ADMINISTRATOR, SCIENCE PROGRAM, CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER

State of California; California (MO); On-site; USD 9,600 - 11,000; Full time

Job summary

The California Science Center seeks a Curator, Technology to lead the development, implementation, and management of technology and engineering exhibitions in Los Angeles. You will coordinate educational materials with the Education Department and engage with the scientific community to support fundraising and public engagement.

This role supports a major permanent exhibition, shaping museum offerings and inspiring future generations of engineers and scientists.

Qualifications

• Experience communicating science and technology concepts to a general audience.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, implement, and monitor science or educational programs.
• Experience managing budgets and program resources for exhibits or education programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and manage technology and engineering exhibitions.
• Coordinate exhibit-related educational materials with Education Department.
• Establish relationships with the scientific community and support fundraising.
• Lead a major permanent exhibit project in technology and engineering.

Skills

Public science communication

Project management

Budgeting

Team leadership

Strategic exhibit development

Education

Ph.D. in engineering/technology/science

Job description

Curator, Technology
ADMINISTRATOR, SCIENCE PROGRAM, CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER

$9,467.00 - $10,751.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: Until Filled

This position is located in Los Angeles.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the California Science Center's exhibit development team and help shape a major new exhibition focused on technology and engineering. The Science Center is an internationally recognized leader in informal science education and a great place to make a difference. Located in the heart of Los Angeles in historic Exposition Park, the Science Center is open to the public 7 days per week, 362 days per year, with free general admission and more than 2 million visitors per year. Our mission is to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone by creating fun, memorable experiences.

The California Science Center seeks an Administrator, Science Program to fill the role of Curator, Technology. Under the direction of the Deputy Director, Exhibits, the Curator, Technology is responsible for the development, implementation, and management of technology and engineering exhibitions. The incumbent develops new exhibits and related content that are accurate, relevant to our visiting public, representative of current scientific knowledge, and effectively communicated to a diverse general audience. In support of this work, the incumbent also coordinates and develops exhibit-related educational materials in collaboration with the Education Department; establishes and maintains relationships with the scientific community; and supports fundraising initiatives.

This position will make major contributions to the Science Center's mission through the development of a major permanent exhibition focused on technology and engineering. This long-term project will have a dramatic and lasting impact on the California Science Center's exhibit offerings and inspire future generations of scientists and engineers.

Guided by our mission, Curators at the Science Center have the opportunity to do intellectually engaging, creatively stimulating, and highly rewarding work that directly serves the public. Our Curators have come to the Science Center from many different backgrounds. Some already have experience working in museums or science centers, while others have developed science communication skills through other means such as teaching, science writing, or industry communications. Regardless of their specific path to the position, all of our Curators have come to the Science Center looking for rewarding work applying their technical scientific expertise to the exciting and creative challenge of developing fun and memorable experiences that communicate science effectively to a diverse audience. We especially encourage veterans, women and persons with disabilities to apply.

Duty Statement

Working Conditions

PLEASE REFER TO DUTY STATEMENT IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT SECTION.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ADMINISTRATOR, SCIENCE PROGRAM, CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER

ADMINISTRATOR, SCIENCE PROGRAM, CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER $9,467.00 - $10,751.00 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

1

Work Location:

In Office

Telework:

In Office

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Work Shift:

8:00am - 5:00pm

Work Week:

Monday - Friday

Department Information

The California Science Center, a prominent state scientific and technological museum, is located south of Downtown Los Angeles at Exposition Park and is open to the public seven days a week, 362 days per year, with free general admission to its permanent exhibit galleries. One of California’s premier family destinations, it features award-winning exhibits that aim to inspire science learning and the permanent home for the Space Shuttle Endeavor.

Mission: The California Science Center aspires to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone by creating fun, memorable experiences because we value science as an indispensable tool for understanding our world, accessibility and inclusiveness, and enriching people’s lives.

Note: In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

Special Requirements

The selected candidate will be required to submit to pre-employment hiring clearances which include the following: Department of Justice Live Scan fingerprint and medical testing for tuberculosis, within three business days of receipt of a conditional offer of employment.

