[NHCOLL-L:1975] Director of Museum Education - position announcement

[Schlenker, Lori Bryn]

Director of Museum Education 

The University of Kansas Natural History Museum seeks an education director
for a small department that plans and implements science education programs
and services. Required: bachelor's degree, experience in an informal science
education setting, understanding of how visitors use museums. Preferred:
degree in biology, supervisory experience, experience managing public
programming in a science education setting, knowledge of museum standards
and practices. For more information, contact Brad Kemp, (785) 864-4540,
bkemp at ku.edu. Review of applications begins July 7, 2003. To apply, submit a
cover letter addressing your qualifications, a resume, and the names and
phone numbers of three references to Brad Kemp, The University of Kansas
Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd.,
Lawrence, KS 66045; (785) 864-4540, bkemp at ku.edu. EO/AA employer.



Position Announcement
Education Director (Program Director)

The University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research
Center's extensive informal science education programs are intended to
inform and inspire visitors about natural history and evolutionary biology.
The museum seeks an education director for a small department that plans and
implements science education programs and services. The education director
plays a key role in interpreting complex principles for lay audiences of
children and adults and must have strong communication skills. Bachelor's
degree and demonstrated experience in an informal science education setting
required. Applicants must demonstrate an understanding of how visitors use
museums; knowledge of museum standards and practices is preferred. Both the
public programs planning group and the assistant director for public affairs
review the education director's work for conformance to instructions and
museum standards.

Duties
* Plan, implement, evaluate, and modify science education programs and
services.
* Manage the public education budget and maintain accurate records of
programs and activities. Report these to the assistant director for the
purposes of planning and review.
* Participate in committees related to exhibits, events, and other subjects
as assigned.
* Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate the performance of unclassified,
classified, student hourly, and temporary employees.
* Participate on grant-proposal-writing teams to gain project support.
* Participate in professional development activities such as attending
professional meetings, reading professional literature, and exchanging
information with associates in the fields of education, conservation, and
other museum and environmental organizations.
* Maintain collections of teaching materials and the department's equipment
and facilities.
* As authorized by the assistant director, maintain community relations
through participation in activities that serve to improve informal science
education on campus and in the broader community within the state of Kansas.

Required qualifications
* Bachelor's degree
* Demonstrated experience in an informal science education setting
* Demonstrated understanding of how visitors use museums

Preferred qualifications
* Bachelor's degree or higher in biology, museum studies, or science
education
* Supervisory experience
* Demonstrated experience managing public programming in a science education
setting
* Demonstrated experience collaborating with subject experts to convey
complex ideas and principles to lay audiences
* Demonstrated knowledge of museum standards and practices

Review begins:  July 7, 2003

Salary:  $32,000 - $38,000, DOE

Application procedures:  Submit a cover letter addressing qualifications,
resume and names and phone numbers of three references to Brad Kemp, The
University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research
Center, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045; (785) 864-4540,
bkemp at ku.edu.

The University of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
Employer. The university encourages applications from underrepresented group
members. Federal and state legislation prohibit discrimination on the basis
of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry sex, age, disability,
and veteran status. In addition, university policies prohibit discrimination
on the basis of sexual orientation, marital status, and parental status.





Lori Schlenker
Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS  66045-7561
(785) 864-4540
lschlenk at ku.edu