The Moonshot Museum seeks an innovative and entrepreneurial Manager of Learning & Programs to develop and execute a successful portfolio of onsite, offsite, and virtual student and public programs ahead of and following its expected opening in 2022. The Manager of Learning & Programs is a science education enthusiast who will have the exciting and challenging task of building in-gallery experiences, pre/post-visit activities for students, outreach programs, and develop public programs for Pennsylvania’s first museum to be focused exclusively on space exploration. This position will be responsible for pioneering a new model for STEAM and career readiness-based informal education in museums and the aerospace technology industry. Through strategic design, exceptional management, and a passion for diversity, equity, access, and inclusion, programming developed by this person will connect Moonshot Museum’s audience with the vast potential of the new space economy and inspire young people to find their place in the future of human space exploration. The Manager of Learning & Programs reports to the Executive Director and will be a core player on the leadership team responsible for leading Moonshot Museum from its current conceptual and planning stage to reality and opening in 2022.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversees the development, facilitation, and refinement of dynamic and engaging programs for onsite and formal education programs geared toward middle and high school students with schools, organized groups, and camps. Aligns formal programming to relevant state, federal, and/or STEAM community of practice academic standards as appropriate. Often responsible for personally leading student programs alongside staff and volunteers.
• Responsible for driving and adapting Moonshot Museum’s offsite programs, including school outreach, community festivals, and all other off-site programs.
• Collaborates with the Executive Director and Moonshot Museum board to build a robust series of public programs to engage with the community, both in-person and online.
• Recommends and executes iterations and improvements for all programs at this new museum, growing its museum programs from concept to reality and driving a culture of continuous improvement in visitor and student experience.
• Supports fundraising efforts through writing and speaking on behalf of Moonshot Museum and its programs, including occasional grant writing, reporting, and funder presentations.

OTHER DUTIES:

• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change and evolve at any time.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• As a brand-new position with an entirely new nonprofit museum, the Manager of Learning & Programs will not initially have any direct supervisory responsibilities of paid staff. However, this position will indirectly supervise volunteers and interns alongside the Executive Director. As the Moonshot Museum team grows, expanded supervisory responsibilities are possible.

 SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong leadership and project management skills; experience in coordinating simultaneous projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Creative problem solver.
• An entrepreneurial spirit and comfort with ambiguity in a non-traditional museum setting. This position will play a key role in supporting the simultaneous building and execution of Moonshot Museum’s programs, operations, and internal structures ahead of and following its opening in 2022.
• Strong teaching, interpretation, and presentation skills, as well as the ability to interact and communicate with a variety of audiences, especially middle and high schoolers, in a professional and engaging manner.
• Demonstrated understanding of space and STEAM education and best/emerging practice in informal science education settings, pedagogical practice, and education-based content standards.
• Participation in communities of practice in the museum, informal education, and/or science education fields.
• Experience in developing highly engaging, dynamic, community-driven, and visitor-focused programming, and/or educational curriculum is preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in informal education institutions.
• Demonstrated experience and ability to work collaboratively and independently without close supervision and within tight deadlines.
• Ability to balance collaborative and autonomous approaches to working.
• Strong writing and communication skills, with an attention to detail in the written word.
• Experience building and managing budgets in a nonprofit setting.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Undergraduate degree in education, museum studies, science education, or related fields.
• Five years relevant professional experience and progressive responsibility in informal education settings.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Satisfactory PA State Police Criminal Record Check and Child Abuse History Certification.
• Satisfactory FBI Criminal Record Check.
• Valid Driver’s License and ability to pass Department of Motor Vehicles check.
• Willingness to relocate to Pittsburgh, PA within the first six months of employment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The Manager of Learning & Programs is a hybrid onsite/offsite position and will primarily work from home during Moonshot Museum’s development and construction.

POSITION TYPE / EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK:

• The Manager of Learning & Programs is an exempt, full-time position. Candidates must be able to work weekdays, weekends, holidays, and evenings as job duties demand.

COMPENSATION:

• The budgeted salary range for the Manager of Learning & Programs is $50,000 – $56,000 per year.
• Moonshot Museum’s hiring practices are rooted in an approach driven by equity, innovation, and sustainability. As a new and growing nonprofit organization, Moonshot Museum offers a limited benefits package for its employees including medical insurance and paid time off.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

• Please submit a resume and cover letter via email to Sam Moore, Executive Director, at sam.moore@moonshotmuseum.org. In your cover letter, please address the following prompts alongside any other information you would like to share about your qualifications for the role:
  • How does space inspire you?
  • What is your favorite depiction of space in popular culture, including but not limited to film, television, museum experiences, music, art, or literature?
  • Why does joining a brand-new, startup museum interest you?
• It is Moonshot Museum’s policy to hire and promote qualified people and administer all terms and conditions of employment without discrimination due to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, transgender identity, gender transition, gender expression, and gender identity), national origin, ancestry, place of birth, disability, age, genetic information, use of a guide or support animal, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, or other protected-class status.
• Moonshot Museum does not discriminate based on disability in admission or access to, or employment in, its programs and activities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to enable you to complete the application process, please send a request via email to sam.moore@moonshotmuseum.org.