners in a professional development setting
- Experience with data-driven project management as an independent problem solver
- Interested in mentoring and supporting direct reports around career development
WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and engaging a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information or any other covered status or characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a person’s membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS sponsored recreational activities and facilities. Note that the salary offer will reflect the selected candidate’s individual experiences, skills and qualifications, internal equity, work location and country of work.
Salary Range
$70,000.00 - $75,000.00
Salary : $70,000 - $75,000