Manager of Program Development: Innovator [Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL]

Description

Looking for a job that’s “out of this world?” One where you can “reach for the stars?” Or where you can make endless space puns without ridicule?

Well, if you’re creative and excited, organized and perceptive, and passionate about science, then we just might have the job for you.

The Adler Planetarium is seeking a Manager of Program Development: Innovator to join a dynamic Public Programs team on Chicago’s Museum Campus.

The Position

This position will be the resident “think tank,” flushing out crazy ideas, brainstorming new ones, and always on the look out for ways to tinker and improve existing programs. Accomplishing this will include:

• Keeping up to date on best practices and upcoming trends for public engagement and communicating those ideas to colleagues.
• Developing programs that range from everyday small engagements on the museum floor to events that captivate adult or family audiences—and programs so unusual that we haven’t even thought of them yet!
• Manage projects from the point of conception, through prototyping to training and implementation.
• Lead diverse project teams that combine internal and external partners.
• Cultivate strong relationships both internally and externally, that build a diverse collective of program partners.
• Uses strong communication skills, ability to look objectively from many angles, and understands “how people work.”
• Be an advocate for the Adler visitor in all programs, exhibits, service and content.
• Performing other duties as appropriate.

Requirements

The Person

We aren’t looking for actual rocket scientists—we have plenty of those—but we are looking for someone who is passionate about communicating and sharing science!

You might have grown up dreaming of experimenting like Bill Nye, or translating scientific ideas like Carl Sagan or Neil DeGrasse Tyson. You love space, but even more than that, you loving watching someone’s eyes widen when they discover something new. You know that a love for science doesn’t come from reading a textbook— it comes from actually doing science and wanting to do more.

You’re flexible, creative and know that a good game of devils-advocate only results in a better program. You see inspiration from schools and museums, but also theme parks, retail shops, restaurants, parks and more.

You’re a strong leader, you listen to others ideas and share your own. You know that programs and events can’t live in a vacuum (among other things) and you value communication and inclusion of multiple people at multiple levels to make programs successful.

Other things we’re looking for:

• Bachelors degree, preferably in the fields of science, education, or museum studies.
• 5+ years experience in informal science education environment.
• Experience creating visitor or student-centric science programs from conception to implementation.
• Experience managing large projects in a faced paced environment, with diverse teams of people.
• You’re happy with a job that extends beyond the 9-5, but rarely feels like work.

The Team

We are educators, museum-goers, science nerds and people who aren’t afraid to fail in order to succeed. We want visitors of the Adler to do real science and to know that real science is FUN, interesting, and something everyone can enjoy and be a part of. We do that by running programs like Chicago’s most popular after-hours event Adler After Dark, leading yoga classes in our dome theater at Sun Salutations Yoga, making comets shower down on museum campus in Adler Camps, and shooting rockets across exhibits in our Floor Programs.

Interested in joining us? For more information and to apply, visit our website:

http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/jobs