Closing date: Monday 18 October at 1pm
CURIOSITY OFFICER (SCHOOLS)
THE ORGANISATION:
Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium is a leading hands-on science and discovery centre dedicated to sparking curiosity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It attracts more than 172,000 visitors per year from across the South of England and is home to the UK’s largest capacity planetarium. The Centre is an independent educational charity formed in 1985 as a strategic initiative with local government and businesses. Our bespoke educational program, aimed at KS1 to KS3, sparks curiosity and ignites a passion for STEM. We take schools on an adventure through the immersive exhibits, explore the universe in our planetarium and get hands-on in our workshops. Our educational program attracts around 40,000 schoolchildren to the Centre every year.
THE ROLE:
Winchester Science Centre is dedicated to adding a new and exciting scientific content stream to a schools offer, with a greater emphasis on outdoor learning, ecology, sustainability and environmental sciences. We are seeking an individual with knowledge in this area who also has prior experience of working with schools and groups in this area. Our team of Curiosity Officer’s develop, coordinate, deliver and evaluate our different STEM engagement programs across the charity. The Curiosity Officer (Schools) is primarily dedicated to maintaining our hugely successful Ultimate STEM School Trip, and the future development of a school’s outdoor STEM offer.
This is a fantastic and unique opportunity to join a charity with a dedicated, friendly and supportive team, that will make an important contribution to the future development of this charity. The Curiosity Officer is part of the Curiosity Department, managed by the Head of Curiosity and Planetarium.
The Ultimate STEM School Trip
Our School Trip is the corner stone of the charity’s public engagement offer. We strive for our offer to be fully accessible and the successful applicant must be an active advocate for accessibility and always looking to develop engagements with accessibility built in. The successful applicant will maintain this offer to its current high standard, with annual development of content and regular training sessions for our Inspirer Team, to update science content and develop group management skills. The post holder manages and implements day-to-day delivery and budget, supported by the Head of Department.
NEW Ultimate Outdoor STEM School Trip
Bio:Space is an area we are piloting within the Science Centre, where young people explore our unique environment inside the South Down National Park and take part in hands-on activities about environmental science. As part of our COVID recovery, we wish to diversify our visitor experience outdoors. We plan to curate a unique, exciting and thriving new addition to our school trip offer which will explore the scientific method outside. The successful applicant will develop the offer, with a small team from WSC, which with enlighten young people in environmental science and the climate crisis, encouraging them to become agents of change for a better planet.
Other Projects and Activities
The post holder will manage, or be part of a team from time to time, who manages other projects that will relate to your role. Previous national projects include ‘Destination Space’ which was a charity wide project which redeveloped a school workshop and is now the most popular workshop; and working with the Curiosity Officer (Public) to develop activities in Bio:Space. We are a small, but growing team therefore, you will be called on to support across the whole STEM offer; which may include Science Festivals, STEM outreach sessions, mobile planetarium, public days at the Science Centre and filming for our digital engagement program.
Team Management
As experienced members of the team, Curiosity Officers will line manage Inspirers, sessional workers and volunteers as well as working closely with other staff across the charity. You will be required to attend regular team meetings and you will be expected to present reports on the projects you are working on.
DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION:
• Maintain, manage and develop the content for the Ultimate STEM School Trip. This includes preparation, planning, cost management, logistics, delivery and evaluation on a daily basis.
• Build, pilot and deliver an outdoor STEM schools offer that will encourage children to become agents of change for our planet.
• Deliver inspirational science communication activities through a range of public engagement methods, such a workshops, science shows, exhibitions, planetarium and digital content, across all charity audiences.
• Always be curious! Maintain and develop your scientific knowledge, including the school national curriculum and pedagogical techniques.
• Take an active role within our Curiosity Officer Team, and support colleagues to achieve our charitable mission to build science capital for all.
• Line manage, grow and develop our team of Inspirer’s to become outstanding science communication and public engagement professionals
• Provide knowledgeable and fun training sessions for the department, to ensure high standards are met within the school offer, and share best practice across the team.
• Supervise and manage volunteers who support our charity. These could be STEM professionals showcasing their research or college students seeking vital insight into our industry.
• Provide excellent communication, cross departmentally, to support our culture of close team work.
• To undertake other tasks as could reasonably arise within the remit of Curiosity Officer to include all levels of work within this team.
The above should not be considered an exhaustive list.
PERSON SPECIFICATION: E = Essential D = Desirable
Qualifications
• Level 3 or equivalent qualifications, in a STEM subject (E)
• BA or BSc (Hons) or equivalent qualification in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (D)
Experience
• A strong passion for science and science communication (E)
• In delivering inspirational workshops, to young people of all ages (E)
• In explaining and exploring scientific concepts to public audiences (E)
• In successfully supervising and training colleagues (E)
• In creating and developing outstanding scientific resources for a range of audiences (E)
• Previous experience of data collection and evaluation (D)
• Delivering outstanding live content to a public audience (E), including within a planetarium (D)
• Working within a Science Centre or Public Engagement establishment (D)
• Knowledge of pedagogical practices to spark curiosity (D)
• Delivering outstanding science communication in a variety of locations, e.g. festivals, conferences, schools (D)
Practical Skills and Knowledge
• High level communication skills, both verbal and written, to enable excellent communication with educators and STEM professionals at all levels (E)
• Good knowledge of UK school systems and STEM curricula (E)
• Competence in the use and application of Microsoft Office software (E)
• Good organisational skills and an ability to prioritise effectively (E)
• Staff supervision and team working skills (E)
• Good at logistical management and good time keeping (E)
• Good knowledge of science research (D)
• An understanding of local and national STEM engagement providers (D)
Personal Qualities and Skills
• An ability to enthuse and inspire colleagues (E)
• An ability to engage and motive young people within STEM (E)
• An organised and analytical approach to working in a target driven role (E)
• An interest in STEM education and enrichment (E)
• A strong team player who can work effectively with colleagues across the organisation (E)
• Willingness to work flexible hours including some evenings and weekends with reasonable notice (E)
• An ability to adapt to changing priorities and to respond quickly to requests (D)
• Full and clean driving license (D)
HOW TO APPLY
For further details and to apply please see here: https://www.winchestersciencecentre.org/media/4289/wsc_curiosityofficerschools_jd.pdf
