Science Education and Diversity Program Coordinator II spectrUM

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Campus-Only Recruitment

Only current UM Employees* are eligible.

*Open to all employee types including Temporary Staff and Student Employees.

SpectrUM Discovery

invites applications for a

Science Education and Diversity Program Coordinator II

to join their team. The person assigned to this position will work under the direction of spectrUM’s associate director to implement aspects of spectrUM’s educational programs and diversity and inclusion efforts. This position will implement aspects of spectrUM’s grant-funded project, Making Across Montana, intended to design a making and tinkering exhibition and teacher professional development workshop for rural and tribal communities in Montana. The person in this role will assist in developing and piloting curriculum and activities in spectrUM’s various programs, including at spectrUM Summer Camps, field trips, and birthday parties, as well as activities in the Maker Space, at the Discovery Bench, and in EmPower Place, spectrUM’s free learning center located at the Missoula Food Bank & Community Center. They will also help lead spectrUM’s Diversity and Inclusion efforts. They will also assist in coordinating the staffing and planning for birthday parties, field trips, and special in-museum events, and will supervise educators during these programs.

This position will support the planning for outreach events related to spectrUM’s Making Across Montana project as well as spectrUM’s “Montana Problem Solvers” project, which will be traveling a problem-solving exhibition and activities to communities in the rural Bitterroot Valley.

The Program Coordinator II position will specifically coordinate the services, activities, and offerings of the IMLS-funded “Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in Missoula’s Public Spaces” grant, a one-year funded grant to increase inclusive practices at spectrUM through a series of trainings for staff of spectrUM and our partners at the Missoula Public Library. This position will oversee aspects of the Fostering Diversity program, including providing trainings, developing special programs for this project, and supporting the director in overseeing the budget.

This position will also oversee and coordinate the grant activities of the OPI and Department of Education-funded Science Afterschool Grant. They will oversee the curriculum development and implementation of a 2-day a week after school program in the spring and fall of 2022, and the spring and fall of 2023. This program will include opportunities for students from low-income and/or food-insecure households to learn about science and technology, including 3D printers, laser cutters, health science, and engineering.

The Program Coordinator II will exercise a high degree of independence and will exercise a high level of communication with the director, Making and Tinkering Program Manager, and spectrUM’s team. This position will help enhance spectrUM’s culture by working respectfully with fellow staff throughout the organization and supporting educators and volunteers. This position will supervise spectrUM’s student educators as it relates to diversity and inclusion efforts during spectrUM’s educational programs, including during spectrUM birthday parties, field trips, and outreach events, and will help the education program manager with overseeing the staff in the afterschool clubs.

Upon completion of training, the incumbent will have working knowledge and ability in:

Knowledge of University systems and compliance with spectrUM and University policies.

Ability to present science process and accurate content in an engaging way with diverse populations of learners.

Knowledge of educational best practices and ability to implement best practices in a variety of educational settings.

Ability to accurately open and close the museum, clean exhibits, and do deposit on point of sale.

Required Skills

Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office, internet, email, databases).

Detail-oriented, well-organized, and persistent.

Team-oriented, collaborative individual able to represent spectrUM well to external audiences and partners.

Ability to respect the learner and their choice to visit spectrUM.

Ability to inspire fun and passion in others.

Ability to handle multiple projects and tasks at once, strong time management skills.

Strong communication and team building skills, appropriate and proactive communication.

Minimum Required Experience

Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in a formal informal learning environment required.

Experience in science and technology and working in makerspaces.

Demonstrated experience in managing daily operations of educational programs.

Demonstrated experience with project coordination, and scheduling.

Previous experience in management and supervision, ability to delegate required.

Preferred Qualifications

College degree in science or education with an emphasis in science, or combination of experience.

Experience developing educational exhibits and/or educational media.

Experience working on collaborative projects with many partners.

Science center, museum, or related informal education experience.

About Broader Impacts Group (BIG)

and UM

A new office within Research and Creative Scholarship, the Broader Impacts Group (BIG) will inspire and educate the public about research and creative scholarship at UM. Collaborating with UM faculty and administrators as well as community, state and national partners, the office will promote UM research and creative scholarship, increase the competiveness of related grant proposals, leverage resources and collectively work to remedy knowledge, opportunity, and achievement gaps in Montana and beyond. It is also the intention for this office to become a leader and avid contributor to the newly emerging national effort to create a community of practice in the field of broader impacts. Under the Umbrella of BIG, falls the spectrUM Discovery Area, the Office of Autonomous Aerial Systems, and the Spatial Analysis Lab.

The spectrUM Discovery Area

is a hands-on science center which promotes a culture of learning and discovery for all, with the ultimate goal of inspiring young Montanans to pursue higher education and possibly careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Each year, spectrUM reaches over 200,000 people with fun, hands-on exhibits and activities at our downtown Missoula museum and through our award-winning statewide mobile science program. To help ensure that our mission serves all of Montanans, we maintain a robust Science for All Scholarship Fund for low-income children, schools, and communities.

The University of Montana is flagship, research institution with approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 75,000, surrounded by mountains and three rivers converge. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere. The University of Montana offers eligible employees a generous benefits package that positively separates UM from other local employers and offers many programs and policies to support work-life balance for its employees.

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action

: Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

To learn more about the University of Montana, please visit the links below.

University of Montana

Video: Mission First, People Always

UM on YouTube

Position Details

Position Title:

Program Coord II

Position Number:

NEW

Department:

Broader Impacts Group

Work Schedule:

Full-time, 1.0 FTE (40 Hours a week), Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, 12 months/year

Salary:

$16.25/hr

Current employee’s rate of pay for this position will be determined by the staff compensation plan and will minimally be this posted salary. For questions and details regarding the staff compensation plan

, email the

Compensation Department

Union Affiliation:

FOCUS-MFPE

Probationary Period:

Six months minimum

Benefits Include

Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to the Offer of Employment In accordance with University regulations, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference

Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References:

References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing:

Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. Employment Eligibility:

All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

Company info

The University of Montana
Website : https://www.umt.edu