Are you looking for a fun, inspiring place to work? We are looking for you! Arizona Science Center is an exciting, fast-paced, and hands-on environment for our guests and team. At Arizona Science Center, we take pride in providing the perfect mix of fun, education, and excellent service to our guests of all ages. We are looking for talented, enthusiastic individuals to join our team!

POSITION SUMMARY

The Professional Development Facilitator at Arizona Science Center will coordinate, develop, and implement science professional learning experiences as an active member of the professional learning team. Responsibilities include professional development, coaching, mentoring, and facilitating learning networks.

 

This position reports to the Director of Professional Learning and works collaboratively with members of the professional development team to provide Arizona teachers with ongoing training and support relating to science curriculum/content and inquiry-based teaching strategies with the intent to expand and enhance the pool of qualified and passionate science educators.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO

 

LEAD through facilitating workshops, developing content, and coaching Arizona Educators

  • Develop and facilitate teacher education/professional development programs for school and district contracts, the Science Teacher Residency program (STaR), and grant funded programs per Arizona Science Center priorities and guidelines.
  • Provide coaching and mentoring services to Arizona educators as included in contracts, STaR, and grant funded programs.
  • Represent Arizona Science Center within the community as needed.
  • Lead, develop and facilitate training programs for Arizona Science Center employees as requested following Arizona Science Center priorities and guidelines.
  • Participate in planning, facilitating, and evaluating each of the individual lessons/activities that comprise the STaR program modules. Modules address life science, space, physical science, earth science, environmental science, and chemistry. 
  • Maintain program documentation, including, but not limited to participant attendance, expenses, contact logs, and service logs.
  • Develop new and/or refine current content for Arizona Science Center’s Lesson Plan Database and Educator Guides, the online repository of standards-aligned lesson plans.
  • Remain current and apply best practices in teacher education and science/ STEM education.

 

COLLABORATE with Arizona Science Center team members and the community

  • Maintain a safe, friendly, and fun work and learning environment through respectful interactions with team members.
  • Collaborate with others to ensure all programs align with Arizona Science Center’s Strategic Plan.
  • Communicate with internal staff and external partners regarding program logistics.  
  • Develop and maintain partnerships with education communities and external organizations, such as professional groups, universities, and school districts.
  • Collaborate with outside vendors (Microbric, Code.org, etc.) to align programs with Arizona Science Center’s Strategic Plan and ensure exceptional customer service.

 

EVALUATE the effectiveness of professional learning workshops and self

  • Continually monitor programs for quality insurance via evaluation, working closely with research and evaluation professionals, and implementing modifications/revisions based on evaluation findings and recommendations.
  • Regularly self - reflect on performance and experiences in order to determine areas of professional growth. Work with the Manager of Professional Learning in order to locate/determine opportunities that align.

 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

 

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

 

  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in science, education, or related discipline.  Alternatively, 5+ years related experience, training, and education.  
  • Experience with science education and content.
  • Experience in developing and delivering professional development programs for teachers.
  • Strong understanding of Arizona College and Career Ready Standards, Three Dimensional Learning, and Next Generation Science Standards
  • Must be creative and dynamic; exhibit enthusiasm, initiative, flexibility, and openness to new ideas.
  • Ability to work on multiple projects and deadlines. Excellent project management, planning, and organizational skills.
  • Being bilingual is a plus.
  • Proficiency in G Suite (Gmail, docs, spreadsheets, slideshows, and calendar) required.

 

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

  • Must have a valid Arizona driver’s license.
  • Must have a current teaching certificate.
  • Must obtain a fingerprint clearance card.

 

LANGUAGE SKILLS 

  • Excellent interpersonal, organizational, analytic, written, computer and verbal communication skills a must.
  • Ability to write reports, presentations, and journal articles.
  • Ability to effectively present information and interact with staff, visitors, and the public both in person and by phone. 

 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS  

Ability to work with basic mathematical concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY  

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

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 job, the employee is frequently required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.

This job also requires the use of a computer which will be placed somewhere in the employee's workspace.  The employee must have the necessary keyboard and computer mouse skills as well as the ability to read a color monitor.

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 job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

BENEFITS include, but are not limited to:

  • Sick time
  • Professional Development Opportunities
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • Family membership to Arizona Science Center and 600+ Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)
  • Admission Exchange Program - Year-round complimentary admission for the employee and one guest to visit the Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Art Museum, Heard Museum, Arizona Museum of Natural History, etc. 

 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Arizona Science Center maintains a firm policy of equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants. We recruit, hire, train, promote, compensate, and dismiss employees based on such factors as experience, character, ability, and skill, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or heritage, age, marital or veteran status, disability, citizenship, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

 

ACCOMMODATIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.