The Role
Leads in-person, virtual, and outdoor conservation education programs for learners from pre-K through college, families, adults, and community groups. Develops interdisciplinary STEAM resources, teaches natural history and ecology, handles live animals, coordinates educational tools and field programs, supports camps and youth initiatives, trains educators and volunteers, evaluates program outcomes, and contributes to museum events and communications. Requires occasional travel, camping, evenings, weekends, holidays, and outdoor work.
Summary Generated by Built In
Are you ready to blend science, art, and music to bring the vibrant desert to life for learners of all ages? Join our creative and dynamic education team as a full-time Education Specialist and inspire the next generation of desert stewards. In this role, you'll lead engaging conservation programs that ignite curiosity and foster a passion for wildlife, habitat preservation, and the natural world. Through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning that connects ecology, mathematics, art, and more, you'll help students discover the wonders of the Sonoran Desert while making a lasting impact on their understanding of conservation.
Application review will begin immediately. Please understand that if offered a position, you will be required to successfully complete a criminal background check, a pre-employment drug screen, and provide a current satisfactory 39-month driver's history report as a final condition of employment.
Job Title: Education Specialist
Department: Conservation, Education and Science
Department: Conservation, Education and Science
Reports To: Assistant Director for Education
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; Full-time
Starting Salary: $19.90 per hour (initial step) plus a comprehensive benefit package, which includes medical, dental, vision, life and LTD insurance, FSA, HRA, 403(b) retirement plan, paid holidays, personal business days, sick leave, and vacation. Position is covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; Full-time
Starting Salary: $19.90 per hour (initial step) plus a comprehensive benefit package, which includes medical, dental, vision, life and LTD insurance, FSA, HRA, 403(b) retirement plan, paid holidays, personal business days, sick leave, and vacation. Position is covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Summary
The Education Specialist at the Desert Museum teaches a variety of programming (classes, family groups, camps, field trips, festivals, informal activities, special events etc.) to further the educational mission of the Museum. They develop educational materials, conduct workshops, coordinate educational field and travel programs and participate in other environmental educational activities (in-person, hybrid, and virtual) by performing the duties below. Works weekends, evenings, and holidays in an equitable rotation with other staff members.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Teaches a wide variety of natural history, life, and earth science programs onsite, offsite, and virtually for grades Pre-K through College. Utilizes Museum artifacts, live animals, and educational resources to augment standard teaching methods and adapts delivery of course content and complexity to ages and abilities of students and audience size. Aligns school programs with Arizona Science Standards.
- Develops and teaches natural history, ecology, and/or conservation programs for families and adults on the Museum grounds and in the community in formal (classroom) or informal (hiking, festivals, tabling) settings.
- Develops a wide array of STEAM- related educational resources beyond the lesson plan including slide decks, props, art, music, recipes, or other non-traditional teaching tools
- Exhibits proper procedures for handling, transporting, and teaching with live animals. Maintains internal animal handling certifications and records. Animals include arthropods, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals.
- Coordinates teaching tools including use of animals, artifacts, technology, vehicles, or other teaching aids.
- Assists in training and monitoring of educational activities including working with Educators, Docents, and interns as needed.
- Plans, develops, and leads annual education programs such as kids’/ family clubs, youth volunteer programs, school partnerships, outdoor (hiking and camping) programs or other programs of similar scope.
- Plans and implements day and summer camp programs, combining recreational activities with teaching methods geared to specific age groups.
- Works with adult leaders of youth groups and community organizations to assist youth to earn merit badges, fulfill special projects, or other group requirements.
- Serves on Museum committees as assigned; participates in staff listening, learning, and strategic sessions.
- Contributes to internal projects, events, and initiatives such as exhibit design, marketing, and science communication through a variety of media.
- Evaluates success of programs through surveys, participant, teacher, and supervisor feedback.
- As a public figure maintains exemplary internal and external customer service while working with staff, volunteers, and community stakeholders.
- On occasion, may serve as Department “Manager on Duty” or Volunteer supervisor.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
BA or BS in biological, earth or environmental sciences, environmental education, museum education, or closely related field. Three years teaching experience in an informal, formal, or a combination of environments. Demonstrated experience with curriculum development, pedagogical best practices, and Arizona State Science Standards.
Preferred Education and Experience
Experience working with interpretive animals. Theater or large presentation experience.
Language Skills
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or board of directors.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety or technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Computer Skills
Proficient in word processing and presentation software, basic abilities with spreadsheets, scheduling and communications software. Able to learn and operate videoconferencing system. Comfortable learning new software platforms. Able to learn and operate distance learning software and hardware.
