Public Program Facilitator, McDonald Observatory Visitors Center

Job description

Job Posting Title: Public Program Facilitator, McDonald Observatory Visitors Center ---- Hiring Department: McDonald Observatory ---- Position Open To: All Applicants ---- Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40 ---- FLSA Status: Non-Exempt from FLSA ---- Earliest Start Date: Immediately ---- Position Duration: Expected to Continue ---- Location: MCDONALD OBSERVATORY ---- Job Details: General Notes The McDonald Observatory is a major astronomical research observatory located 16 miles from Fort Davis, Texas (440 miles from the UT Austin campus). This position is located at McDonald Observatory, Frank N. Bash Visitors Center. The Visitors Center is open five days per week, Tuesday through Saturday, and requires a variable work schedule to meet business needs. The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff. For more details, please see https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards . • Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%) • Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options • Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays • Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan) • Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax-sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b) • Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses Purpose This position supports and advances the education and public outreach mission of McDonald Observatory and The University of Texas at Austin. Public Program Facilitators deliver content for programs including guided tours, solar viewing, star parties, special viewing, workshops, and livestream programs. Facilitators lead in-person evening and daytime programs for groups of 10-500 visitors and on-camera livestream programs for thousands of viewers. Program Facilitators also assist with community activities, special projects, events, and programs on and off-site. Responsibilities • Conducts and assists with implementing programs for public and private groups, both in person and online. Provides customer service and educational information to Observatory visitors and assists with community activities, special projects, events, and programs on and off-site. Assists with routine maintenance of telescope equipment, domes, and galleries. Assists with maintaining exhibits in the Visitors Center. • Participates in a cross-functional team and works cooperatively with other staff members to complete tasks and projects. Greets and assists visitors. Assists with responding to reservation questions. Assists with the Gift Shop when needed. Performs janitorial and other related duties as needed. Required Qualifications • Sixty undergraduate semester hours. • Two years of experience in public speaking, conducting public activities, or in formal or informal teaching. • Computer skills include word processing, email, presentations, and internet use. • Ability to work as a team member, independently, and on overlapping projects. • Position competencies include accuracy and attention to detail, decision-making and critical thinking, effective communication, initiative, interpersonal skills, problem-solving, and service excellence. An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate. Preferred Qualifications • Two or more years of STEM education outreach experience. • Experience working in a museum, nature preserve, or similar facility. • Interest in amateur astronomy, knowledge of the night sky, and the ability to identify major constellations. • Two or more years of experience with amateur or professional telescopes. • Experience and/or comfort with appearing on camera and co-hosting livestreams for public and K-12 audiences. • Proficiency in Spanish. Driving Required This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three-year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident. Salary Range $36,000 + depending on qualifications Working Conditions • Combination of standard office, classroom, theater, outdoor, and scientific/industrial environments. • Working in low-light conditions, assisting guests in looking through telescopes. • Operation of telescopes of varying sizes, requiring manual dexterity. • Year-round exposure to variable and sometimes extreme weather conditions, such as sub-freezing temperatures, wind, dust, extreme heat, rain, hail, snow, and ice. Temperatures can range from -10°F to +100°F. • Winter weather requires comfort with driving in wintry conditions on mountain grades. • High-altitude work environment. McDonald Observatory is approximately 6900 ft. above sea level. • May work around mechanical hazards. • Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation. • Climbing stairs and/or ladders. • Lifting and moving 20+ lbs. Work Shift • The Visitors Center is open year-round, Tuesday through Saturday. • Hours vary and include weekends, evenings, and some holidays. • Occasional overnight travel for outreach events and conferences. Required Materials • Letter of interest • Resume • List of three (3) professional references Application Process • Applicants NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) must be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.Applicant who are Current university employees and contingent workers: As