NatureStart Programs - Coordinator, Play Programs

Job Description

Chicago Zoological Society | Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Rd, Brookfield, Illinois, United States of America

Posted Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 5:00 AM

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. No day is exactly the same, so make sure you have comfortable shoes, creative thinking, and your sense of wonder at the ready!

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• 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 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 programs, BZC special events, and other programs as requested by HFPZ supervisory team members.
• Serve as the floor assistant for the HFPZ exhibit in a support role to the supervisor on assigned days, 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.

• 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; 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.

• 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.
• 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.

This position requires rotating shifts including weekends, holidays, and evenings. Must be able to accommodate a flexible schedule and to work in outdoor and indoor settings in a variety of weather conditions. Attendance at events, trainings, conferences, and off‑site locations may be required.…