Job Application for Science Curriculum Specialist, Internships & Mentorships Program at California Academy of Sciences

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About the California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a world-class planetarium, aquarium, research center, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

Our extensive collections span plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. We are a diverse team of leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who work collaboratively to advance knowledge and inspire action through science and storytelling.

When you join the California Academy of Sciences, you become part of a mission-driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. Whether you're working behind the scenes in research or engaging the public on the museum floor, your work will help connect people to the natural world and empower them to protect it.

About the Opportunity

The Science Curriculum Specialist for the Internships and Mentorships Program (I&M Program) plays a key role in developing and implementing curriculum for various educational programs across the Academy. The Science Curriculum Specialist will coordinate closely with the Manager, Science Curriculum and the Internships and Mentorships Program Manager to create and refine core science courses, while also leading the development and delivery of the I&M Program Mentorship Development Training Curriculum. This role offers a unique opportunity to collaborate across multiple IBSS departments, support the Education Division’s initiatives, and contribute to the growth of both I&M Program mentors and mentees in science-related educational pathways.

Organizational Culture
Join a team dedicated to the Academy’s mission, vision and values! Currently, the Academy has a new strategic plan including three initiatives – Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030 – that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement to regenerate fragile ecosystems around the world. Learn more at https://www.calacademy.org/about-us/major-initiatives.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. The Academy is looking for candidates who do great work, and we know they may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every qualification for the position.

This position is based in San Francisco, California. Staff are currently expected to work from the Academy offices at least 2-3 times per week, which may fluctuate based on business needs. Please do not apply if you are not able to work onsite. Candidates are required to have up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment, absent qualifying exemptions in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals receiving a conditional offer of employment from the California Academy of Sciences will be provided the full text of the vaccination policy.

Key Responsibilities

Qualifications: A successful candidate will have the following:

Work as part of a collaborative team alongside the Internships and Mentorships Program Manager, Manager, Science Curriculum and others to refine and expand the educational content, mentee professional development, and training materials for the I&M Network Programs across the Academy.
Collaborate and support PI’s on grants to help craft the learning piece of science and research at the Academy & other projects (aka Education staff but can help IBSS with their education goals)
Opportunities to provide competencies, best practices, and pedagogies for formal and informal science communication and public floor engagement training for other museum staff (and mentees as well) new to this public facing engagement component of our mission
Collaborate with the Manager, Science Curriculum to design and implement innovative curriculum for the I&M Program, focusing on mentor development and developing core scientific concepts for mentees and other relevant audiences across learning levels.
Design and lead courses on core Academy scientific content tailored to Early Learners (elementary and middle school), High School (CiS), and Undergraduate (SSI) participants in the CAS mentorship programs.
Ensure that all course content is aligned with current educational standards and current Academy research/expeditions/endeavors such as Action Areas/collections work by helping to craft educational components for various active science and research initiatives.
Work closely with the Internships and Mentorships Program Manager and Manager, Science Curriculum to ensure smooth integration of training modules into the overall program structure.
Lead the creation and implementation of the I&M Program Mentorship Development Training Curriculum, aimed at providing comprehensive training for all mentors across the CAS I&M network of mentors that come from diverse specialized fields including scientists.
Assist mentors in the I&M Program such as graduate students and early career researchers with developing their mentoring content and plans (including but not limited to curriculum design, appropriate age level content design, and setting expectations of behavior and professional development in the classroom, the lab, the field, and behind the scenes at the museum)
Facilitate collaboration and coordination between the Education Division and other program teams such as IBSS and other divisions to ensure alignment of institutional goals and educational objectives are understood by all I&M Program mentors.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned

EXPERIENCE and/or EDUCATION:

Required and Preferred:

Experience working with early learners, high school students, or undergraduate programs as an educator.
Experience working with adult learners.
This position can accommodate a range of experience levels, from entry-level to more experienced professionals with a background in curriculum development, education, or science-related fields.
Experience in designing and delivering educational content is required, particularly in science or STEM subjects preferred

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Required and Preferred:

Strong background in science education, curriculum design, and internship/mentorship programs.
Strong background in adult learning theories and frameworks.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for liaising with internal teams and external stakeholders.
Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.
Familiarity with current trends in mentorship and internship programs for high school and undergraduate students is preferred.
Knowledge of appropriate science curriculum in both formal and informal educational settings.
A passion for innovative and non-standardized science education and supporting the development of mentors and mentees in the field.

Physical Environment:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. (Cut and paste from the Job Description adding other requirements relevant to the position's responsibilities.)

Compensation and Benefits:
The hourly rate for this position is $33.16 - $34.50. Actual compensation will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualifications and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications and aligned with the internal peer group. We believe in fair and equitable compensation practices and are committed to providing competitive salaries within the industry and market standards. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked. Further details regarding compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume and application through our Careers Page portal.

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).

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Have you been an Academy Volunteer (through the Academy Volunteer Program)? If so, when and who was your supervisor?

Have you been an intern at the Academy before? If so, when/who was your supervisor/and what program were you an intern in (if applicable)?

Describe your past experience(s) developing and implementing biodiversity science/evolutionary biology curriculum.

Tell us about your experience with creating and implementing science curriculum/modules across learning levels including early learners, high school learners, undergraduate student learners, graduate student learners, and adult learners. Please describe as many different learning level experience examples as you may have from your background.

Please share your familiarity with Experiential Learning/Transformative Education principles.

If you were to summarize your pedagogical style and ethos as an educator, how would you identify as an educator?

Do you have experience with working in a Natural History classroom, Natural History museum, related academic environment, or other non-profit program?

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Science Curriculum Specialist, Internships & Mentorships Program

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