Associate Director of Community Engagement

Location: Santa Cruz
Job ID: 45589

JOB POSTING

For full consideration, please provide responses to the following. When submitting your application, include your responses by uploading it as an additional attachment:

Describe a program, activity, or exhibit that you would create to engage at least 50 participants in coastal or marine science. Your activity should:

• Be relevant to Santa Cruz or Monterey Bay
• Include at least one science collaborator and one community collaborator (nonprofit, public agency, etc.)
• Include a call to action
• Be participatory

You may either describe a program you've done in the past OR something new. Please try to keep your response to two paragraphs or less. If we invite you to interview, we will ask you follow-up questions.

NOTIFICATIONS

UC Vaccination Policy: With limited exceptions, COVID-19 vaccinations are required for Covered Individuals under the Policy. Covered Individuals include all employees, students, or trainees who physically access a University facility or program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training.

Covered Individuals do NOT include employees who work 100% remotely with NO expectation that they will physically access any University location or program at ANY time. If 100% remote work ends, the employee is subject to policy.

INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz staff jobs are posted until filled. Application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring unit for consideration. NOTE: Materials submitted after the IRD will be forwarded only at the request of the hiring unit. Submit your materials before the IRD to ensure consideration by the hiring unit.

The IRD for this job is: 11-28-2022

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Seymour Marine Discovery Center is part of Long Marine Laboratory, a marine research and education facility within the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Seymour Center is located on the UCSC Coastal Science Campus.

More information can be found at https://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/

JOB SUMMARY

The Associate Director of Community Engagement has full responsibility for providing daily visitor education at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center on the Coastal Science Campus. Under the general direction of the Seymour Center Executive Director, the Associate Director of Community Engagement has overall responsibility for developing, managing and presenting educational experiences in the exhibit hall/aquarium, including public tours of marine lab facilities, natural reserve, and associated marine areas; providing extensive training, daily supervision, mentoring, and evaluation of visitor programs docents and exhibit guides who serve as the walk-in public's primary contact in the visitor hall; planning, implementing and assessing public lectures, ocean-themed special days, and family events; training, supervising, and mentoring staff educators, university student employees and interns; and communications, and administration, including budget management for a busy, year-round operation. A key element is facilitating ongoing information exchange between marine science researchers and the public. The Associate Director of Community Engagement also serves as an integral education team member at the Seymour Center.

The overriding responsibility of the Associate Director of Community Engagement is to ensure the visiting public receives an excellent educational experience, emphasizing research in progress within the Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Salary Information: Salary Range: $60,000 - $70,000/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.

No. of Positions: 1

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Any day of the week, Schedule to be set with supervisor. Ability to work evenings, weekends and holidays to meet operational needs, and work an alternate work schedule shift as required.
• Shift Includes: Day, Evenings, Weekend

Employee Classification: This is a Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus - Seymour Marine Discovery Center

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification:

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

50% - Event & Exhibit Development

• Lead the improvement and maintenance of existing exhibits.
• Activate exhibits with participatory and multi-sensory elements that promote inquiry-based learning, diverse voices and stories, ideas and issues relevant to our community, and fresh scientific research.
• Assist in the selection, design, fabrication, and installation of new exhibits.
• Act as primary project manager for new exhibits.
• Attend and contribute to planning meetings, organize community input opportunities, and coordinate the logistics of fabrication and installation.
• Lead and develop audience-specific, highly-collaborative events that draw in the public to the Seymour center; events should leave guests with an empowered call to action. Whether it's university undergrads, young adults, parents, or someone else, programs should invite and welcome guests to the space for one day/week at a time.

30% - Daily Visitor Experience

• Plan, develop, implement and assess visitor programming/interpretation for visitors in the Seymour Center's exhibit hall, aquarium, (and classrooms/La Feliz room when not in use by other groups).
• Responsible for the daily floor-managing schedule, providing consistent coverage assisted by student employees or other staff.
• Work closely with Admissions Coordinator, Operations Manager, and Youth Programs Manager to oversee daily operations.
• Oversee daily tours that incorporate marine mammal overlook, seawater system, whale skeletons, the natural and restored environment of Younger Lagoon Natural Reserve, and other site-specific highlights.
• Work with Executive Director to devise kits, interpretive signage, and exhibits.
• Develop and create scientifically accurate, engaging, educational resources as needed for visitor hall exhibits and programming.

