Sales & Events Specialist

TITLE: Sales & Events Specialist

SALARY & FLSA: $26.89 - 40.34 per hour; FLSA non-exempt

The $26.89 hourly starting pay is structured to be competitive and may extend up to the $33.61 midpoint of the annual range, reflecting our commitment to offering competitive compensation to qualified candidates.

OPENING DATE: 03/17/2026

CLOSING DATE: 04/07/2026 (This position may close early or be extended based on how many qualified applications are received.)

JOB TYPE: Regular, Full-time

UNION: Not represented

OPENINGS: 1

LOCATION: Onsite only

DEPARTMENT: Events

This is an onsite only role, and this position requires a flexible schedule. The working days are variable: weekend, early morning, and late-night availability is required.

This role works five (5) days a week. The working days adjust in response to events scheduled at the zoo. Most weeks will be Wednesday – Sunday and if there are no events scheduled over the weekends, the work week will be Monday – Friday. A Monday – Friday is not guaranteed depending on the fluctuation in event bookings. For example, if there is no event booking on Sunday, then the schedule would look more like Tuesday – Saturday.

HOW DO YOU ZOO?

More than 1.3 million people visit Woodland Park Zoo each year. We connect people with wildlife and remind them of what’s at stake in our changing world. Our job is to motivate people to take action and provide them with the tools needed to join us in saving endangered species. Working for the zoo means upholding our mission, “To save wildlife and inspire everyone to make conservation a priority in their lives.” Apply today and show us how you zoo.

Who You Are

As our new Sales & Events Specialist we know you will be successful in this role because you are:

• Ready to Help Set Up: You are an expert in supporting your team. Coordinating and overseeing scheduled event‐planning needs with various zoo departments, outside vendors, and outside organizations or companies is something you are an expert at. You can develop, design, market, and implement sales plans for zoo events to external markets through direct mail, advertising, participating in trade shows, participating in professional associations, cold calling potential clients, leading client site visits for booked and prospective clients.
• An Admin Expert: You are eager to respond to all group sales phone, web, and booking inquiries within 24 hours. Mailing contracts and invoices and following up with clients within timeframes stated in the group sales policies is something you are ready and able to do. As the Sales & Events Specialist you can prepare group sales reports including financials, data entry, and forecasting revenue trends for the supervisor monthly. Coordinating and overseeing of all production aspects of sales events: creation, logistics, communication, planning and implementing, reserving venue space, distributing event details, creating client event proposals, providing physical implementation and providing zoo event “day‐of” coordination excited you. You are ready to design, update, and maintain current sales collateral materials including sales information, packets, contracts, and invoices, etc., as necessary to maintain accurate sales collateral.
• Excited to Help Partnerships Grow: You are excited to help support the zoo by generating new business and developing existing clients, corporate and private, to achieve departmental revenue goals. You are also ready to generate revenue by cultivating outside leads and new business sources and developing a sales approach. In this role you are excited to be responsible for the selling, and production coordination of, including but not limited to admission tickets, exhibit tickets, zoo animal experiences, education programming, zoo activities such as scavenger hunts, zoo bingo, etc.
• A Strong Communicator: You are able to partner with the zoo’s third-party vendors in offering their products and services to group sales clients, maximizing profit margins for the zoo. You are ready to coordinate and oversee scheduled event‐planning needs with various zoo departments, outside vendors, and outside organizations or companies. As our new Sales & Events Specialist, you can communicate with all zoo departments impacted by a Group Sales Event: Events Team, Catering, Admissions, A/V, Visitors Assistance, Education, Animal Management, Maintenance, Security, etc.
  
  

Your Primary Responsibilities

• Generate new business and develop existing clients, corporate and private, to achieve departmental revenue goals.
• Develop, design, market, and implement sales plans for zoo events to external markets through: direct mail, advertising, participating in trade shows, participating in professional associations, cold calling potential clients, client site visits, etc.
• Design, update, and maintain current sales collateral materials including: sales information, packets, contracts, and invoices, etc., as necessary to maintain accurate sales collateral.
• Communicate to all zoo departments impacted by a Group Sales Event: Events Team, Catering, Admissions, A/V, Visitors Assistance, Education, Animal Management, Maintenance, Security, etc.
• Update resources, including data in the Ungerboeck Event Management software or equivalent systems.
• Coordinate and oversee scheduled event‐planning needs with various zoo departments, outside vendors, and outside organizations or companies.
• Respond to all group sales phone, web, and booking inquires within 24 hours. Mail contracts and invoices, and follow‐up with clients within timeframes stated in the group sales policies.
• Generate revenue by cultivating outside leads, cultivating new business sources, and develop sales approach.
• Responsible for the selling, and production coordination of, including but not limited to: admission tickets, exhibit tickets, zoo animal experiences, education programming, zoo activities such as scavenger hunts, zoo bingo, etc.
• Promote and sell the zoo’s tour program, Premium Behind the Scenes Tours.
• Partner with the zoo’s third party vendors in offering their products and services to group sales clients, maximizing profit margins for the zoo.
• Reconcile accounts payables and receivables for group sales.
• Prepare group sales reports including: financials, data entry, and forecasting revenue trends for the supervisor on a monthly basis.
• Coordination and oversight of all production aspects of sales events: creation, logistics,
• communication, planning and implementing, reserving venue space, distributing event details,
• creating client event proposals, providing physical implementation and providing zoo event “day‐of” coordination.
• Assist in other zoo department sponsored events as needed.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to speak a language in addition to English.
  
  

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school; and two or more years related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A valid Washington Driver’s License.
• Demonstrated customer service skills on the phone and in person.
• Ability to achieve results and goals working both independently and as part of a team in high-pressure situations.
• Ability to understand, explain, and enforce policies to on-site staff, other zoo departments, and the general public in a clear and confident manner.
• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines with professionalism.
• Excellent organizational and problem solving skills.
• Proficiency and experience with Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, which may include evenings, weekends and/or holidays.
• Commitment to the zoo’s mission and core values.
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• This position will occasionally lift and or move up to 50 pounds.
• This position will occasionally be required to walk and stand for extended periods of time.
  
  

Benefits

The Woodland Park Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package for full time staff including:

• Medical, dental, and vision HMO and PPO plans for you and eligible dependents
• 11 paid holidays and 4 personal holidays 
• Accrue 12 vacation days and another 12 days of sick leave your first year
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• Tuition reimbursement 
• Free zoo membership that includes zoo admission and discounts after 90 days 
• 4 complimentary tickets per year plus other discounts and perks  
• Free staff parking 
• 403(b) Retirement Plan 
  
  

SELECTION PROCESS

Application: Please include a resume with your application through our Zoo Careers site at zoo.org/jobs. A cover letter is strongly recommended. Please be sure to list or upload copies of all relevant training and certifications on your application. The zoo may review existing application pools to fill this position or use this pool to fill future vacancies. 

This opportunity is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Woodland Park Zoo values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The zoo encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, 2SLGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences. Woodland Park Zoo is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in all its services. If you need accommodation in the application or interview process, please contact our recruiting team at careers@zoo.org.

Screening: We will review applications and select some candidates for screening calls. Final candidates will be invited for virtual or in-person interviews.

Offer: Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process including the completion of a background check. In addition, this role requires the applicant to successfully complete a: driving record review.