Planetarium Coordinator

UM26 Frostburg State University (FSU); United States; On-site; USD 62,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Frostburg State University seeks a full-time Planetarium Coordinator to support the upgraded planetarium and STEM outreach efforts within the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social & Behavioral Sciences. The role focuses on educational programming, community engagement, and the integration of astronomical learning experiences for K-12 students, university classes, and the broader community.

The successful candidate will manage operations, assist with financial planning, develop exhibits, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering related field and four years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated project management experience and strong organizational, communication, and business skills.
• Experience using Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience working with educational, nonprofit, community, or outreach-based programs.

Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Director of the Planetarium, the Planetarium Coordinator supports the operational, educational, and business functions of the facility.
• Assisting with financial and strategic planning.
• Managing exhibit development and installation projects.
• Supporting planetarium programming and operations.
• Coordinating educational outreach efforts.
• Administering grant-related activities.
• Maintaining relationships with community and educational partners.
• Assisting with the operation and maintenance of planetarium technologies and exhibits.
• Developing assessment tools to measure program effectiveness.
• Supporting efforts to expand programming opportunities and external partnerships.
• Working collaboratively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Business skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering related field

Four years of relevant professional experience

Tools

Digistar planetarium system

Job description

Job Posting: JR102257 Planetarium Coordinator (Open) Department: FSU Physical and Environmental Sciences, Associate Professor | PM Position Type: Regular Open Date: 10-14-2026 Close Date: $62,000 - $65,000

Job Description: Frostburg State University, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social & Behavioral Sciences seeks applications for a full-time, exempt Planetarium Coordinator position. This is a grant-funded position anticipated to support the growing operational and educational needs of the University's upgraded planetarium and expanded STEM outreach initiatives. Salary commensurate with qualifications and includes University System of Maryland benefits package.

The Frostburg State University Planetarium serves as a regional educational and community resource, providing immersive learning experiences in astronomy, space science, and STEM education for K-12 students, university classes, and the broader community. The facility includes a state-of-the-art planetarium system, exhibit spaces, a Science-on-a-Sphere display, telescope systems, and educational programming designed to inspire exploration and discovery. The successful candidate will join a collaborative team committed to expanding the impact and visibility of the University's science education and outreach initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Director of the Planetarium, the Planetarium Coordinator supports the operational, educational, and business functions of the facility.
• Assisting with financial and strategic planning.
• Managing exhibit development and installation projects.
• Supporting planetarium programming and operations.
• Coordinating educational outreach efforts.
• Administering grant-related activities.
• Maintaining relationships with community and educational partners.
• Assisting with the operation and maintenance of planetarium technologies and exhibits.
• Developing assessment tools to measure program effectiveness.
• Supporting efforts to expand programming opportunities and external partnerships.
• Working collaboratively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a science or engineering related field and four years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated project management experience and strong organizational, communication, and business skills.
• Experience using Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience working with educational, nonprofit, community, or outreach-based programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing educational programming, public outreach, museum-style exhibits, or STEM.
• Experience operating a planetarium system, preferably Digistar.
• Experience with exhibit development, educational programming, or science outreach initiatives.
• Experience managing grants, budgets, or externally funded projects.
• Experience working with museums, science centers, educational institutions, or similar organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop partnerships, sponsorships, and community engagement opportunities.

Other

• Any combination of training and experience substantially equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in a related field and progressively responsible related work experience may be considered.

About the University

A member institution of the University System of Maryland, Frostburg State University is a public, comprehensive, largely residential regional university offering programs in the sciences, education, business, the arts and humanities at both undergraduate and graduate levels. FSU prides itself on being a dynamic, learning-centered institution that emphasizes teaching with opportunities for professional development and research. Approximately 4,000 students enroll yearly.

About the Area

FSU is located on a scenic 260-acre campus in the gorgeous mountains of Western Maryland. Affectionately referred to as Mountain Maryland, our region is the outdoor enthusiasts’ paradise, offering a combined 600 miles of biking and hiking trails, numerous lakes, rivers, streams, and waterfalls and 170,000 acres of public land, including 12 state parks, three state forests and one national park. With four seasons of outdoor recreation, including hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing & snowboarding, biking, rock climbing, world-class whitewater rafting, kayaking, recreational boating and off-road vehicle trails, Mountain Maryland offers a great quality of life and the ideal opportunity to craft your own work/life balance. With a reputation for safe communities, excellent schools and competitive wages, Mountain Maryland is a great place to raise a family and create a community of like-minded, outdoor adventure seeking, friends and colleagues. Frostburg offers a family-friendly college town feel with easy access to major cities like Pittsburgh, Washington, DC, and Baltimore. If you are looking for a great place to live, work, and play in a beautiful mountain region with access to unlimited outdoor recreation adventure, FSU is for you!

Additional Job Information: Coordinator FSU is proud to be a diverse and inclusive multicultural university. Frostburg State University welcomes and encourages women, veterans and minorities to apply and seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce. FSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Appropriate auxiliary aids and services for qualified individuals with disability will be provided upon request. Please notify us in advance. WWW.FROSTBURG.EDU

A member institution of the University System of Maryland, Frostburg State University is a public, comprehensive, largely residential regional university offering programs in the sciences, education, business, the arts and humanities at both undergraduate and graduate levels. FSU prides itself on being a dynamic, learning-centered institution that emphasizes teaching with opportunities for professional development and research. More than 4,000 students enroll yearly. FSU is located on a scenic 260-acre campus in the mountains of Western Maryland, a region rich in history, quaint shopping areas and eclectic cafes and food choices. The Western Maryland region is a four-season outdoor hub of recreational experiences offering activities such as hiking, mountain biking, water sports, snow skiing/boarding, golfing, climbing, etc. Frostburg offers a family-friendly college town feel with easy access to major cities like Pittsburgh, Washington, DC, and Baltimore. Some of our operations are also housed out of our satellite campus in Hagerstown, MD. If you are looking for insightful colleagues, energetic students, and a great place to work and call home in a region with unlimited adventure seeking opportunities, FSU is for you!