Title: Specialist, School and Community Programs – Sea Center

Classification: Full-time, Non-Exempt

Division: Education

Department: Sea Center

Reports To: Sea Center Director

Created: March 2023 Revised: November 2023

Wage Band: Coordinator/Assistant – Level 2

Pay Range: $22.25 - $24.00

Mission: 

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

Position Summary: 

The Sea Center Programs Specialist builds and delivers public and school education programs at the Sea Center. Responsibilities include developing, scheduling, coordinating school group visits, non-school group visits and other educational programming and includes processing payments, sending confirmations, creating financial and data reports and  setting up and breaking down of educational materials for lessons. 

Specific Responsibilities: 

School programs 

• In alignment with the Museum's mission and goals and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), implement  school programs for elementary, middle and high school classes. 
• Lead on-site programming and instruction of Sea Center school programs for grades K-12 on weekday mornings inside the Sea Center or utilizing the adjacent Beach as an outdoor classroom. 
• Set-up, breakdown, inventory and maintain all materials necessary  for school educational programs. 
• Manage scheduling of school programs utilizing online system and by phone, email, and in person, as needed. 
• As needed, update, design and develop the school programs to ensure alignment with NGSS and effectiveness. 
• Coordinate with Mission Creek Campus SCP in reviewing, evaluating and developing Sea Center School Programs   

Public Education programs 

• Work in coordination with the Naturalist & Volunteer Manager to deliver training to Sea Center Volunteers related to the Sea Center education programs as needed. 
• Works in collaboration with Sea Center Naturalist & Volunteer Manager on content, facilitation and communications for Sea Center festivals and events such as Underwater Parks Day, World Oceans Day, and seasonal education programming. 
• Under the direction of the Sea Center Director, plan and coordinate community education programs at the Sea Center. 
• Coordinate with the Mission Creek Campus SCP on the timing, development, marketing and evaluation of Sea Center community education programs 

Group Visits 

• Serve as the point of contact for all group visits to the Sea Center. 
• Handle bookings and oversight of group visits at the Sea Center during summer season (when school field trip programs are on hiatus). 

General Administration 

• Prepare weekly schedules of school and group visits and coordinate with Sea Center staff to ensure coverage. 
• Maintain detailed data files on school program reservations and community educational programs on the Museum’s various calendar systems. Maintain and update database of school bookings. 
• Track and keep detailed records of program and student data for use Sea Center and Museum administration and development reports, as needed. 

Supporting Museum-Wide Education 

• Maintain alignment of Sea Center education programs with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s education division’s standards, methodologies, pedagogies and best practices. 
• Attend All-Education staff meetings, trainings and retreats 

Sea Center Operations 

• Work with the Sea Center Naturalist & Volunteer Manager to ensure that education programming is within reasonable expectations of available staffing, volunteer and facility constraints. 
• Assists with Sea Center daily operational needs and duties as needed such as: assisting with opening and closing procedures, staffing floor, covering front desk lunch break, etc. 

Organization-Wide 

• Supports the Museum’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for fellow staff, guests and the community. This is specifically implemented in this role by:  Creating and implementing inclusive programming, taking into account the diverse community that we serve. 
• With supervisor approval assists with other Museum educational and special events.  

Requirements

Essential Requirements: 

• Proven success as an educator: classroom-based, museum education, or other. 
• Associates’ degree or higher, preferably in education and/or science. 
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and follow-through (in-person, by phone & through email) with school personnel, staff, volunteers, and the general public. 
• Must be available to work on site Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM-5:00 PM, occasional weekends, and some early mornings throughout the year. 
• Proven ability to provide excellent customer service in a flexible, highly demanding arena. 
• Even temperament, comfortable with last minute changes. 
• Must be professional and polite at all times while working with Museum guests, visiting students, teachers, volunteers and staff. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Proficiency with databases and experience with online registration systems is preferred. 
• Spanish fluency, written and oral, a plus. 
• Familiarity and knowledge of Next Generation Science Standards. 
• Familiarity and knowledge on inquiry-based learning and experiential teaching techniques and practices. 
• Awareness of and interest in current events and developments in environmental and conservation science. 

Work Environment: 

• Frequently outdoors on Museum property as well as on the Beach 
• Significant standing and walking, often on uneven surfaces (up to 4 hours at a time) 
• Frequent sitting, bending 
• Daily lifting of light loads (5 – 30 lbs.) to move program materials  
• Significant telephone and computer work (repetitive movement-typing) 
• Presents to and works with small and large groups (up to 200 students). 
• Works in shared, open office setting. 

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 2023 lowest possible rate for the position and the 2023 highest possible rate. Factors that may be used to determine where newly hired employees will be placed in the pay range include the employee specific skills and qualifications, relevant years of experience and comparison to other employees already in this role.

Salary Description

$22.25-$24.00/ hour

Apply here!