Public Programs Presenters Supervisor [California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA]

Description

The Public Programs Presenters Supervisor is responsible for supervising, hiring, mentoring and evaluating a team of Public Program Presenters. This includes providing the team with a positive and rewarding experience and ensuring that they in turn provide Academy guests with quality informal science engagement that inspires and educates. The Supervisor collaborates to develop and implement programs/activities/engagements that support our annual programming themes, new exhibits, planetarium shows and special events. The Supervisor is highly skilled at interpreting any topic relevant to the Academy for general audiences. Weekend and evening work will be required. The Supervisor spends at least one day per week on the main floor interacting with guests. This position reports to the Senior Manager of Public Engagement.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervise Presenters (FT and PT Presenters)
  • Train and check out Presenters on new programs/activities/engagements
  • Provide feedback and coaching to presentation staff on their programs/activities/engagements, best practices for interpretation and engagement and Academy protocols
  • Mentor and serve as a role model for presentation staff on appropriate public engagement, including interpretive/engagement skills and knowledge of content
  • Conduct performance management of Presenters, including completing performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, recognition, goal setting, skill building, etc.
  • Delegate tasks and projects to the presenters. This may include consultation with Specialists and Assistant Manager
  • Offer formal and informal opportunities for Presenters to provide feedback; act as a conduit for feedback from presentation staff to management
  • Provide staff trainings and other orientations including: program check – outs, best practices for museum engagement, implementation of informal education methodologies and others, (including cross departmental staff as needed)
• Collaborate to design, develop, implement, and deliver programs/activities/engagements that maximize attendance, visitor engagements and inspire guests
  • Develop and maintain specialized operational knowledge and best practices of Naturalist Center and Early Explorer’s Cove/Family Programs/All Age programs
  • Collaborate with the Public Programs Specialists and Managers to vision and create dynamic experiences for guests that are compelling for the Cove, Naturalist Center and public floor
  • Use creativity to bring new and innovative guest experiences to the floor
• Support program evaluations and visitor assessments
  • Implement evaluations of new programs with support from presentation team
  • Share results of program evaluations to Public Programs and Public Engagement & Education staff for future program development and knowledge sharing
• Delivery of highly engaging presentations throughout the Academy on various topics as needed
  • Coordinating daily informal science programs appropriate for all age audiences, (up to 20 per day.)
  • Negotiate collaboration and coordination of presenters with public facing department staff and volunteers to ensure a seamless and holistic guest experience
  • Maintain science accuracy in program content by partnering with Institute of Biodiversity Science and Sustainability (IBSS), Planetarium, and Aquarium staff
• Create and maintain positive working relationships and collaborate with cross departmental teams to ensure strong partnerships and successful floor programming
• Investigate, participate in, and share current research, best practices, and trends on museum interpretation, museum engagement, program development, staff management, etc.
• Support Academy-wide initiatives
• Follows all Academy safety regulations
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of the following education and/or equivalent experience:

• Degree in science, environmental education, outdoor education, or equivalent experience required
• Minimum 1 years’ experience supervising or coaching staff of 1-5 part time or full time employees or volunteers required
• 3 years’ experience with public speaking and presenting in informal/museum or natural science education setting or venue
• 3 years’ experience working in informal/museum education or natural science organization, such as zoos, aquariums and science centers.
• 2 year experience in developing science, interpretation, informal science education, natural history, outdoor education, and/or theater programming for a wide range of audiences
• Familiarity with working in a large, multi-tiered organization a plus
• Minimum of one year experience working with scientific experts in an education or research setting
• Familiarity with working in a large, multi-tiered organization required
• Bilingual in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Proficient in Google Suite, including Calendar, Mail, Drive. Database and timecard review software experience preferred
• Organized and efficient
• Maintains positive working relationships and collaborate with other departmental staff and volunteers to ensure strong partnerships and successful floor programming
• Proven leadership skills including an ability to effectively supervise/coach staff and facilitate meetings
• Ability to work well under pressure and complete multiple, deadline-based projects within a reasonable, specified time period with little supervision
• Excellent presentation and training skills and a fundamental knowledge of the best practices in interpretation and informal science education
• Excellent natural history, aquarium and science knowledge and attention to scientific accuracy
• Excellent communication skills appropriate for both an office work environment and public floor presentations
• Proven ability to be a self-starter who takes initiative, learns quickly, and works well independently
• Proven ability with speaking on a microphone in front of groups as large as 100-400 people in a very busy, often loud museum setting
• Ability to understand and interpret scientific information and make complicated science concepts accessible to general audiences
• Maintain a high level of enthusiasm, energy, and creativity while performing repetitive, interpretive programs on a regular basis
• Ability to adapt and maintain flexibility in a changing and fast-paced environments
• Developmental knowledge of children aged 0-18
• Comfort with teaching and guiding small children (0-5 yo) and their caregivers
• Comfort working with live animals including snakes and insects at highly attended floor programs

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively before groups or individuals.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, and reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The position requires frequent visits to the museum public floor (walking on concrete floors, climbing stairs), extensive time standing, sitting on the floor, intervals of time outdoors in varying environmental conditions, tolerance of high levels of noise, and extensive public speaking, sometimes at a podium or on stage and sometimes in noisy environments. Must be able to lift 50lbs.  Must be able to perform repetitive motions 50% of the time.

MANDATED REPORTER:

This is a mandated reporter designated position. Academy employees whose duties include direct contact and supervision of children are deemed mandated reporters under California Law. Mandated reporters have certain specific reporting obligations in the event that they know of, observe or reasonably suspect that a child has been the victim of child abuse or neglect. The Academy provides mandated reporters with training on their rights and obligations under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:  

Please submit your cover letter and resume online at http://calacademy.snaphire.com. Note that the recruitment timeline for positions vary and depend on many factors, so it is impossible to accurately predict when a position will close. We appreciate your patience during this process. No phone calls please.

The California Academy of Sciences will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).

The California Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to ensure that all employees and applicants receive equal consideration and treatment, regardless of race, color, creed, gender (including gender identity or gender expression), religion, marital or domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical, mental or medical disability, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship, military service status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance.

The California Academy of Sciences is a non-smoking facility. There is also no smoking in Golden Gate Park.