Museum Education and Outreach Director

University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA Full-time Education

Posted on April 18, 2024

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Museum Education and Outreach Director

Job ID: 7736
Location: Museum of Natural History
Full/Part Time: Part-Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

Staff Posting Details

Appointment:
regular, part-time, (0.5 FTE). The anticipated start date for this position is August 1, 2024.

Position Summary:
The Education & Outreach Director manages the museum's volunteer and outreach programs. In this position they support the University's commitment to experiential learning, community-based outreach, interdisciplinary collaborations, environmental justice and sustainability by designing, organizing and facilitating programs for the campus and local community. The coordinator reports to the Natural History Museum Director and works closely with colleagues in the Museum, Biology, Geology, EPDM, community partners and other programs that regularly use the museum.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:
The Education & Outreach Director (EOD) collaborates with the Director, other campus colleagues, community members and students to organize and lead the education and outreach efforts of the museum, including the student docent program, teaching of museum practices, open houses, tours, Nature in the Classroom logistics, exhibit design and construction, and community events. The EOD is the primary organizer and leader of the museum docent program (30 -50+ students/year), the primary instructor for the museum class (BIO 205) and primary contact for our community partners who include K-12 teachers, schools, museums, zoos, aquaria and nature centers. Specific duties include: leading weekly docent meetings and the BIOL205 class, facilitating student volunteer project and mentoring student docents in museum work, publicizing and facilitating the use of the Nature in the Classroom kits to teachers and schools, training teachers in the use of the curricula, coordinating and conducting behind the scenes tours of the museum, producing educational programming, and working with community partners. In addition, the EOD is responsible for museum marketing, managing the museum's social media accounts, assisting with the development of museum exhibits and additional curricula, and working on other museum projects as needed. They keep track of purchases and mileage to and from sites, submit receipts and paperwork on time, organize, purchase and maintain education & outreach supplies and assess and repair damage to Nature in the Classroom kits. The position requires education and outreach experience, knowledge and experience with natural history collections, natural history knowledge, writing skills, and a passion to learn more! Experience in specimen prep and/or scientific research are highly encouraged. The EOD requires excellent communications skills as they work closely with museum staff, students, university colleagues and community partners.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
Student Docents, AmeriCorp members, community volunteers

Budget Responsibilities:
Tracking the Education and Outreach budget (expenses and revenues)

Qualifications:

College degree, preferably in the sciences. Master's degree or related certification a plus

Previous work with natural history collections and knowledge of museum practices

Natural History expertise

Experience teaching or working closely with K-12 students and teachers

Excellent writing and research abilities

Ability to manage spreadsheets and databases

Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community

Valid driver's license and excellent driving record

Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community

Compensation and Benefits:
The range for this position is $24.00 -$26.25 per hour. Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations.

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package for eligible staff employees, including:

Medical, dental, and vision

Life insurance and long-term disability

Employee Assistance Program

Retirement plan options and 403(b) contributions

Paid vacation, sick leave, floating holiday, campus holidays and bonus holidays

Education benefits, such as full tuition for eligible employees and their families

Access to university facilities and entertainment (fitness center, pool, library, concerts, lectures and more!)

Please note:

-Positions that work less than .75 FTE (1,560 hours per year) do not qualify for long-term disability or education benefits.
-Positions that work less than .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will accrue paid sick leave but are not eligible for additional benefits.
-Temporary positions that work at least .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will be eligible for benefits.

This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

For more information on Puget Sound's non-exempt staff benefits package, visit: Summary of 2024 Benefits for Staff Members in Non-Exempt Positions.pdf (pugetsound.edu)

For the Campus Holiday and Bonus Day Schedule, visit: https://www.pugetsound.edu/human-resources

Application Deadline:
Review of applications will begin immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified.

Required Documents:

Resume

Letter of Interest

Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of all required background checks.

We acknowledge the richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community; the intrinsic worth of all who work and study here; that education is enhanced by investigation of and reflection upon multiple perspectives.

We aspire to create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community; to increase the diversity of all parts of our University community through commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts; to foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.

We act to achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity; to ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here; to prepare effectively citizen-leaders for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: https://pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0/mission-core-values/institutional-equity-diversity

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.

To apply: https://www2.pugetsound.jobs/psc/HR92PRD/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=2&JobOpeningId=7736&PostingSeq=1

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