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Featured

Posted December 17, 2025
Community Engagement Specialist
Smithsonian STARS Program
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Salary Range: $83,742 — $108,859

INTRODUCTION
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is at the forefront, internationally, of the scientific exploration of the universe. SAO combines its resources with those of the Harvard College Observatory to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). The CfA is the best-known astrophysics center in the world. Its programs range from ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research to space-based research, the engineering and development of major scientific instrumentation for space launch and use in large ground-based facilities, and research designed to improve science education. The research objectives of SAO are carried out primarily with the support of Government and Smithsonian Institution funds, with additional philanthropic support. Government funds are in the form of Federal appropriations or the form of contracts and grants from other agencies. In contrast, Institution funds are available to SAO through grants from the Institution’s Restricted Funds, Special Purpose Funds, Bureau Activities, Business Activities, and non-Federal contracts and grants.

SUMMARY
The Community Engagement Specialist will play a critical role in advancing the mission of the STARS (Scientists Taking Astronomy to Rural Schools) program by building, growing, and maintaining strong relationships with K-12 schools, school districts, and teachers in rural communities. Reporting to the Executive Director, this position drives initiative-taking outreach and communication efforts, coordinates community events (e.g., star parties), and fosters a community of practices among teachers and schools participating in the STARS program. The Community Engagement Specialist will collaborate with scientists, educators, and delivery specialists to create engaging and impactful learning experiences that inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

MAJOR DUTIES

• Serves as an advisor to leadership on outreach policy, equity, and culturally responsive engagement practices.
• Builds and maintains partnerships with community leaders, advocacy groups, nonprofits, and underserved populations to advance mission objectives.
• Develops and delivers tailored messaging through public presentations, digital platforms, and community forums.
• Analyzes community feedback, demographic data, and participation trends to inform program improvements and policy recommendations.
• Coordinates cross-functional teams to implement engagement campaigns aligned with agency priorities.
• Manages digital engagement tools, including social media, newsletters, and virtual town halls.
• Prepares comprehensive reports and briefings on engagement outcomes, stakeholder concerns, and strategic recommendations.
• Community Relationship Building and Management
• Identify and cultivate new K-12 rural school partnerships and opportunities to expand STARS’s reach.
• Serve as the primary liaison between STARS and rural school partners to guide them through onboarding and gather feedback to inform program development and delivery.
• Work with educational content specialists and scientists to ensure program delivery materials align with the needs of teachers and schools, while collecting feedback.
• Implement and foster communities of practice among the school partners to increase sustained participation and opportunities to make connections among the network and extensions to other Smithsonian opportunities.
• Program Support and Implementation
• Advise in logistical aspects of events, such as star parties and training workshops, including scheduling, planning, and communicating about events.
• Work closely with delivery and education development specialists to ensure effective delivery of program content to align program goals and community needs.
• Advise in the recruitment, orientation, and scheduling of local volunteers and community networks to support program implementation and delivery.
• Professional Development and Training
• Organize webinars, in-person workshops, and virtual consultations with educators to deepen teacher and school engagement in STARS.
• Work with education development specialists in developing and delivering training sessions for teachers, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to implement the curriculum and learning materials in their classrooms and schools effectively.
• Collaboration and Innovation
• Stay informed about strategies and best practices in rural school/community engagement, integrating innovative approaches into the program.
• Partner with program staff and community schools to design tools and support that enable rural teachers and schools to engage with program content.
• Participate in program evaluation efforts, gathering data to assess community impact and inform improvements.
• Documentation and Reporting
• Maintain detailed documentation of school partners, contacts, and engagement methods, on a state-by-state basis.
• Contribute to reports for funders and stakeholders, highlighting the impact and outcomes of the program.
• Demonstrated experience in building and maintaining relationships with educators, schools, or community organizations.
• Experience working with underserved or rural communities is highly desirable.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Basic Requirements:
Minimum of one year specialized experience equivalent to at least grade 9 in the normal line of progression for this occupation. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position such as perform the duties of the position such as organizing nationwide networks of expert practitioners, maintaining communities of practice/online learning communities, engaging broad audiences in a regional or nationwide program.
OR
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
OR
3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.
OR
a combination of education and experience.

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on the web at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0300/miscellaneous-administration-and-program-series-0301/

View the complete description.

Posted December 1, 2025
Vice President of Science and Conservation
San Diego Natural History Museum
San Diego, California
Salary Range: $150,000 — $165,000

As head of the newly endowed Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Science and Conservation (JCSC), the VP will join a convivial and dedicated science division of 55 exceptionally talented staff. With an annual budget of $5.2 million, the JCSC works collaboratively to advance scientific understanding and inform conservation efforts throughout our region through research, partnerships, community science, and engagement. With more than 9 million specimens representing Southern and Baja California and collected over the past 150 years, the JCSC safeguards, researches and augments this unparalleled collection. It also has an active program of field research, scientific publications and status reports for land managers, funded through research grants and contracts. In addition to staff, the division hosts students through paid internships and fellowships, and nearly 160 volunteers. Community science also continues to play an active role in our research.

The VP also serves as a strategic organizational leader, helping to shape The Nat’s vision for the next century. Working closely with colleagues across the Museum, this role ensures that science and conservation are integrated into every facet of The Nat’s work–from public engagement to advocacy to collections growth and stewardship to financial sustainability. This position requires both visionary scientific leadership and organizational acumen, balancing field and specimen-based conservation-relevant research with strategic oversight, financial and business management, and cross-departmental, and Museum-wide collaboration.

Key Focus Areas
The VP will focus in five critical areas:

1. Leadership: synthesize and drive JCSC’s mission, research, conservation activities, operations and business strategy. Oversee strategic planning, collections policy, and ensuring the quality and integrity of research. Represent science and conservation and JCSC team members in overall Museum policy discussions.
2. Advocacy: serve as an ambassador, spokesperson and subject matter expert for The Nat through panels, public outreach, media interviews, accompanying and leading tours and stewardship events, and through authoring social media, publications, Op-eds and other written products.
3. Strategy: participate in developing overall Museum strategy and strategic direction for JCSC research, collection management and conservation. Ensure that JCSC’s work supports Museum goals. Seek out and deepen relationships with collaborative partners to enhance our impact.
4. Advancement: support efforts to expand and diversify revenue through grants, contracts, participation in donor stewardship, and other new and innovative sources, including our extremely successful PaleoServices and BioServices departments.
5. Management: coach, mentor, and develop the JCSC team, including students and research associates. Champion professional growth, collaboration, and equity, and encourage capacity building within and outside the Museum.

As a key member of the executive team, the VP will have wide latitude to shape this role, guiding both the strategy and operational direction of the division. This includes advancing the priorities listed above, as well as integrating science and conservation across Museum activities, and cultivating the overall culture across the organization. The VP will also oversee The Nat’s business services, our well-established PaleoServices and BioServices departments, with a combined budget of $3.4 M annually. Applicants should send a resume, cover letter, and a short (5 pages or less) writing sample. The search committee will start reviewing applications as they arrive, with a goal of initial interviews by January 12, 2026.

View the complete description.