Volunteer & Interpretive Programs Supervisor

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The education department of the Oregon Zoo is looking for a volunteer & interpretive programs supervisor to oversee the vision, management, and evaluation of the zoo’s established interpretive messaging, coaching, and volunteer program strategy.

As a key member of the education leadership team, this role will supervise staff, support the success of our volunteer community, and collaborate closely with the education manager and fellow supervisors to foster a strong, mission-driven team culture focused on impact. Perfect for a passionate, people-focused individual, this role supports the zoo’s strategic plan by ensuring that every guest interaction, whether a conversation at an animal habitat, a special program, or a volunteer‑led experience, advances the zoo's mission of conservation, education, and community connection.

• Build on the established interpretive framework and conduct an analysis of existing programming to create a long-term vision for person-to-person interpretation at the zoo
• Bring creativity, strategic thinking, and a commitment to continuous improvement as you refine programs, strengthen training, and measure impact
• Provide interpretive coaching and resources to staff and volunteers, with a focus on training program coordinators to provide effective coaching to program participants
• Lead evaluation efforts to measure impact of interpretive messaging on grounds and in programs
• Create monthly schedules for the interpretive team, with input from the education supervisors
• Supervise the full-time volunteer coordinator and up to three part-time interpreters, ensuring strong performance and professional development
• Work closely with the volunteer coordinator to set overall goals and vision for the volunteer program, and evaluate progress towards benchmarks and outcomes
• Support volunteer operations through interpretive training, educational workshops, and routine daily coverage; ensure the volunteer coordinator has the resources needed to conduct recruitment, training, and onboarding for all volunteers
• Work closely with other zoo departments, including guest services, events, animal care, and the dive team to coordinate volunteer engagement opportunities in service of the zoo’s mission and vision
• Create annual reports for the interpretive and volunteer programs
• Support other Oregon Zoo teams to ensure guest engagement best practices

• Strong knowledge of informal interpretation practices and theory
• Familiarity with AZA volunteer programming and volunteer best practices
• Knowledge of basic animal and conservation information, consistent with current scientific consensus
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Skill in personnel management and scheduling
• Skill and experience in change management
• Ability to coach interpreters of all skill levels, and train others to be effective interpretive coaches
• Ability to work with zoo guests and interpreters of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures
• Ability to organize work, manage time, prioritize tasks effectively, and meet deadlines
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and evenings as needed to support volunteer focused events, trainings, and other operations
• Skill in strategic planning, including long-term goal setting, analytical thinking, and clear communication of vision

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