Early Childhood Center Director

ABOUT THE TEAM
The Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden connects people with our world’s vanishing wildlife and wild places to inspire conservation action. We’re  seeking candidates who are passionate about the planet and all that inhabit it. Join our team of hardworking experts and get ready for a career that you’re wild about! To learn more about the Oklahoma City Zoo and our conservation efforts, please visit www.okczoo.org.

**FIRST CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BY JULY 24TH**

The Early Childhood Center Director serves as the on-site director of a child care center licensed by the state of Oklahoma. This position provides curriculum development, program evaluation and oversight of programs offered to the early childhood audience of the Oklahoma Zoo.                                                            

This position is responsible for working with the Director of Education, preschool staff, and Education Department, to provide leadership and quality management for curriculum, programming, business operations, and customer service in OKC Zoo’s Nature Explorers Preschool.  Engages students in early childhood education through environmental and conservation education lessons that support the Zoo’s mission, vision and values.  This position helps facilitate fun and safe learning experiences to help preschoolers gain an appreciation for wildlife and the natural world. Including but not limited to Zoo tours, animal encounters, arts and crafts, games and activities for mixed age groups ranging from 3-5 years old.  

Employment Status: Full-time

FLSA Status: Exempt 

Pay: $56,442.17-$64,908.50 Annually

Experience Required: 1+ years’ experience as director of state licensed child-care facility. 4 years’ experience in nature-based education, prefer background in nature-based preschool or similar experience including two (2) years in a supervisory role.

Minimum Education Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education or related field. 

Department: Conservation, Education and Science 

Direct Supervisor: Director of Education 

Supervisory Responsibility: Direct (7); Indirect (0) 

Primary Work Location: Zoo Setting both indoors and outdoors.

Certification: Ability to hold a valid Child Care Center Director’s Certificate bronze or higher level from the State of Oklahoma or has the qualifications to obtain certificate within 90 days of hire. Ability to complete CPR/1st Aid certification within 30 days of hire. 

Other: This position is safety sensitive. It is subject to pre-employment and/or periodic background checks, restricted registry checks, and drug testing. This position works around animals susceptible to specific respiratory diseases, thus is subject to annual tuberculosis testing and must vaccinate against Covid19.