Desirable Qualifications

• An earned Ph.D. from an accredited college or university in engineering, technology, computer science, physical sciences, applied sciences, or a closely related scientific field that will complement the existing curatorial team's expertise in air and space, ecology and environmental science, and physiology and medicine.
• Expertise in a field related to technology or engineering is strongly preferred.
• Experience developing exhibits (on any subject) at a science center or museum is strongly preferred.
• Three or more years of experience in public science communication, informal science education, science or technology exhibit development, educational program development, or related public engagement work, preferably involving technology or engineering.
• One or more years of administrative or supervisory experience involving planning, coordination, implementation, or management of science programs, exhibits, educational programs, research activities, or related programs.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate science, technology, or engineering concepts to a lay audience clearly and accessibly.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, implement, and monitor science, technology, engineering, or educational programs and projects.
• Experience managing budgets, financial resources, grants, or other program resources in support of science, technology, engineering, or educational programs.
• Creative problem-solving skills and the ability to develop practical and innovative solutions to complex scientific, technical, programmatic, or operational issues.
• Ability to speak clearly and effectively in front of professional, educational, and general public audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and collaborative team environment.
• Ability to exercise tact, diplomacy, discretion, and sound judgment when communicating and making decisions in sensitive or complex situations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with colleagues, management, subject-matter experts, external partners, stakeholders, and representatives of government and other agencies.
• Experience managing vendors, contractors, consultants, or contracts, and coordinating program or exhibition activities in accordance with applicable organizational policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines.
• Experience working in a fast-paced and changing environment involving multiple programs, priorities, and deadlines.
• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to prepare reports, proposals, correspondence, and other professional documents as well as program materials and interpretive content for a general public audience.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite and other software or digital tools used for program administration, exhibit development, research, project management, or data management.

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice)TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

ELIGIBILITY AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

To be considered for the job vacancy you MUST satisfy one of the following requirements:

List Eligibility – Successfully complete the civil service exam for the classification (see Examination Information section below).

Transfer Eligibility – Must have current employment with the State of California in the same classification or in a classification that is comparable. If in a different classification, you must meet the minimum qualifications (see Minimum Qualifications section and associated links above).

Reinstatement Eligibility – Previously obtained permanent employment with the State of California in the same classification or in a classification that is comparable. If in a different classification, you must meet the minimum qualifications (see Minimum Qualifications section and associated links above).

STATE CLASSIFICATION EXAM INFORMATION:

To become 'list eligible' for consideration, interested candidates must successfully pass a civil service exam. You may apply and take the exam online at CalCareers, copy or click on the following link:

ADMINISTRATOR, SCIENCE PROGRAM, CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER (EX-5311) .

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS will be verified prior to being scheduled for an interview. Please refer to Minimum Qualifications on the bulletin when applying.

EDUCATION INFORMATION: If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must submit a copy of your transcript or diploma. An official transcript will be required prior to appointment. Foreign Degrees: Applicants who completed their education outside of the United States (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must obtain and submit verification of United States course/degree equivalency by the application deadline. Foreign education credential evaluation services can be found at https://www.naces.org.

Applications with "SEE RESUME" or "SEE ATTACHED" will not be considered. Faxed or emailed applications are not acceptable.

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS

All applicants must provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), which must be submitted as a separate file, written in narrative style with no more than two (2) pages in length, double-spaced, using 12 pt. font, 1-inch margins, and titled "Statement of Qualifications”with your name and Job Control (JC) number. Please use specific and concrete examples.

Failure to include an SOQ conforming to these instructions will disqualify an applicant from consideration. Resumes and/or cover letters may be submitted but do not replace the required SOQ. A standard or generic SOQ will disqualify an applicant from consideration.

Please describe your professional education, background, and experience relevant to this position. Include specific and concrete examples of your science museum and/or other public science communication experience and how these have prepared you to lead the development of educational science exhibits in support of the Science Center's mission. Also, explain any supervisory and/or project management experience that aligns with the duties described in the Job Duty Statement, and provide specific examples.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.