Manager, Youth Initiatives at the American Museum of Natural History
Job Title: Manager, Youth Initiatives
Job Status: Full-time
About the job
For over 150 years, the American Museum of Natural History in NYC has been dedicated to discovering, interpreting, and disseminating – through scientific research and education – knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe. Our Museum is seeking a Manager of Youth Initiatives (YI; a division of the Museum’s Department of Education). The YI group is dedicated to STEM workforce development and science enrichment for youth ages 10 to 24.
At YI, we aspire to be a hub and model for youth science learning and engagement with a content focus on human cultures, the natural world, and the universe. The organization is committed to addressing institutional and societal discrimination that prevents full participation in science for all young people. We are looking for candidates committed to this vision in working with our team to build a more just and equitable community of STEM learners and leaders.
The Manager of Youth Initiatives will be responsible for overseeing the programming, and general operations of the multi-year Lang Science Scholars program (7th to 12th grade), and our science enrichment program, Science Alliance. Science Alliance currently serves students in grades 6 to 8th grade, and the manager will be responsible for executing its expansion to high school (9 & 10th). Both programs serve a diverse community of learners, including students whose families are non-English-speaking.
● Lang Science Program is an intensive 6-year science program spanning middle and high school for students who have demonstrated a curiosity about the world and are eager to expand their knowledge. We work with Lang students to nurture this curiosity and joy, guide them to become responsible contributors to and consumers of science, and to prepare students for STEM careers. The Lang experience consists of collection and lab-based exploration, meaningful interactions with scientists and Museum professionals, team-based science research, internships throughout the museum, and field trips to natural areas and cultural institutions. Lang serves 140 students on Saturdays throughout the year, and 4 weeks in the summer. Lang is an application-based program.
● Science Alliance provides STEM-enrichment opportunities for students to discover and explore their science interests across a diversity of content areas including anthropology, astrophysics, conservation science, earth & planetary science, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Science Alliance experiences increasingly are multi-disciplinary (e.g. the astronomy of Mesoamerican societies) and/or embed opportunities for students to practice computer science & computational thinking skills (e.g. computer modeling of disease transmission). Science Alliance currently serves 360 students after school, Saturdays, holiday breaks, and during the summer. Science Alliance has open, rolling enrollment with no application.
Position Summary
The Manager of Youth Initiatives reports to the Assistant Director of Youth Initiatives. The Coordinator of Youth Initiatives reports to the Manager of Youth Initiatives.
The Manager of Youth Initiatives of these programs is responsible for 1) supervising 1-to-2 program coordinators; 2) leading recruitment, admissions, and onboarding; 3) creating and implementing strategies to build youth & alumni communities, and relationships with families; and 5) creating and overseeing program budgets. In consultation with the Assistant Director of Youth Initiatives, the YI Manager collaborates on setting year-long and multi-year strategy of offerings (e.g. course schedules) and creating yearly teaching schedules.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
● Supervise, train, support, and be responsive to Program Coordinators who are responsible for day-to-day operations for Lang and Science Alliance:
- Guide and support Program Coordinators in executing strategy, in adopting effective organizational practices, and in creating productive working relationships with education team (educators and teaching assistants)
- On-Site supervision when Programs are in session
● Refining and adapting admissions and registration practices through an equity and justice lens:
- Communicate with key partners and stakeholders to support recruitment for youth program
- Track applicant data and lead all aspects of the student selection process for Lang Science Program. Generate annual admissions report
- Understand ticketing processes and support Coordinator in monitoring ticket sales to reach student opportunity and revenue goals
- Develop and interpret metrics to evaluate the impact of admissions processes
● Lead existing and develop new programmatic opportunities to promote belonging and to build connections with students and families to support them in their STEM journey:
- May include virtual or in person meetings, student check-ins; newsletters; community nights and graduations
- Participate and co-lead alumni-related activities (e.g. writing letters of recommendation, participating in alumni building events)
- Build relationships with families and youth towards understanding audience needs
● Maintain the highest quality of innovative programming:
- Ensure all programs, classes, and events have a dedicated space, adequate staffing and coverage
- Review, contribute to, and approve course objectives
- Execute program evaluations and debrief with staff and students
- Identify professional learning needs of educators and coordinators
- Ensure justice-centered STEM experiences a core design feature for new programmatic elements
● Day of responsibilities:
- Meet & coordinate with security staff regarding to location and timing of classes
- Observe activity and participate when appropriate
- Be on call for emergencies
● Co-Create budgets and monitor spending throughout the year, and co-write grant reports
● Support Timesheet approvals for Part-Time Educators and Teaching Assistants
This position is a Tuesday through Saturday position
Required Qualifications:
- B.A. or equivalent degree in education, science, museum studies, social work, or relevant field
- 3 years of experience in designing and coordinating youth programming
- 1 year experience in a supervisory role
- Demonstrated commitment to addressing inequities and injustice
- Exceptional communication skills, both oral and written; with excellent public speaking and presentation skills
- Ability to effectively communicate and actively listen with internal and external stakeholders including partners, program participants, supervisors and other team members
- Ability to establish long-range objectives and specify the steps and actions to achieve them
- Committed to a Tuesday through Saturday work week
- Able to commit to an 11 am to 7 pm schedule at least 3 weekdays / week
- Committed to peak programming in summer
Preferred Qualifications
- Fluency in Spanish (Oral and Written)
- Experience working in STEM informal education
- Experience in physical or natural science fieldwork or a laboratory setting
- Active in informal learning networks (e.g. ASTC, NYCMER, AAM)
To Apply: