K 12 Education Jobs for OPT Students

Job Posting Title: K-12 Education Specialist, McDonald Observatory Visitors Center
Hiring Department: McDonald Observatory
Position Open To: All Applicants
Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Earliest Start Date: Immediately
Position Duration: Expected to Continue

Location: MCDONALD OBSERVATORY

Job Details:

General Notes
The McDonald Observatory is a major astronomical research observatory 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 see https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://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

Purpose

This position supports and advances the education and public outreach mission of McDonald Observatory and The University of Texas. Develops and delivers materials and content for K12 programs such as Astronomy Field Trips, Distance Learning, Homeschool Days, and Teacher Professional Development Workshops. Conducts evening and daytime programming for visitors, such as guided tours, solar viewing, star parties, and livestream programs for public and private groups. Assists with community activities, special projects, events, and programs on and off-site.

Responsibilities

- Develop and deliver K-12 education program content and materials, both virtually and in person. This includes helping with the development, scheduling, coordination, and delivery of Astronomy Field Trips, classroom visits, Distance Learning Programs, public livestreams, and Teacher Professional Development Workshops.
- Facilitate public programs at McDonald Observatory, community outreach events, and activities for learners of all ages. Provide excellent customer service and educational information to visitors of the Observatory and participants in community activities, special projects, events, and programs both on- and off-site. Ensure that participants are served, and program outcomes are documented and communicated.
- Participate in a cross-functional team and work cooperatively with other staff members to complete tasks and projects. Assist with routine maintenance of telescope equipment, domes, and galleries. Help maintain exhibits in the Visitors Center. Assist with the Gift Shop when needed. Perform janitorial duties and other related tasks as required.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in education, public affairs, communication, or astronomy or a related science.
- Three years of experience in teaching, public speaking, museum, or formal or informal education, and preparation of informational materials.
- Computer skills include 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.
An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

- Two or more years of STEM education outreach experience.
- Two or more years experience as a classroom teacher.
- 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.
- Some experience with amateur/professional telescopes.
- Proficiency in Spanish.

Driving Required

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.

Salary Range

$42,000 + depending on qualifications and experience

Working Conditions

- 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 -10°F to +100°F. 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.

Work Shift

- The Visitors Center is open year-round, Tuesday through Saturday.
- Hours vary and include weekends, evenings, and some holidays.
- Occasional overnight travel for outreach events and conferences.

Required Materials

- Letter of interest
- Resume (CV)
- List of three (3) professional references

Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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.