Job description
Join a premier astronomy outreach team in Flagstaff, Arizona. The Northern Arizona Observatory Foundation is seeking an energetic Astronomy Outreach & Public Engagement Manager to design, execute, and amplify science programs that bring the wonder of the night sky to students, families, and the broader community.
As our Outreach & Public Engagement Manager, you will collaborate with researchers, educators, and local partners to create immersive planetarium shows, telescope nights, school visits, and virtual programs. You will lead content creation, event planning, volunteer coordination, and stakeholder engagement—empowering audiences of all backgrounds to explore and love astronomy.
We offer a dynamic environment, competitive compensation, professional development opportunities, and a strong commitment to work-life balance. If you are a creative communicator with a passion for science and community impact, we want to hear from you.
Responsibility
- Develop and oversee astronomy outreach programs, including telescope nights, planetarium shows, school assemblies, and virtual events.
- Build and sustain partnerships with local schools, universities, museums, science centers, and community organizations.
- Lead event planning, volunteer coordination, budget management, and program evaluation; track impact metrics.
- Create engaging content for social media, newsletters, press materials, and educational resources.
- Represent the organization at conferences, public lectures, and media interviews.
- Manage outreach staff and volunteers; provide training, mentorship, and performance feedback.
- Secure grants and sponsorships to grow programs; assist with proposal writing and reporting.
Qualification
- Bachelor's degree in Astronomy, Science Communication, Education, or a related field; master's degree preferred.
- 3+ years of experience in science outreach, education, or communications; astronomy experience a plus.
- Excellent oral and written communication; ability to tailor messaging for diverse audiences.
- Proven success in event planning, program management, and volunteer coordination.
- Proficiency with content creation tools ( Canva, Adobe Spark ) and basic social media management; familiarity with analytics.
- Experience with grant writing or fundraising is a plus.
- Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed; ability to travel within the region.