Education Specialist

About the Adler Planetarium

The Adler Planetarium connects people to the universe and each other. Whether it is introducing a guest to the Ring Nebula, a neighborhood school to a community partner, a research team to a network of citizen scientists, or one staff member to another, the Adler’s focus on meaningful connections dates back nearly a century.

 

Today, the museum hosts more than half a million visitors each year and reaches millions more through youth STEM programs, neighborhood skywatching events, online citizen science, and other outreach projects. With the Adler’s support, people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities gain the confidence to explore their universe together and return to their communities ready to think critically and creatively about any challenge that comes their way.

 

The Position

The Adler Planetarium is seeking an Education Specialist to join our dynamic team located on Chicago's Museum Campus. Staff in this role will work as part of a team of museum educators responsible for delivering daily engaging informal learning experiences to visitors of all ages. Education Specialists spend the majority of their time on the floor in the museum's galleries and educational spaces engaging the public and school groups. They are experts in understanding and adapting to meet the needs and expectations of our target audiences: adults, families, and students. 

 

Responsibilities include:

• Implementing informal learning experiences and opportunities. 

  • Facilitating core onsite activities for adults, families, and students. Having conversations with guests and supporting museum and gallery wayfinding. 

  • Providing positive guest-facing interactions.

  • Collecting participation data, logging successes and challenges, and providing input regarding visitor feedback and experiences to the wider department. 

  • Preparing for educational programs and maintaining organized learning spaces (e.g., setting up/breaking down activities, restocking spaces, reporting supply needs).

• Ongoing participation in training and knowledge development.

  • Taking an active role in team discussions and training sessions in order to build and maintain facilitation skills and content knowledge.

  • Continually revisiting best practices and trends in museum interpretation and engagement. Participating in continual coaching and development of self, team, and educational offerings.

  • Acting as a peer mentor. Supporting team members with a positive and collaborative attitude.

• Assisting in departmental initiatives.

  • Supporting the development, design, prototyping, evaluation, and launch of new and revised experiences, activities, and resources for adults, families, and students.

 

Work Schedule

Work hours for this position vary seasonally from 10 to 16 hours a week. Expect to work Wednesdays (12:30 PM-8:30 PM) and Saturdays (8:30 AM-2:30 PM). Select holidays are required (MLK Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day). During the school year, expect to work Tuesdays (8:30 AM-1:30 PM). Hours and schedule are subject to change based on operational needs. 

 

The planned start date for this position is April 21, 2025.

 

For Application Submission, a Resume and Cover Letter are REQUIRED

 

PT The Compensation & Benefits

Base Pay Range: $17.00-19.02/hr

Work-Life Balance

• 7 to 25-hour workweek

• Eligible to accrue up to 6 vacation days per year

• 3 sick days as of date of hire (can accrue up to 6.5 days per year)

• Eligible to earn time and a half for working on any of the 7 Adler observed holidays

• Flexible work arrangements

• Paid Family Bereavement Leave & Jury Duty

• Paid Parental Leave

Commuter flexible spending account

Retirement Savings Plan

• 403B plan with Adler match

• Adler match is 100% vested immediately

• Eligible to enroll as of the date of hire  

 Network of Support through our EAP programs

• Resources to help address emotional, legal, and financial issues

• Face-to-face, telephonic, and web-based services

• Free subscription to the Calm Premium app

 Employee Loan Program

 Discounted Onsite Parking Program

 Free Entrance to Chicago area museums and cultural institutions

 

The Person

Education Specialists are excellent communicators with an enthusiasm for sharing knowledge, connecting with others, and supporting learners at various levels. They are creative, proactive problem-solvers with the ability to adapt and meet the needs of different audiences. Education Specialists bring their experience facilitating, supporting, or designing educational activities or experiences in order to deliver high quality audience-centered experiences to all visitors at the museum. They have the ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks, make well-reasoned independent decisions, and work well with others. Staff in this role work a flexible schedule including weekends and select holidays (MLK Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day) in order to best serve our guests on peak attendance days.

 

Required Qualifications:

• Associate’s Degree or three or more years of professional work experience.

• Two or more years of experience working in informal or formal learning environments or nonprofit direct service.

• A confident public speaker with storytelling skills. 

• Strong interpersonal skills, high levels of emotional intelligence, and professional maturity. 

• Demonstrated cultural competency and ability to provide service to, and work with a diverse array of people. 

• Self-directed learner with the ability to master content and concepts quickly.

• Excellent communicator with an enthusiasm for sharing knowledge, connecting with others, and supporting learners at various levels. 

• High degree of adaptability. A creative, proactive problem-solver.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree with a specialization in museums, education, or STEAM.

• Previous public-facing experience at a cultural institution such as a museum, science center, zoo, or theater. 

• Two or more years as a museum educator or interpreter.

• An audience-centered approach to working with the public.

• Prior knowledge or willingness to learn basic astronomy and space science concepts. 

• Fluency in two or more languages common to the Chicagoland area is a plus.

 

The Adler Planetarium is dedicated to complying with its obligations as an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact Jenean Featherson by email at [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case by case basis.