Summary:
Oversees environmental and science education programs: BioSITE, a high profile environmental science program; Family Science Nights, held at regional schools; Museum on the Go library programs; and Bill’s Backyard, an outdoor learning space. Serves as the Museum’s primary representative within the broader environmental and science education community. Collaborates with other organizations and schools providing outreach, support and training to teachers and other adult learners. Leads coordination of onsite science enrichment and school programming.
Responsibilities:
Responsible for achieving goals and results. Highly visible position with both external and internal communities. Influences strategy and has ability to make autonomous decisions within framework of established goals and objectives. Realizes major impact on financial resources. Expectations and experience required described below.
- Hires, manages and supervises BioSITE Educators, Outreach Educator, and Garden Ecology Program Developer.
- Steward STEM content across Museum exhibits, educational programs, and outreach;
- Program development and implementation for the BioSITE program at partner school sites, including supervision of lead facilitators working at school sites, serving as liaison with elementary school and high school staff, training of high school facilitators, and management of field research studies and logistics;
- High level grant funding is dependent upon meeting grant goals and reporting requirements for this cornerstone education program. Develops and maintains community partnerships with potential to generate funds; Performs necessary reporting for grants relating to BioSITE, environmental and science programs;
- Manages all budgets relating to staffing, supplies and transportation for environmental and science programs;
- Ongoing evaluation and development of BioSITE and museum-based science curriculum to address goals of inquiry-based learning, authentic research, underserved target audiences, and current science standards aligned with partner schools;
- Serves as a teacher resource by establishing relationships, developing and providing training and materials, and maintaining ongoing communication with partner teachers;
- Ongoing communication with funders through evaluation and reporting;
- Provides program direction for Bill’s Backyard, the Museum’s outdoor space, support for grant-funding opportunities, materials budget oversight, and content consultation;
- As part of the CDM Management team, regular participation in Floor Manager responsibilities; and
- Departmental duties as required.
Education/Experience:
Any combination of education or experience providing the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. Minimum employment standards are:
- Undergraduate degree in science and/or education, environmental science preferred;
- Prior experience working with children in educational settings;
- Experience with teaching inquiry-based, hands-on science activities;
- Team player with ability to work in both schools and community-based organizations;
- Experience in mentoring, training and supervision of adult learners;
- Good communication skills for working with very different audiences, including administrators, teachers, and students from elementary to college age;
- Good written skills, including documentation, report writing and public relations; and
- Organizational skills for materials, data, scheduling and budget management.