DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
Birch Aquarium at Scripps (BAS) serves as the outreach center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography, engaging the public with work at the top oceanographic institution in the country. BAS’s growing portfolio of programs and exhibits currently serves approximately 500,000 public visitors and 50,000 K-12 students. BAS has new strategic initiatives that bring people to the frontiers of scientific discovery and inspire them to co-create a healthy, thriving planet. BAS promotes active learning, exploration and play at the intersection of science, technology and art. BAS leverages partnerships across our top-tier UC San Diego and the community at large, and connects understanding our planet with real pathways toward regional and global sustainability.

POSITION OVERVIEW
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Director of Education will:

Establish an ambitious vision and direction for Education and Volunteer Resources that advance the mission of the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Direct, manage, supervise, and mentor professional staff members and volunteers, maintaining the University’s commitment to excellence, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and ensuring adherence to UC policy, procedures and Principles of Community.

Drive innovation, particularly targeting the connection of understanding and protecting our planet. Oversee implementation, evaluation, assessment of impact, and continuous improvement. Apply learning theory and experience in STEM educational practice to connect people with nature and Earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences and technology development at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Direct and oversee operations and resources toward an effective self-supporting Education Department, including but not limited to budgets, grants and gifts, marketing, scheduling, reporting, personnel and departmental organization. Analyze relevant data and research to inform direction and day-to-day decisions. Lead with a mission-driven spirit of collaboration, community service, and entrepreneurialism. Promote effective collaboration and communication up, down, and across the organization.

Report to Senior Director of Learning Design and Innovation.

Collaborate to develop and implement the Aquarium’s overall strategic plan. Communicate and work effectively with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders within BAS, Scripps Oceanography, UC San Diego, with professional communities and communities at large, to achieve strategic goals.

• Must be able to flex schedule to work occasional evenings, weekends and holidays.

QUALIFICATIONS

• BS/BA in Science, Education, or an allied field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum five years experience leading and implementing educational programs in any STEM field
• Minimum five years experience managing operations and staff to provide educational programs in any STEM field
• Demonstrated experience interpreting complex science and/or technology to engage and inspire public audiences
• Demonstrated cultural competency in current or previous educational projects.
• Demonstrated professional history reflects a commitment to professional development and continuous learning.
• Strong knowledge of training development and / or learning strategies, and program and educator assessment.
• Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication and strong leadership skills.
• Strong budget and project management skills.
• Broad knowledge of museum education field, industry standards, technologies and current trends, and ability to apply knowledge to planning and operational practices.
• Strong supervisory and demonstrated leadership skills and abilities.
• Strong program coordination skills, including short and long range planning skills.
• Strong knowledge and skills in teaching in a university setting.
• Strong knowledge of fundraising, donor cultivation and / or grant writing.
• Proven ability to drive innovation resulting in an organization that is a leader in its field.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Background, DMV and fingerprint checks required.
• Must have valid CA driver’s license.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

DESCRIPTION

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
Birch Aquarium at Scripps (BAS) serves as the outreach center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography, engaging the public with work at the top oceanographic institution in the country. BAS’s growing portfolio of programs and exhibits currently serves approximately 500,000 public visitors and 50,000 K-12 students. BAS has new strategic initiatives that bring people to the frontiers of scientific discovery and inspire them to co-create a healthy, thriving planet. BAS promotes active learning, exploration and play at the intersection of science, technology and art. BAS leverages partnerships across our top-tier UC San Diego and the community at large, and connects understanding our planet with real pathways toward regional and global sustainability.

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Manager of Public Engagement (MPE) works with a dynamic team of STEM educators at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego (BAS). The MPE oversees all facets of Birch Aquarium’s programs for public audiences—onsite and offsite—working with staff and volunteers to put the BAS mission into action.

The MPE leads the design, implementation, evaluation, and improvement of public programs, and integrates Scripps Oceanography research to inspire and engage people at the frontiers of scientific discovery and research technology development. The MPE delivers programs that connect understanding our planet with pathways for action and reasons for optimism. The MPE works with creativity, a commitment to collaboration, an entrepreneurial mindset, and drive for mission impact.

The MPE reports to the Director of Education and oversees recruitment, selection, training, and mentoring of public program education specialists and shares supervision of full-time and part-time instructors with the School Programs Manager.

The MPE also has the responsibility to:
(1) Ensure delivery of high-quality, pedagogically sound, engaging and scientifically accurate programming;
(2) Work with and lead teams to develop programs that exemplify best practices in STEM/STEAM education, promote engagement and literacy in Earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences, and integrate Scripps Oceanography research;
(3) Establish and maintain strategic partnerships to increase public participation in programs and enhance BAS impact;
(4) Develop relationships with Scripps Oceanography faculty and researchers to develop and deliver impactful STEM programs;
(5) Broaden participation, promote equity, diversity, and inclusion, and engage underrepresented groups in public programs;
(6) Participate in annual planning and align public programs with BAS priorities and strategic plan;
(7) Contribute to proposals for government, corporate, and private funding;
(8) Oversee program evaluation;
(9) Manage compilation of program participation and financial data;
(10) Communicate the impact of Birch Aquarium’s public programs and volunteer services;
(11) Manage all program equipment, supplies and logistics, classrooms and outreach vehicles.

• Schedule is Monday-Friday and must accommodate occasional holidays and special events, evenings and weekends.
• Some programs involve outdoor, water or sea-going activities and may require lifting tanks and equipment, handling live organisms, and enduring San Diego’s weather.

QUALIFICATIONS

• BA or BS in marine, environmental, or related natural sciences or in education with science specialization; OR equivalent education and four or more (4+) years experience coordinating public programs in an informal science education institution.
• Three or more (3+) years coordinating public programs in a STEM education organization (or similar organization).
• Proven competence managing program logistics, staff, and financial inputs, outputs, and outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and mentoring staff and volunteers.
• Demonstrated experience making complex science accessible and engaging to public audiences.
• Thorough project management skills.
• Thorough knowledge of museum educational techniques and approaches, and the ability to apply them across programmatic type(s) and environment(s).
• Thorough knowledge of the learning characteristics of museum audiences.
• Thorough subject area knowledge.
• Thorough knowledge and skills in training development and/or learning strategies, and program and educator assessment.
• Originality, creativity and ability to maintain classroom attention.
• Thorough knowledge of emerging educational technologies and their application within museum education programming.
• Working knowledge of promotional and marketing techniques for museum educational programming.
• Thorough knowledge of budget tracking and analysis strategies.
• Proven cultural competency and the ability to create programming that diverse people find relevant and engaging.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Background, DMV and fingerprint checks are required.
• Must have valid CA driver’s license.
• Job offer is contingent upon a satisfactory clearance based on background check results.