Lead Educator for Public Programs

Join Our Team as the Lead Educator for Public Programs for the Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University!

If you're eager to make an impact and be part of a dynamic team, then we invite you to explore this exciting opportunity with us!

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

About The Department

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is dedicated to advancing the understanding and protection of the natural world and joins with people from all walks of life to make new scientific discoveries, share insights, and galvanize conservation action.

The Center for Engagement in Science and Nature (CESN) within the Cornell Lab of Ornithology activates and supports people worldwide to connect with birds and nature, participate in science, and promote the wellbeing of humans and natural systems. Recognizing that one of our significant strengths is the collective power of the people we engage, the Lab formed a new multidisciplinary unit aimed at being a world leader in inspiring people to contribute to science and become advocates for life on earth. Our model for change is to bring curiosity to scale through education and citizen science so that together we can gain insight into how natural systems work and address global conservation challenges. To help achieve these outcomes, the CESN seeks an experienced educator to join the Visitor Center team to engage the public, K-12 students, Cornell students in the Lab’s newly redesigned array of exhibits, continuously update and improve educational programming, and work with a vibrant team to attract new audiences.

About the Opportunity

We seek an enthusiastic self-starter with a mind for both creativity and coordination to join the Visitor Center team as the Lead Educator for Public Programs. This position will play an important role in leading the development and implementation of programs for campus, schools, family, VIPs, and community audiences of all ages. The Lead Educator for Public Programs serves as an important member of the Lab’s staff providing the highest quality engagement programs both in person and online.

Success Factors

• A highly-skilled communicator able to work with audiences of all types to share the mission of the Lab.

• Leads the creation and deployment of programming, keeping current with informal education and science communication best practices.

• Organizes and oversees student employees and volunteers, uses proven project management skills and acts as a valued team player.

• Ensure all feel welcome: Diversity is a core value at Cornell University and the Lab. The Lab is passionate about building and sustaining a just, diverse, inclusive, and equitable working and learning environments for all.

The Lab believes that every member on our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions.

This is a full-time position, fully onsite at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, primarily within normal business hours. Some weekend and evening hours are required for special events or programs.

What We Need

• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.

• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 to 5 years relevant experience or equivalent combination.

• At least 4 years working with multi-generational audiences in a museum or nature center setting.

• Proven ability to work in a team environment where cooperation between colleagues and flexibility to different styles and approaches is required.

• Experience developing and planning public-facing programs and written resources of a wide variety

• Excellent communication skills including written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.

• Friendly, courteous, and enthusiastic with a genuine interest in taking care of the public’s needs.

• Ability to work efficiently and accurately, multi-task, and think creatively.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Project management experience.

• Experience overseeing students and volunteers.

• Interest in natural history, informal education, and conservation.

Preferably, the successful candidate will also have the following:

• Solid knowledge of North American birds.

• Technical knowledge of software for offering online programs.

If you are passionate about birds, conservation, and scientific discovery, we encourage you to apply!

Rewards and Benefits

Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: https://hr.cornell.edu/benefits-pay.

• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: https://hr.cornell.edu/jobs/your-total-rewards.

• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.

• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.

No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position.

How to Apply:

You must submit both a Resume and Cover letter. ​

When applying through our system, please attach your application materials (resume and cover letter). You can upload documents either by “dragging and dropping” them into the dropbox or by using the “upload” icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website. If you are an internal employee, please log in to Workday.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations.

Familiarize yourself with Cornell's COVID-19 workplace guidance as well as the university's COVID-19 services and information.

University Job Title:

Extension Supp Spec I

Job Family:

Academic Support

Level:

E

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$62,035.00 - $67,938.00

Remote Option Availability:

Onsite

Company:

Contract College

Contact Name:

Denise Smith

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

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Online Submission Guidelines:

Most positions at Cornell will require you to apply online and submit both a resume/CV and cover letter. You can upload documents either by “dragging and dropping” them into the dropbox or by using the “upload” icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website.

Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email [email protected].

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell University's Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at [email protected].

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing [email protected].

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

2024-10-28