Director of Education

**To apply, please visit: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/3068960/SB-Museum-of-Natural-History/Director-of-Education

Title: Director of Education

Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

Division: Education

Reports To: Chief Operating Officer

Wage Band: Directors

Pay range: $82,500 – $93,500*

Mission: The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History inspires a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world.

Position Summary: This position is responsible for overseeing the Education programs for schools, teachers, families, and the public in alignment with the mission of the Museum. Acts as head of Education Division and oversees all aspects of its personnel management, financial management, educational program development and implementation, and facility operations. As a member of the Museum’s management team, provide recommendations, proposals, and assist in formulating a vision for the Museum. Establishes and implements the strategy and vision to create and maintain a strong guest focused experience throughout the museum.

Specific Responsibilities:

Education Program Management

• Develop long and short-range goals for the Education Division (School and Community Programs; Nature Adventures; Teen Programs; Astronomy Programs; and Nature Education) to ensure high-quality, outcome-oriented educational programs for youth, educators, and families that advance the Museum’s mission to care for our natural history.
• Develop programs that align with Museum strategic plan and help all visitors enrich their lives through meaningful educational and personal connections with natural history. Provide direction and support as needed for department and division initiatives including camp, teacher/school, family, teen, community, and nature education programs.
• Advocate for innovative learning and engagement initiatives across and between divisions. Work with museum scientists to integrate current research topics into education programs; collaborate closely with exhibits, public programs, and visitor services divisions to ensure a cohesive visitor experience; champion efforts to amplify and extend current best practices of child, family, and adult learning into the work of the Museum.
• Maintain knowledge of current best practices of informal learning and museum education and ensure these are embodied in all educational offerings. Ensure that the Museum programs are not only relevant, but also serve as a model of creative, unique informal learning occasions; seek out new education opportunities, partnerships, and programs.
• Maintain strong relationships with education professionals and institutions to ensure program support and relevance.
• Seeks opportunities to cultivate, collaborate and partner with other community organizations to expand and diversify the Museum’s audience, extend the Museum’s reach, and advance the Museum’s mission and interests.

Financial Management

• Prepare, implement and manage annual education division budgets and ensure that income targets are met and expenses are kept within budget. Prepare budget revisions and a variety of financial reports related to the education division; grow and diversify divisional funding sources in ways that make the department more self-sustaining.
• As a Management Team member provide reports and statistics as requested, provide information and support for grant applications and advancement initiatives and participate in institutional planning/initiatives.

Leadership

• Effectively lead a group of experienced museum educators. Provide strategic leadership to enhance effectiveness by setting clear vision for the division, establishing annual goals, providing ongoing professional development, and ensuring the team is fulfilling the Museum’s strategic plan.
• Recruit and train new employees as needed; regularly assess staff performance and the individual department’s progress in meeting short-term and long-range objectives; creatively utilize personnel to ensure the activities are in line with the Museum mission, achieve goals, and mesh with the operations of the Museum; empower staff to act independently and delegate appropriately so that staff feel ownership, engagement, and fulfillment in their work.
• Hold regular division and one-on-one meetings to communicate mission, goals, changes in initiatives, needs, and provide support for individual and department success. Work with department managers to ensure quality of curriculum for volunteer and docent training.
• Foster a spirit of teamwork and collaboration among department members that allows for disagreement over ideas, conflict and prompt conflict resolution.
• Ensure that staff are trained on Museum safety, emergency procedures, and facility/workspace orderliness. Monitor the appearance and maintenance of the Museum’s outdoor spaces, especially the Backyard and Nature Club House (reporting any issues to Facilities for repair) in conjunction with the Nature Education staff and volunteers.
• Contributes to a positive guest experience by greeting and addressing any questions when encountering guests as they navigate through the Museum and Sea Center.
• Supports the Museum’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for fellow staff, guests and the community.
• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in science or education related field.
• At least five years of management experience.
• Experience overseeing formal and informal education programs.
• A passion for nature and experience in developing nature-based curriculum and evaluating programs.
• Excellent organizational and leadership skills.
• Experience in recruiting, hiring, and supervising.
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.
• Ability to interact effectively with staff, students, children, community organizations, Museum guests and the public.
• Passion for creating a top-level Museum educational experience for audiences of all ages and abilities.
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications and ability to learn new systems and adapt with emerging technologies.
• Excellent public speaking skills.
• Since Education activities take place onsite 7 days a week, this position’s workweek must include one weekend day a week.

Preferred Requirements:

• Nonprofit experience.
• Ability to speak conversational Spanish is a plus.
• Experience fostering a team culture.
• Understanding of Next Generation Science Standards.
• Proven experience with effective budget management and long-term planning and implementation.

Work Environment:

• This is a full-time onsite position, and its standard workweek includes one weekend day (either T – Sat or Sun – Thurs).
• General office environment with frequent work in a classroom environment and occasional work throughout the museum’s facilities (exhibit halls, conference rooms, scientific laboratories, and galleries).
• Occasional work outdoors during field trips in various natural environments.
• Significant computer and telephone work (repetitive movement – typing).
• Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending and climbing stairs with occasional lifting of light loads up to 25 lbs.

The incumbent must be able to perform each requirement of the position as outlined in the job description. Essential Requirements are representative and are essential for satisfactory job performance. The Work Environment characteristics are representative of those that may be encountered while on the job. The Museum will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

*The pay range above represents the budgeted range for a new hire, encompassing the minimum and maximum rates. Placement within this range will depend on factors such as specific skills, qualifications, relevant years of experience, and alignment with the salaries of current employees in similar roles. In most cases, newly hired employees are placed below the midpoint of the range.