Science Facilitator

Science World; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health

Dental

RRSP matching

Professional development

Science World membership

Job summary

Science World in Vancouver is hiring a Science Facilitator to deliver hands-on science activities, gallery interactions and school programs, and to provide daily customer service to visitors.

The role includes leading tours, presenting live science shows, mentoring high school work experience students, and taking on a rotating daily supervisor duty. Full-time, 40 hours/week, weekends included.

Qualifications

• Requires at least a High School diploma; post-secondary considered an asset.
• Background in science, interpretation, education, or customer service preferred.
• Leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Must be able to lift at least 12 kg and work outdoors in all weather.

Responsibilities

• Provide friendly, responsive customer service.
• Facilitate hands-on science activities and gallery interactions.
• Deliver school programs and live science shows.
• Mentor High School Work Experience students.
• Plan and supervise daily activities as In-Charge on a rotating basis.
• Help maintain a safe, clean, and secure environment.

Skills

Customer service

Leadership

Public speaking

Team player

Education

High School diploma

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

Description

Permanent Full-Time

Position: Science Facilitator

Reports to: Managers, Visitor Experience

Science World is a mission-based, charitable organization that supports the development of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Design and Math) literacy across British Columbia. Our mission is to ignite wonder and empower dreams through science and nature and our purpose is Science for All.

Our Science for All strategy is to revitalize Science World with a substantial capital plan to replace critical infrastructure, enhance the visitor experience and develop new content across all our channels under the themes of Regeneration of the Planet, Human Health, and Inclusion. Our plan is to ensure that people throughout British Columbia, especially under-represented communities, have access to high quality, informal STEAM learning. Through our onsite, online and outreach programs, Science World seeks to spark curiosity and wonder in STEAM and support development of talent across communities in the province.

As part of our team, you will join a diverse community that acknowledges everyone’s unique talents and empowers people to do what is right for our visitors, our members, our volunteers and each other. You will work in an environment where we believe in developing our employees and growing their strengths, while focusing on our values: Curious, Playful, Inclusive, Relevant and Collaborative.

As a facility, Science World is generally open to the public seven days a week, with some extended evening hours in the summer months. Typical office hours are Monday to Friday 8:00am – 5:30pm, with front-facing and operational teams also working a variety of shifts including weekends, holidays and evenings. Hours of work and other related requirements will be scheduled according to business needs and this may include special events on evenings, weekends and holidays.

Position Description:

Under the direction of the Managers, Visitor Experience, you will provide a range of services and educational programs at Science World. As a Science Facilitator, your responsibilities include (but are not limited to), providing daily customer services, facilitating hands-on science activities and gallery interactions, delivering school programs, presenting live science shows, providing daily care and maintenance of our animal ambassadors, and the implementation of safety and security procedures. You will assist in the smooth operation of all visitor experiences, working in a team to ensure that galleries are well maintained and operational and provide feedback on visitor interactions. As a mentor for High School Work Experience Volunteers, you will provide students with feedback, support, conduct interviews, and complete placement evaluations. You will model a positive, solution-focused approach in your daily work and work as an engaged and collaborative team player across all functional departments.

After you have become comfortable in the basics of the job, this dynamic position will expand to include a regular, rotating operational role of daily supervisor (In Charge). In this role, your energy sets the tone for the day. The In Charge is responsible for creating an hour-by-hour schedule, supervising staff, and constantly monitoring the building to ensure exhibits are operational, and our Visitor Experience Team is supported. You are the problem solving, multitasking, go-to person for the day.

Important Availability Commitment:

This position requires a full-time commitment of 40 hours per week, 5 days per week. Science Facilitators are required to work a non-traditional weekend (i.e., Fri/Sat, Sun/Mon, Tues/Wed) on a rotating schedule.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for someone who loves working with people and is passionate or curious about science. You are a customer service driven team player, who is excited to provide our visitors with friendly, fun, awesome, ‘wow’, memorable experiences. You look forward to interacting with visitors for the majority of your time, providing them with exciting learning opportunities. Through curiosity and playfulness, you will encourage lifelong learning. You are flexible and can understand the Visitor Experience Team’s importance in Science World’s daily operations, helping to ensure a safe, clean, and secure environment. You are comfortable working with colleagues in different departments to help meet our shared goals. You are comfortable in a leadership role and enjoy supporting others. You feel confident role modelling a positive, solution-focused approach in your daily tasks, and can work as an engaged and collaborative team player.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide our customers with friendly, responsive service
• Provide our customers with a fun, awesome, wow, memorable, "out of home" experience
• Positively influence attitudes towards science and technology through facilitating hands-on science activities, demonstrations, exhibit interpretation, gallery interactions, delivering school programs, and presenting live science shows
• Ensure a safe, clean, secure environment for our customers
• Mentor, support, and provide feedback to High School Work Experience students, including conducting interviews and completing placement evaluations
• Perform daily supervisor (In-Charge) responsibilities, including:
  • Creating an hour-by-hour schedule of daily activities for Visitor Experience staff and volunteers
  • Supervising and supporting Visitor Experience staff and volunteers, leading the team as a positive and solution-focused role model
  • Constantly monitoring the building to ensure exhibits are operational
  • Working well under pressure, troubleshooting, and problem-solving challenges as they arise in a fast-paced environment
• Ensure that galleries are well maintained and operational and provide feedback on customer interaction
• Assist in the smooth operation of all visitor experiences and ancillary services
• Provide daily care and maintenance of our animal ambassadors
• Work as an engaged and collaborative team player across all functional departments
• Operate within the philosophy, culture and values of Science World
• Perform other related duties as required to fulfill any changing business needs of this role

Qualifications:

• A minimum of a High School diploma, post-secondary education is preferred
• Background in science, interpretation, education, or customer service is preferred
• Previous experience working in museums, customer service, or other relevant experience
• Leadership or supervisory experience is preferred
• Must be an engaged, responsive and respectful team player capable of working in a dynamic team environment
• Excellent customer service skills and experience working with the public of all ages, including early learners
• Proven ability to speak and perform before audiences of varying size and composition
• Interest in learning animal care procedures
• Strong ability to think logically, methodically, and creatively, demonstrating excellent decision making, problem solving, and troubleshooting skills
• Ability to consistently monitor and encourage safe behaviours
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 applications, including Outlook, Word and Teams
• Experience using cash registers, ticket terminals, computerized sales systems, and databases considered an asset
• Required to work outside in all weather conditions
• Must be physically able to safely lift at least 12kgs
• Must be available to work 40 hours per week, 5 days per week, including weekends, holidays, school breaks, and occasional evenings and early mornings

This is a unionized position represented by CUPE 1004. The compensation rate is $24.81/hour.

Science World offers a substantial benefits package after successfully completing probation, including Extended Health, Dental, Voluntary RRSP/TFSA Plan, generous paid time off (vacation, sick, wellness days), Science World membership, RRSP matching (after 1 year), and Professional Development.

Do you feel you have not met every requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification in the job posting.

Science World is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment so we strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every single qualification outlined, as you may have transferable skills that would be an asset to our team.

* All offers are subject to satisfactory completion of reference and police criminal record checks.

We would like to thank all candidates. However, only those selected for an interview will be contacted