Director of Conservation

Director of Conservation

Collaborate with a passionate Zoo Crew in San Antonio
Choosing where to grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it's equally important you know that the place you choose to work at will support and guide you. With a diversity of passionate people, San Antonio Zoo is a place where you can collaborate with others securing a future for wildlife.

The Impact You'll Make in this Role

The Director of Conservation and Research at San Antonio Zoo will be exposed to numerous existing conservation efforts and will work to support them and their growth. Interpersonal relationship skills are a must as the successful candidate will come in to help manage a team that has already been successful for over a decade. A "team-first" attitude is a must. This is an excellent opportunity to further develop leadership skills and experience in the context of a well-developed, zoo-based conservation program that already has local, regional, and international programs. Some of our programs are nationally and internationally recognized, allowing the development of important conservation skills to the successful candidate as they work and grow with these programs.


The successful candidate will interact with state and federal wildlife officials, donors, board members, and other key stakeholders in the conservation field, regularly. The successful candidate will work closely with the Vice President of Conservation & Research to support the existing conservation team, including via husbandry of conservation-based research efforts at the zoo, to bring in additional funding for existing and new projects, to upkeep existing conservation facilities, and to develop the zoo's new "Zoo Travel" program. This job will require time away from home, sometimes in difficult field circumstances. The position will require support of the zoo's programs, including support of important zoo fundraising events and in the "zoo duty manager" (ZDM) capacity - two or more times, monthly.

As Director of Conservation, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people in San Antonio. Here, you will make an impact by:

Position Focus and Division of Time:

The successful candidate will have three primary duties in their role as Director, with approximately equal time spent between them (this can and will vary significantly between years, depending on circumstances):

• San Antonio Zoo is initiating a "Zoo Travels" program wherein we will take groups of supporters, donors, and board members on trips to explore the biology of specific regions. The program will focus on one-or two-day, local trips at first, eventually expanding to regional trips and then international trips. At least 1/3rd of the time and effort of the successful candidate will be spent developing, from scratch, local opportunities to take groups of supporters out to see things like the emergence of bats from Bracken Bat Cave, nighttime snorkeling in the San Marcos River, and trips to explore the diversity of life in Sargassum Weed that washes up along the Texas coastline. This work will involve establishing contacts for the trips, obtaining permissions and determining the cost of each local offering. Following the establishment and planning of the trips, the Director will work on an advertising campaign and plan for the trips (in collaboration with the Marketing Team at SAZOO) and will accommodate interested parties as they sign up for the trips. The Director will participate in said trips, leading them and making sure that they go off as planned. Once the local trips are established and running, the Director will begin planning regional trips following the same methodology. Finally, the Director will plan and orchestrate international trips. This function of the Director's position will require travel time and time spent out in the field. Travel is expected with this position and is part of the inherent character of this job.
• Approximately 1/3rd of this position will be directed toward the support of the Conservation and Research Team in their undertaking of the Texas Horned Lizard conservation effort AND other existing conservation efforts. This role will be supportive to a team that has already worked on existing projects for a decade. Duties will include meetings with private landowners to determine the potential suitability of their lands for a future THL release, communication with state wildlife officials to keep our programs in compliance with state wildlife laws, management of the live ant food supply for the breeding animals (THLs) in our care, and other tasks that develop with regard to our programs. This function of the Director's position will also require travel time and time spent out in the field. Travel is expected with this position and is part of the inherent character of this job.
• Approximately 1/3rd of this position will be directed toward the acquisition of new funding support by way of state and federal funding opportunities, foundation offerings, and private donor engagements. Grant writing is expected in this role and examples of past, successfully funded proposals is a prerequisite in application for this position. Target funding opportunities will be a function of discussion with the Vice President of Conservation & Research. The expectation is that within two years of the start of this position, the successful candidate will have landed some level of funding to support either an existing project or a new one that has been identified and developed in collaboration with the VP of Conservation & Research. Writing skills apply here and an example of a successfully funded proposal needs to be submitted with the application for the position.