10% - Volunteer Training/Supervision

• Lead a team of volunteer docents.
• Work closely with the Volunteer Coordinator to recruit and interview for annual docent training.
• Plan, develop, implement and assess docent training program (currently a 10-week class held January-March).
• Teach interpretive methods/educational programming sections.
• Work closely with the Volunteer Coordinator/Operations Manager to recruit and interview for bi-annual exhibit guide trainings.
• Plan, develop, implement and assess fall and spring, five-day trainings for volunteers 15 years and older.

5% - Communications/Information

• Remain well informed of on-going research at Long Marine Laboratory and within the Institute of Marine Sciences, and knowledgeable about the UC Santa Cruz campus, its people and programs, especially as they relate to marine science and education.
• Establish and nourish working relationships with researchers, faculty, staff, and students.
• Collaborate with researchers to effectively interpret ongoing research to the public without impacting research programs.
• Regularly contribute to electronic or print publications, web site updates, social media projects, and other publications as needed. Provide information for program brochures, media releases, and registration materials.

5% - Administration & Budget

• Pick up or deliver office/exhibit/program supplies, attend meetings, etc.
• Manage visitor programs database activities. Collect participant data.
• Respond to all inquiries.
• Develop and manage annual budget.
• Track purchases.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Thorough knowledge of museum educational techniques and approaches, and ability to apply them across programmatic type and environment.
• Thorough subject-area knowledge.
• Thorough knowledge and skills in training development and/or learning strategies, and program and educator assessment.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Strong written communication skills.
• Strong verbal communication skills.
• 3-5 years of demonstrated experience developing, implementing and managing marine science programs for the general public.
• Excellent ability to develop museum exhibits, both rented and custom, for the Seymour Center.
• Strong ability to engage children and adults in effective science education activities in a museum or field setting.
• Strong interpersonal skills sufficient to develop relationships and foster partnerships with faculty, researchers, conservationists, policymakers, and science education professionals from academic, governmental, and NGOs who are working in the marine sciences.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously within budgets and deadlines.
• Demonstrated supervisory/leadership skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and changing work environment, prioritizing tasks and working independently.
• Comfortable in an outdoor setting, working in (often) harsh coastal conditions on a daily basis.
• Ability to work well in teams, respect others' contributions, and clarify tasks to deliver high-quality, timely results.
• Working knowledge of word processing, database, spreadsheet, graphics, Internet, PowerPoint, and e-mail communications programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual English/Spanish.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Must possess a valid license to drive in the state of California.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• Ability to perform essential physical job functions.
• Will be required to work all scheduled hours on-site.
• Ability to work overtime including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays to meet operational needs, and work an alternate work schedule shift as required.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• Ability to travel to multiple work locations on and off campus.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• Will be required to wear a University provided uniform.
• The University of California has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy covering all employees. To be compliant with the policy, covered employees must submit proof of vaccination or have an approved exception or deferral, eight (8) weeks from date of hire.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

HOW TO APPLY

Attach your resume and cover letter when applying for this job opening. Do not attach any documents to 'My Activities'. Visit our How to Apply tutorial for detailed instructions on our applicant process.

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.


APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO USE THE UCSC ON-LINE PROCESS
View full job description and access on-line application:
https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psp/ucsc/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=11&JobOpeningId=45589&PostingSeq=1

To ensure review of application materials by the hiring unit, they must be submitted on or before the initial review date (IRD) via the Staff Employment Opportunities web site; https://jobs.ucsc.edu. A computer is available at the UC Santa Cruz Staff Human Resources Office located at Scotts Valley Center. The Scotts Valley Center is located at 100 Enterprise Way, Suite E100, Scotts Valley, CA 95066. To learn more or to request disability accommodations, call 831-459-2009. Hearing impaired are encouraged to use the California Relay Service at 800-735-2922. UC Santa Cruz is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

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