Back to jobs

Volunteer Coordinator

Nashville, TN

Nashville Zoo Position Description

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Volunteer Coordinator

Position/Title: Volunteer Coordinator
Department: Education
Supervisor: Volunteer and Internship Manager 

Organization Overview 
Nashville Zoo is dedicated to inspiring a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation, and leadership. With an extensive animal collection and a strong commitment to wildlife conservation, we provide engaging experiences for visitors of all ages. Welcoming over 1.5 million guests annually, the Zoo is supported by a passionate, diverse corps of volunteers and docents who are essential to our mission of conservation, education, and community engagement. 

Position Overview 
The Volunteer Coordinator supports the recruitment, training, and engagement of volunteers from diverse backgrounds. This role ensures that volunteers are matched with meaningful opportunities aligned with their skills and the Zoo’s mission. Reporting to the Volunteer and Internship Manager, the Volunteer Coordinator fosters a welcoming, inclusive environment while enhancing volunteer impact through effective coordination, communication, and recognition. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

  • Recruit, train, and support volunteers to ensure a positive and meaningful experience. 
  • Foster an inclusive, welcoming environment for volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. 
  • Develop and implement volunteer opportunities aligned with Zoo programs and initiatives. 
  • Maintain ongoing communication with volunteers, providing guidance, feedback, and recognition. 
  • Coordinate volunteer involvement in Zoo events, special projects, and community outreach. 
  • Assist with event logistics, including application processing, role assignments, and volunteer supervision. 
  • Ensure volunteers understand and follow Zoo policies, procedures, and safety guidelines. 
  • Collaborate with Zoo staff and community partners to strengthen volunteer engagement. 
  • Coordinate the development, implementation, and evaluation of the ZooTeen program. 
  • Maintain oversight and quality of interpretive programming developed for ZooTeens. 
  • Research, develop, and lead projects involving ZooTeen participants in collaboration with local, national, and international organizations. 
  • Provide educational support as needed, which may include public speaking and program assistance. 
  • Respond to emergency situations following established Zoo protocols. 
  • Perform other duties as assigned. 

 

Minimum Requirements 

  • Must be at least 18 years of age. 
  • High school diploma or GED equivalent. 
  • Experience in volunteer coordination, program management, or community engagement. 

 

Desired Skills:

  • Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to engage diverse individuals. 
  • Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and solve problems effectively. 
  • Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills. 
  • Ability to respond to emergency situations calmly and appropriately. 
  • Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG), or willingness to obtain certification. 
  • Willingness to work flexible hours, including weekends, evenings, and holidays. 

 

Physical Requirements: 

  • Ability to lift up to 25 pounds. 
  • Ability to work in outdoor environmental conditions, including inclement weather, excessive cold and hot temperatures, and humidity. 
  • Ability to move about Zoo grounds for long periods of time. 

 

Pre-Employment Requirements 

Prior to hire, the successful candidate must: 

  • Submit to a criminal background check and drug screening. 
  • Provide proof of a negative TB test. 
  • Provide proof of a valid driver’s license. 

 

 

Pay Range

$17.37 - $17.37 USD

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Nashville Zoo? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

U.S. Standard Demographic Questions

We invite applicants to share their demographic background. If you choose to complete this survey, your responses may be used to identify areas of improvement in our hiring process.
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Nashville Zoo’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.