Key Expectations:

• We are looking for a motivated, charismatic leader who can work with a strong team that is long-established, without upsetting project momentum or team chemistry. We are looking for someone who can take direction from the Vice President of Conservation & Research and support him as the department grows.
• A college undergraduate degree, or a higher degree, is not a prerequisite; however, clear demonstration of having landed funding for a project is required, strong writing skills are required, and a strong educational background will be given preference when considering candidates.
• Clear communication skills with the ability to lead a team of young conservation professionals that already have years of experience under their belts.
• The ability to mesh with a team that has very good chemistry, without disrupting productivity or program direction.
• Being able to withstand difficult field conditions and to carry a 50lb backpack for at least two miles across uneven terrain and in poor weather.
• San Antonio Zoo is developing a "cold-stunned sea turtle rescue effort" and some time and travel will be dedicated to supporting this effort when and where required. This effort could land the Director on the coast of Texas in difficult, cold conditions, working on a boat and in inclement weather for as long as a week at a time.
• A self-starter with an ability to manage one's time without micromanagement by the Vice President of Conservation & Research.
• Strong writing skills with at least one demonstrated success (or participation therein) in landing funding for a project, preferably one involving a conservation effort. Report writing to state and federal agencies, as well as support reporting for Zoo produced documents, will be a job duty.
• Flexible schedule
• Knowledge of basic biology
• Preference for cave and karst knowledge
• Preference for herpetofauna knowledge and biology
• A strong ability to deliver a presentation.
• Special events at the zoo sometimes require an "all hands-on deck" approach. The Director will be expected to participate in the events, as requested, and to serve on the zoo's "zoo duty manager" program, as requested.
• The Director will be expected to support the Vice President in managing the direction of the program and in keeping the team on task.
• International travel may be required to "fill in" when circumstances arise that the VP cannot cover a particular trip in person. A valid US passport is required to apply for this position, or must be acquired within six months of a start date.
• A valid driver's license is required. An ability to safely operate a vehicle, potentially in the field under adverse conditions, is a prerequisite.
• Some level of conservation experience is a prerequisite. Pay will be determined based on level of experience, demonstrated writing skills, demonstrated ability to land external funding, and demonstrated ability to deliver strong presentations to potential donors, supporters, and board members.
• Conservation & Research also oversees animal wellbeing at San Antonio Zoo. Time and effort may be required to assist with wellbeing efforts as determined by the Vice President of Conservation & Research.
• Any other task that is determined important by the Vice President of Conservation & Research is a valid inclusion in this job description.

Further Key Expectations:

• To assist the Vice President of Conservation and Research where and when asked.
• Promote San Antonio Zoo and CCR by presenting to public and professional audiences.
• Ensure that reports, articles, and peer-reviewed papers are produced on a regular basis and that all staff have professional development opportunities.
• Serve as liaison for SAZ in interactions with USFWS and TPWD and other entities.
• Be willing to travel to multiple institutions and field sites to work on conservation-related programs, at times out of the San Antonio area, nationally, and internationally.
• Drive motor vehicles or operate mechanical equipment as required.
• Adhere to all policies set forth by San Antonio Zoo
• Consistently exhibit an attitude of service inside and outside the zoo, showing hospitality to all.
• Be fully committed to the mission of San Antonio Zoo to create awareness that inspires action to care for the wild world we steward and the animals we protect.

Other Responsibilities:

• Performs other work-related duties as required and assigned.

Your Skills and Expertise

To set you up for success in this role from day one, the San Antonio Zoo recommends the following skills/qualifications:

• Ability to work irregular hours to meet fast deadlines.
• Must be willing to travel overseas. Fluency in Spanish is preferred.
• Knowledge of current and common practices and theories in animal ecology, natural history, evolutionary biology, and conservation.
• Must have previous leadership experience and demonstrate capacity to grow both teams and individual team members.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is a must.
• Ability to engage with diverse groups of stakeholders in addition to exceptional written and oral communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work safely around delicate, wild, and dangerous animals.
• Sufficient delicacy to handle, examine and move without harming sick, injured, or struggling small animals.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions with little oversight.
• Bachelor's degree in wildlife or conservation biology, zoology, biology, or relevant field experience.
• Strong background in aquatics, herpetology, or cave biology preferred.
• Experience with writing grants and peer-reviewed papers preferred.
• Must be 18 years of age or older with a clean driving record for vehicle operation.
• Valid Texas driver's license or obtain within three months of employment.
• Successful candidates must complete a pre-employment National Sex Offender Search, Criminal Background Check, and Drug Screen.
• We enjoy year-round operation for all staff and must be available day, nights, weekends, holidays, and occasional special after-hour assignments.

Physical Demands:

• Swim and the ability to perform all the physical requirements of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Frequently work in the field under adverse conditions.

San Antonio Zoo is an equal opportunity employer. San Antonio Zoo will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.