Other Skills and Abilities
- Must be familiar with Zoom, Teams, Google, and Microsoft Office suite and be able to learn new technology quickly.
- Exemplary public speaker with experience managing large and small groups, both indoors and outdoors
- Must be able to occasionally work long shifts (>10 hours).
- Must be able to work overnight camping events (one to two nights in a row). Camping takes place in a variety of habitats (indoors, or outdoors in the low desert or Sky Islands).
- Must be able to routinely drive at night and in low-light situations.
- Knowledge of and comfort with communicating science topics including the natural history of Sonoran Desert Species, climate change, invasive species, the age of the Earth, evolution, and dinosaurs.
- Bilingual skills highly desirable (English, Spanish, or O’odham)
- Must be able to work occasional evenings and overnights and cover weekend days on a rotating schedule.
- Ability to travel regionally for occasional teaching assignments or trainings.
- Ability and willingness to work outside in all-weather including occasional overnights.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
- Must have, or be able to obtain, an Arizona Driver's License with 6 years’ driving experience and a clean driving record
- Fingerprint Clearance Card (or ability to obtain)
- CPR and First Aid (or willing to obtain)
- Rabies Vaccine (or willing to obtain)
- Teaching Certificate highly desirable
- Wilderness First Aid (or willing to obtain)
- Mandatory Reporter & Stewards of Children Certifications (or willing to obtain)
- Defensive Driving Certification (or willing to obtain)
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include distance vision and peripheral vision.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, outside weather conditions, and high, precarious places. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate with occasionally loud experiences.
IDEA Commitment
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is committed to fostering a welcoming space and a diverse, inclusive team that reflects the communities in which we live and work. We understand that inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) are integral to the fulfillment of our mission, and to our success as an organization. To that end, we are working to build the structures, policies, hiring practices and organizational culture that ensure representation and opportunity for all, and create an environment of belonging where everyone feels respected, safe, and understood. Additionally, as we continue to engage in this work, we are working to integrate the core values of IDEA into our programs, exhibits, communications, and other public offerings. Valuing each other’s differences brings us together to create a thriving workplace and fair work culture, allowing us to fulfill our mission more effectively.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is committed to fostering a welcoming space and a diverse, inclusive team that reflects the communities in which we live and work. We understand that inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) are integral to the fulfillment of our mission, and to our success as an organization. To that end, we are working to build the structures, policies, hiring practices and organizational culture that ensure representation and opportunity for all, and create an environment of belonging where everyone feels respected, safe, and understood. Additionally, as we continue to engage in this work, we are working to integrate the core values of IDEA into our programs, exhibits, communications, and other public offerings. Valuing each other’s differences brings us together to create a thriving workplace and fair work culture, allowing us to fulfill our mission more effectively.
We believe inclusion is everyone’s responsibility. Ways in which commitment is demonstrated include continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively addressing bias.
The Museum’s IDEA Coalition consists of staff members who are driving our efforts to build a culture where people feel they belong and have a voice. Visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's IDEA page to learn more.
The above description reflects a general overview of the responsibilities, reporting relationships and position requirements for this job classification. It is not intended to be a complete description of all duties and requirements that may be inherent in the position.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in biological, earth, environmental sciences, environmental education, museum education, or a closely related field
- Three years of teaching experience in formal, informal, or combined educational environments
- Experience with curriculum development, pedagogical best practices, and Arizona State Science Standards
- Proficiency with word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, scheduling, communications, videoconferencing, and distance learning software
- Experience presenting to and managing large and small groups indoors and outdoors
- Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, long shifts, overnight camping events, and outdoors in all weather
- Ability to travel regionally for occasional teaching assignments or training
- Arizona driver’s license, six years of driving experience, and clean driving record, or ability to obtain
- Fingerprint Clearance Card, or ability to obtain
- CPR and First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain
- Rabies vaccination, or willingness to obtain
- Wilderness First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain
- Mandatory Reporter and Stewards of Children certifications, or willingness to obtain
- Defensive Driving certification, or willingness to obtain
- Experience working with interpretive animals
- Theater or large-presentation experience
- Bilingual skills in English, Spanish, or O’odham
- Teaching certificate
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The Company
What We Do
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a 98‑acre fusion museum near Tucson that combines a zoo, botanical garden, art gallery, natural history museum and aquarium. Founded in 1952, it focuses on conservation, research, education and public outreach about the Sonoran Desert, housing over 230 animal species and 1,200 plant taxa while operating exhibits, programs, publications and events to inspire stewardship of desert ecosystems.
