Science Museum Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description

  The Director of Outreach and Community Partnerships is responsible for leading Science Museum Oklahoma's statewide outreach initiatives, community engagement efforts, and partnership-driven educational experiences. This position oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of high-quality STEAM programming designed to expand access to inquiry-based science experiences both within the museum and throughout communities across the state.

The Director serves as a strategic leader in building and maintaining partnerships with schools, educators, community organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen Science Museum Oklahoma's role as a trusted educational resource and community partner. This position is responsible for guiding outreach programming, curriculum development, educator workshops, school programming, partnership initiatives, and community-centered events. The Director ensures educational quality, safety standards, and alignment with the museum's mission, strategic goals, and community needs. 

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for department programming, partnerships, initiatives, and staff.
• Coordinate hiring, scheduling, motivating, training, coaching, evaluating, disciplining, and terminating department staff.
• Lead the development, review, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum, outreach programming, educator workshops, school programs, and community engagement initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with schools, libraries, informal learning organizations, community organizations, and statewide stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to expand access to Science Museum Oklahoma programming through strategic partnerships and outreach initiatives.
• Support the planning and implementation of special events, conferences, adult programming, and partnership initiatives that strengthen community engagement and organizational visibility.
• Ensure educational integrity, scientific accuracy, mission alignment, and inquiry-based learning practices across all outreach and educational experiences.
• Use program evaluation data, audience feedback, and community needs assessments to inform continuous improvement and strategic planning.
• Responsible for developing, managing, and adhering to departmental budgets, outreach resources, and operational logistics
• Maintain outreach operational procedures and best safety practices for off-site programming and demonstrations.
• Collaborate with community organizations and museum departments to develop and support meaningful mission-aligned experiences for diverse audiences.
• Pursue innovative and creative opportunities to increase statewide engagement and educational impact.
• Professionally represent Science Museum Oklahoma and its mission.
• Support additional museum initiatives as assigned to spark curiosity and promote discovery learning experiences

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, museum studies, nonprofit leadership, or STEAM-related field
• Five (5) or more years of experience in formal or informal education, educational programming, outreach initiatives, standards-aligned curriculum and professional development, or community engagement
• Three (3) or more years of supervisory or management experience
• Three (3) or more years of experience in building collaborative partnerships with schools, organizations, businesses, or community stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in education, museum studies, nonprofit leadership, or STEAM-related field
• Oklahoma educator or principal certification, or equivalent certification from another state
• Understanding of best practices associated with inquiry-based learning, education pedagogy, program evaluation practices, and accessibility
• Experience managing departmental budgets and operational logistics

Availability Requirements

• Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
• Ability to travel throughout Oklahoma for outreach programming, partnership meetings, conferences, and events

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience with informal or formal education programming, outreach initiatives, and community engagement strategies. 
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing teams.
• Experience building collaborative partnerships with schools, organizations, businesses, and community stakeholders.
• Knowledge of inquiry learning techniques, curriculum development, educator professional development, and best practices in formal and informal STEAM education.
• Experience developing and implementing educational programming for diverse audiences and learning environments.
• Ability to think strategically while effectively managing operational details and logistics.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong editing abilities.
• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaborating effectively across departments and with external partners.
• Comfortable engaging audiences of all ages in energetic and interactive educational experiences.
• Be kind, approachable, confident, and open to correction.
• Computer proficiency including Microsoft Office applications. 

Working Conditions

This position works in an active and busy children's museum setting.

• Work involves frequent sitting, standing and walking for long periods of time.
• Requires working on a computer for long periods of time
• Work involves crawling, climbing and crouching 
• Work may include occasional pushing, pulling, lifting, and carrying objects weighing up to 40 pounds.

This position requires the employee to drive for business purposes in either their own vehicle or a vehicle provided by SMO. Employees that drive for business purposes must be able to pass a Motor Vehicle Records check, and provide proof of insurance and a valid license to drive on an annual basis.

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.

This position has been designated as a safety sensitive position. Safety sensitive positions include job duties that could affect the health and safety of the employee or others.  

Working Relationships

This position has direct supervisory responsibilities over Outreach and Community Partnerships team members. This position must maintain positive working relationships with leadership, employees, applicants, vendors, and the general public.

Introductory Period

This position has been designated with a 90-day Introductory Period. The Introductory Period gives you time to fully learn your new role and adapt to your new work environment. It gives the Museum time to provide training, feedback and performance review. Prior to the end of the 90-days your supervisor will conduct a review of your overall performance and behavior to determine if you need a performance improvement plan, extra training, or if you are already working at full performance. Participation in, or completion of the Introductory Period does not impact your "at-will" employment relationship with Science Museum Oklahoma. You or the Museum may still terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. The Introductory Period also does not affect the benefits that you are offered as a regular (FT/PT) employee at the Museum. The 90-day Introductory Period simply gives both you and Science Museum Oklahoma an opportunity for learning, training, feedback and performance review.