STEM Educator- Early Childhood Specialist

The Role

Liberty Science Center (LSC) is seeking a STEM Educator-Early Childhood Specialist to join our STEM Programs team. The STEM Educator-Early Childhood Specialist’s primary areas of focus will be (1) developing and delivering engaging lab-based STEM workshops for PreK-2nd grade students on weekdays and with families and scouting groups on the weekend, (2) collaborating in the development of new programs of various lengths, and (3) integrating informal science educational offerings within formal school curricula.  

The STEM Educator-Early Childhood Specialist will report directly to the Associate Director of Early Childhood Education Programs.

What You’ll Bring

You are a warm, welcoming, and collaborative person who enjoys working with young children in a variety of settings. You are an optimistic and positive individual who exudes a love for learning. You exhibit a natural sense of comfort, guiding children ages two to seven through the learning process using the tone and techniques appropriate for that age. You have an understanding of the learning theories, pedagogy, and best practices for early childhood students and are able to speak towards the importance of these things with parents, teachers, and administrators as needed. You enjoy being a part of a community of learners endeavoring to build fun, engaging programs that explain science and technology in easily understandable ways to both children and adults.

 

What You’ll Do

Below is an overview of your essential functions, please note this is not an exhaustive list as new responsibilities can be added as business needs demand:

1. Teach off-site and on-site STEM programs throughout the tri-state area, this includes 3 – 4 days of travel per week, where there can be 1 – 5 sessions per day and 16 – 300 people per session.
2. Lead and assist in the development of forty-five minute programs or full year partnerships for early childhood school, scout, and family audiences through the incorporation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) or common PreK curriculum (e.g. Creative Curriculum, Tools of the Mind, etc.)
3. Perform the tasks involved with the setup and breakdown of programs and assist in the associated administrative tasks
4. Establishes an environment conducive to learning and appropriate to the cognitive, physical, and social emotional development of audience members.
5. Work cooperatively as a team member by contributing to and reflecting on the educational experiences of LSC’s varied audiences and effectively communicate ideas for new programmatic initiatives and additional science content for existing programs

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. A personal commitment to fostering a multicultural, diverse organization
2. Strong project management and time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
3. Knowledge of educational pedagogy and developmentally appropriate practices for an early childhood setting.
4. Skilled in classroom management techniques conducive to creating a warm, welcoming, and safe environment for children’s learning
5. Able to drive a car for over 2 hours following directions from a map or GPS
6. Ability to work collaboratively with supervisors and peers in a team effort
    

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

1. Valid NJ driver’s license is required
2. BA in Early Childhood Education or related field required
3. 2 years of teaching experience in an Early Childhood setting
4. 2 years of Early Childhood curriculum development
5. CDA (Child Development Associate), Pre-3, or K-5 certification preferred
6. Experience and comfort working with live animals preferred
7. Experience and comfort with technology (such as 3D printers, iPads, and coding) a plus
    

Supervisory Responsibilities

While this position will be responsible for managing and supervising over classroom groups, there are no direct supervisory responsibilities in this position.

 

Work Culture at a Glimpse

LSC prides itself on fostering a culture that enables all employees to experience a sense of pleasure, passion, and purpose while in the workplace. We believe in embracing and driving change, inspiring fun and learning, and creating a positive and family friendly team spirit. Our differences as individuals (race, gender, age, cultural heritage, physical ability, education and lifestyle) are an asset and contribute to our ability to drive innovation. Lastly, at the heart of our work culture is the commitment to delivering a “wow factor” through our exceptional customer service to not only our guests but also one another. 

Classification and Schedule

This is a full-time, exempt position. All team members must be able to work a flexible schedule including early mornings as well as some evenings, holidays, and/or weekends as needed.
 

Travel

This position will require travel in the greater Metro region. The candidate should possess a valid driver’s license.

 

Our Environment 

Liberty Science Center is located in a beautiful waterfront state park in Jersey City, New Jersey. Not only is Jersey City easy to get to from any points in Northern NJ and Manhattan, but it also holds the title of the most diverse city in the United States. Employees have access to free parking, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, and the NJ Path train. 

Physical Demands

The STEM Educator-Early Childhood Specialist will operate standard office equipment, such as a computer, phone, fax, and a scanner.  While the majority of work takes place in on-site or off-site classrooms, the position requires frequent visits to the museum gallery exhibitions and theaters (walking on concrete floors, climbing stairs, pushing or carrying equipment, etc.); traveling to off-site locations in all varieties of weather; tolerating high levels of noise; and extensive public speaking, sometimes in noisy environments. Most of the time, this individual will stand for long periods and maneuver through crowds. The ability to lift 65 lbs is required.

To Apply:  

Please submit a resume and cover letter highlighting why this role and this organization are a good fit for you.

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Liberty Science Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and innovative environment with the best employees. We, therefore, provide employment opportunities without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military service, marital status or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. If there are preparations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please let us know.

To find out more, visit lsc.org or follow us on   Facebook , LinkedIn or Twitter .