Outreach Program Specialist, McDonald Observatory

Job Posting Title:

----

Hiring Department:

----

Position Open To:

----

Weekly Scheduled Hours:

----

FLSA Status:

----

Earliest Start Date:

----

Position Duration:

----

Location:

----

Job Details:

The McDonald Observatory isa majorastronomicalresearchobservatory located 16 miles from Fort Davis, Texas (440 miles from the UT Austin campus). This position is located at McDonald Observatory, Frank N. Bash Visitors Center. The Visitors Center is open five days per week, Tuesday through Saturday, and requires a variable work schedule to meet business needs.

The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff. For more details, please seehttps://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefitsandhttps://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards.

• Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%)

• Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays

• Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan)

• Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax-sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b)

• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses

This position supports and advances the education and public outreach mission of McDonald Observatory and The University of Texas at Austin. The outreach program specialist develops and delivers materials and content for public programs such as guided tours, solar viewing, star parties, special viewing, workshops, and livestream programs. The specialist conducts in-person evening and daytime programming for groups of 10-500 visitors and on-camera livestreamed programs for thousands of viewers. The specialist also assists with community activities, special projects, events, and programs on and off-site.

• Conduct and assist with the implementation of public programs for learners of all ages at McDonald Observatory and through online platforms. Help coordinate, plan, and execute community activities, special projects, events, and programs both on and off-site. Provide excellent customer service and educational information to visitors and event participants. Ensure that participants are served, and that program outcomes are documented and communicated.

• Ensure proper maintenance of telescope, equipment, and exhibits. Assist in training staff on the proper operation of telescopes, domes, exhibit components, and related equipment. Follow established safety and proper use guidelines for telescopes and evaluate these guidelines as equipment or operations change. Assist in preparing and implementing Visitors Center safety procedures.

• Participate in a cross-functional team and collaborate with other staff members to complete tasks and projects. Assist with routine maintenance of telescope equipment, domes, and galleries. Help keep exhibits in the Visitors Center in good condition. Support the Gift Shop when needed. Perform janitorial duties and other related tasks as required.

• Bachelor's degree in education, public affairs, communication, or astronomy or a related field.

• Three years of experience in public affairs, museum public speaking, or working in formal or informal educational settings, and in preparation of informational materials.

• Computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation capabilities.

• Ability to work as a team member, independently, and with overlapping projects.

• Position competencies include accuracy and attention to detail, decision-making and critical thinking, effective communication, initiative, interpersonal relationships, problem-solving, and service excellence.

• Competencies for the position include accuracy and attention to detail, decision-making, critical thinking, effective communication, initiative, interpersonal skills, problem-solving, and service excellence.

An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

• Two or more years of STEM education outreach experience.

• Two or more years working with telescopes, domes, and related equipment.

• Experience working in a school, museum, nature preserve, or similar facility.

• Amateur astronomy interest and knowledge of the night sky and the ability to identify major constellations.

• Proficiency in Spanish.

This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three-year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident.

$40,000 + depending on qualifications

• Works in a standard office, classroom, theater, outdoor, and in scientific/industrial environments.

• Operation of telescopes of varying sizes, requiring manual dexterity.

• Work in low lighting conditions, assisting guests to look through telescopes.

• May work around mechanical hazards.

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.

• Climbing of stairs and/or ladders.

• Lifting and moving 20+ lbs.

• McDonald Observatory is approximately 6900 ft. above sea level. Year-round exposure to variable and sometimes extreme weather conditions, such as sub-freezing temperatures, wind, dust, extreme heat, rain, hail, snow, and ice.Temperatures can range from -10F to +100F. Work outside at night in various weather conditions, including low temperatures, wind, etc.

• Inclement winter weather can be expected, which requires comfortable driving in wintry conditions on mountain grades

• The Visitors Center is open year-round, Tuesday-Saturday

• Hours varies and includes weekends, evenings, and some holidays

• Occasional overnight travel for outreach events and conferences

• Letter of interest

• Resume

• List of three (3) professional references

Importantfor applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers:You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply. You will be allowed to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you can multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure thatALLRequired Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for current university employees and contingent workers:As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu, and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled into your application. The application is one page, and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questionspresented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) noted above.

----

Employment Eligibility:

----

Retirement Plan Eligibility:

----

Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

----

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer,complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

----

Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

----

Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

----

E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

----

Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.