The Science Educator I engages guests in meaningful, relevant, and thought-provoking activities, demonstrations, and conversations - with an emphasis on visitor driven-inquiry - as they explore OMSI's halls and labs. This position provides supervision and support to volunteer staff, and they are responsible for understanding and following safety protocols and emergency procedures.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Actively interacts with visitors while applying culturally responsive practices. Provide hands-on and engaging activities, demonstrations, and conversations;
• Rotates across the following areas as assigned by Learning Strategist - Equity Based Engagement and Learning Strategist - Experiences and Programs:
  • Science Playground:
    • Greet visitors entering the Hall and provide overview of expectations
    • Support midday cleaning procedures by resetting exhibits and program supplies
  • Featured Hall:
    • Greet visitors entering the Hall and provide overview of expectations Operate entry area to effectively spread out based on timed ticketing
    • Reset interactive components as appropriate
    • Support volunteers
  • Turbine Hall:
    • Open and operate Labs according to their individual procedures
    • Reset interactive exhibit components and materials as appropriate Facilitate and reset materials in the Innovation Station as appropriate
    • Support volunteers
  • Natural Sciences Hall:
    • Open and operate Labs according to their individual procedures
    • Feed and care for live animal collection
    • Reset interactive exhibit components and materials as appropriate
    • Support volunteers
  • Support volunteers in all spaces by:
    • Ensuring volunteers are oriented to their assigned rotation or position;
    • Ensuring appropriate demo materials and activities are available.
  • Maintains a safe, clean, and secure environment for guests. Performs walkthroughs to maintain appearance of public programming spaces;
  • Supports daily museum operations and exhibit supplies as directed by supervisor;
  • Remains knowledgeable of OMSI safety protocols and emergency procedures, which includes (but is not limited to) evacuations, first aid, and reconnecting lost children and caregivers;
  • Answers general museum questions, provides wayfinding information, and supports other department requests;

Working Conditions

• This position is non-exempt paid, hourly;
• This position is regular part-time scheduled for 16-24 hours/week, with the option of picking up additional shifts up to 29 hours/week
  • Requires working onsite at the museum location;
  • Requires working on some weekends, and days and/or evenings with peak traffic.
• Physical Demands: 25% sitting, 70% standing, 5% lifting/carrying/pushing 10 lbs;
  
  • Ability to bend, stoop, crawl, and sit on the floor multiple times a day;
  • Ability to clean surfaces and pick up items multiple times a day;
• Vision Demands include:
  • Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches of less);
  • Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more);
  • Peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left or right while eyes are fixed on a given point);
  • Depth and perception (three dimensional vision, ability to judge distance and spatial relationships);
  • Ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eyes to bring an object into sharp focus).
• Environmental Demands include:
  • Fumes or airborne particles
  • Toxic or caustic chemicals
• Noise Levels include:
  • Quiet (examples: library, private office)
  • Moderate (examples: business office with computers and printers, light traffic)
  • Loud (examples: metal can manufacturing department, large earth-moving equipment)

Secondary Job Responsibilities

Provide support to the Museum Education team. Secondary responsibilities include-but are not limited to-the following:

• Tracks demonstration and activities supplies and communicate needs;
• Participates in development and prototyping for new activities and demos;
• Keeps current in science and education content;
• Additional duties as assigned by the Learning Strategist - Equity Based Engagement and the Learning Strategist - Experiences and Programs.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

REQUIREMENTS:

• Comfort and ability to engage diverse populations of learners in interactive learning, with an emphasis on customer service and presentation;
• Exercises sound judgment and problem-solving while upholding high integrity and ethical standards;
• Demonstrated ability to pivot between individual and team work;
• Ability to model and support a positive team dynamic with paid and unpaid staff;
• Knowledge of or ability to learn foundational science content and processes;
• Ability to adhere to confidentiality, protocol, and community agreements;
• Proficiency with Google Suite and/or Microsoft Office.

PREFERENCES:

• Developed knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles;
• Proficient or native fluency in a second language (non-English).

Education & Work Experience

REQUIREMENTS:

• Demonstrated success working with people of diverse ages and backgrounds;
• Demonstrated experience providing customer service in a work environment;

PREFERENCES:

• High School Diploma or GED;
• Informal education teaching experience (museum, zoo, nature preserve);
• Demonstrated experience working in a STEAM education-based environment;
• Community engagement experience;
• Experience working with volunteers.

Additional Requirements/Preferences; Including Licenses and Certifications

REQUIREMENTS:

• Pre-employment checks, such as criminal background checks and reference checks.

PREFERENCES:

• None.

Benefits and Perks at OMSI

• 403(b) retirement with employer match eligibility
• 2 weeks of vacation per year
• 2 weeks of sick time per year
• 12 personal / cultural days (PTO) per year
• Free annual OMSI Family Membership
• Reciprocal Employee Attractions Pass (REAP)
• Inclusion-centered professional development opportunities
• Employee-led rewards and recognition program
• Discounts on summer programs for employee's children