Planetarium Manager

East Texas A&M University; Commerce (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition assistance

Comprehensive benefits includinghealth

Paid holidays and leave

Job summary

East Texas A&M University’s Planetarium Manager leads daily planetarium and observatory operations, developing engaging educational programs for university, K-12, and community audiences.

You will supervise student staff, assist with planning and outreach, and coordinate events and promotions while working under the Planetarium Director. This role requires a strong technical background and effective communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in astronomy or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five years of planetarium/observatory or related public programming experience.
• Strong knowledge of planetarium, observatory and AV systems.
• Ability to supervise students and coordinate outreach programs.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day planetarium and observatory operations.
• Develop, schedule, and present educational programming for diverse audiences.
• Supervise student employees and coordinate outreach activities.
• Assist with budgeting, scheduling, and promotional materials.
• Represent the planetarium at events and conferences.

Skills

Planetarium systems

Observatory operations

AV technology

Public speaking

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree in astronomy, physics, science education, instructional technology, or related field

Tools

Evans & Sutherland Digistar systems

Planetarium projection systems

Job description

Job TitlePlanetarium Manager Agency East Texas A&M University Department Planetarium Proposed Minimum SalaryCommensurate Job LocationCommerce, Texas Job TypeStaff

A Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Please be advised that Texas A&M University will NOT pay this fee. Therefore, if you need immigration sponsorship for your employment, we recommend that you consult with your private immigration counsel at your own expense to ascertain whether your current immigration status would make a potential offer of employment from Texas A&M University subject to this fee. In addition, on January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Abbot issued a moratorium on the filing of any new H-1B unless approved by the Texas Workforce Commission. Accordingly, if you will now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status this moratorium may affect our ability to employ you should you be selected as the final candidate.

SUMMARY

Under general direction, manages the day-to-day operations of the planetarium and assists with observatory operations. Develops, schedules, and presents educational programming; supports public outreach initiatives; maintains specialized planetarium and observatory equipment; oversees administrative functions; and supervises student employees. Assists the Planetarium Director in planning, coordinating, and implementing planetarium and observatory programs that support the educational, outreach, and service missions of the university.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Manages daily operations of the planetarium, ensuring effective delivery of educational, public, and special event programming. Produces, schedules, coordinates, and presents planetarium shows and related educational programs for university, K-12, and community audiences. Writes, develops, and directs original and packaged planetarium presentations and digital content. Assists with the operation and maintenance of the observatory, including support of public observing events and astronomy outreach activities. Provides technical support in the installation, operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of planetarium, observatory, audiovisual, computer, and related equipment. Performs preventative maintenance and basic repair of projection, lighting, sound, computer, and other specialized instructional technologies. Develops and distributes publicity, marketing, and promotional materials for planetarium and observatory programs and events. Coordinates event scheduling and maintains operational records, attendance data, budgets, inventories, and related reports. Assists with budget tracking, account reconciliation, purchasing, and other administrative functions supporting planetarium operations. Oversees outreach, public relations, and community engagement activities that promote astronomy education and awareness. Hires, trains, schedules, supervises, and evaluates student employees and student assistants supporting planetarium operations. Assists the Planetarium Director with strategic planning, program development, and implementation of departmental goals and initiatives. Represents the planetarium and observatory at educational events, conferences, workshops, and community functions. Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Education: Bachelor's degree in astronomy, physics, science education, instructional technology, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, which includes:
  • High school diploma and nine (9) years of related experience.
  • Associate’s degree and seven (7) years of related experience.
  • Master’s degree and three (3) years of related experience.
  • Doctoral degree and one (1) year of related experience.
• Experience: Five years of experience in a planetarium, observatory, museum, science center, educational outreach program, instructional technology environment, or related operation involving public programming, technical equipment management, facility operations, program administration, or supervision. Qualifying experience gained as a planetarium student employee, graduate assistant, intern, or similar trainee may be credited toward the required experience on a half-time basis.
• Knowledge / Skills / Abilities: Knowledge of planetarium, observatory, audiovisual, and computer systems. Knowledge of astronomy concepts and informal science education principles. Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software applications. Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to develop and deliver engaging educational presentations to audiences of varying ages and backgrounds. Ability to coordinate multiple projects, events, schedules, and operational activities. Ability to supervise, train, and direct student employees. Ability to troubleshoot and maintain specialized technical equipment. Ability to work cooperatively with faculty, staff, students, and community members. Ability to work outside of normal business hours and travel to conferences and workshops for training.
• Licensing/Professional Certifications: None
• Physical Requirements: Ability to lift, move, and install equipment and materials; work from ladders; and perform equipment maintenance activities.
• Other Requirements: None

PREFERRED EDUCATION / SKILLS/ EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree in astronomy, physics, science education, instructional technology, or a related field.
• Experience working in a digital planetarium environment.
• Experience with Evans & Sutherland Digistar systems or similar planetarium projection systems.
• Experience coordinating educational programming, public outreach, and community engagement activities.
• Experience supervising employees or student workers.
• Experience managing schedules, budgets, records, and administrative operations.
• Experience operating astronomical telescopes and observatory equipment.

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS

Directly supervises undergraduate and graduate student employees, including hiring, training, scheduling, assigning work, and monitoring performance.

WHY WORK AT EAST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY?

Competitive Benefits & Work-Life Balance:

• Employee tuition assistance for master’s and doctoral programs.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance.
• ETAMU contributes to employee health and basic life insurance premiums.
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays, plus up to eight hours of paid sick leave and vacation each month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), with optional additional retirement plans (ORP).
• Physical wellness program and wellness release time for eligible employees.

Career Growth & Development:

• Access to cutting-edge research opportunities at a designated R2 Research Institution.

Academic Excellence:

• ETAMU is ranked among the top 30% in five online degree programs and offers national recognized academic programs.
• Over 140 degree programs, including nationally ranked online and graduate options.
• First accredited institution to offer a competency-based bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
• Distance education offerings in Corsicana, Dallas, Frisco, McKinney, Mesquite, Bryan, and online.

State-of-the-Art Facilities:

• Work in advanced facilities such as the 113,470-square-foot Nursing and Health Sciences Building, featuring a state-of-the-art simulation hospital and a 1,300-acre agricultural research farm.

Vibrant Campus Life:

• Engage with over 95 student organizations and 14 NCAA Division I athletic teams, contributing to a thriving campus community.

Prime Location & Growth:

• Enjoy the benefits of working in rapidly growing regions, with abundant career opportunities at six locations across Dallas and Northeast Texas.

Visit us on our social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, andETAMU News

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.

Welcome to East Texas A&M University, where we transform lives! At our university, we are committed to fostering an environment that ensures students are prepared for success in an ever-evolving world. Our faculty and staff work collaboratively to elevate research, drive innovation, and address global challenges, all while creating a welcoming community where academic excellence can thrive. We strive to align initiatives with the university's unique rural-urban identity, embracing both the opportunities of city life and the richness of rural traditions. Additionally, we are dedicated to modernizing university operations and business practices to enhance efficiency, support sustainable growth, and improve the student experience. East Texas A&M University is an Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.

Discover more about our sites: East Texas A&M University (Main Campus) East Texas A&M at Dallas East Texas A&M at Navarro College Texas A&M-Rellis

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