Program Facilitator, FirstHand

The-Science-Center; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Science Center seeks a Program Facilitator for its FirstHand youth lab programs in Philadelphia. You will organize, facilitate, and lead 4–6 programs per week for middle and high school students, running during regular business hours with occasional lab sessions.

You will inspire youth, coordinate schedules, and maintain partner relationships. Ideal candidates have 2–3 years in youth education, strong communication, and experience with STEM curricula development and mentor engagement.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years of experience in direct service/education of middle and/or high school students.
• BA/BS in Education or STEM field.
• Experience with informal science education is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate approximately 4–6 multi-week youth programs in the FirstHand Lab, communicating with teachers and administration.
• Provide support for FirstHand classes when not leading.
• Coordinate school chaperones from local youth-serving organizations to ensure student participation.
• Recruit and maintain relationships with STEM mentors from Philadelphia's startup and entrepreneurial community.

Skills

Classroom management

Student engagement

Strong communication

Team collaboration

Education

BA/BS in Education or STEM

Tools

SharePoint

Job description

Description

Position Summary

About the Science Center

For 60 years, the West Philadelphia-based Science Center has been a leader and partner in innovation-driven regional economic development. Located at the heart of the uCity Square campus, home to over 200 businesses, the Science Center operates at the intersection of startups, healthcare, and community to drive inclusive growth across Greater Philadelphia and beyond.

About FirstHand

The Science Center launched FirstHand in 2014 to provide equitable, high-quality STEM experiences to Philadelphia students in middle and high school. FirstHand offers a suite of free, industry-informed STEM curricula with no tests, grades, or homework through which students engage in the same hands‑on tasks as professionals. Middle school students participate as a cohort and travel once a week, during school hours, for ten weeks (20 hours) to the FirstHand lab with a school chaperone. High school students participate in 8‑week (approximately 16‑hour), targeted career‑exposure programs called “Sprints” that are co‑developed and co‑delivered by STEM professionals, and students are paid achievement‑based stipends. All FirstHand cohorts are 16 students or less.

The Program Facilitator, FirstHand, will lead several of the University City Science Center’s (UCSC) FirstHand youth lab‑based programs. This position will be responsible for organizing, facilitating, and leading 4 – 6 programs a week for middle school & high school Philadelphia youth that will run during normal business hours with occasional exceptions in the Science Center’s FirstHand Lab.

This is a hands‑on program lead position, requiring the capacities to inspire and manage youth, coordinate in‑person course delivery schedules, deliver high‑quality STEM program facilitation, and maintain relationships with partners. The Program Facilitator should be comfortable in workshop and lab environments and engaging with students of diverse backgrounds and learning styles.

The Program Facilitator will collaborate with external partners and industry professionals to design new industry‑aligned curricula and refine the existing curricula to continue to meet the needs of the 21st‑century workforce. Additionally, this position works closely with the Director and Program Manager to develop and maintain partnerships that advance the Science Center’s role in youth education and programming.

This position has regular contact with community members and is expected to professionally represent the Science Center. The Program Facilitator, FirstHand has internal contacts with the entire staff of UCSC and external contact with scientists, designers, technologists, entrepreneurs, and the wider Philadelphia community. This position has access to sensitive UCSC information and is expected to handle such information with integrity and professionalism. The Program Facilitator is expected to follow Science Center policies and work cross‑functionally with team members across UCSC.

The Program Facilitator will report directly to the Senior Manager, STEM Education Initiatives and participate in department activities as necessary.

Essential Functions

STEM Program Implementation and Coordination

• Works with the FirstHand Senior Manager to plan, coordinate, and facilitate approximately 4‑6 multi‑week youth programs in the FirstHand Lab which includes communicating with teachers and administration, coordinating transportation, and other related duties.
• Serves as a support role for FirstHand classes when not leading.
• Serves as point‑of‑contact for school chaperones from local youth‑serving organizations, including schools and community‑based organizations to ensure student participation.
• Works with the Senior Manager on recruiting and maintaining relationships with STEM mentors from the startup and entrepreneurial community in Philadelphia.

STEM Curriculum Design

• Works with Senior Manager and other FirstHand staff to refine and develop industry‑relevant STEM curriculum, documenting internal curriculum.
• Documents and revises curricular outlines as well as student and mentor activities for internal and external use. Adheres to internal document sharing protocols (i.e. SharePoint).
• Engages with STEM mentors to create dynamic activities that showcase workplace skills and career pathways for FirstHand students. This includes activity orientation, one‑on‑one activity planning and coaching, and planning mentor recruitment events with the Senior Manager and the rest of Facilitation team.

Supporting Organizational Systems

• Attends relevant staff meetings to promote communication and execution of goals.
• Participates in reporting and evaluation activities to include scheduled site visits with funders, maintaining student attendance and mentor volunteer records, follows program budget protocols, and ensures appropriate grant compliance.
• Supports SC marketing team by promoting FirstHand via social media and networking functions.
• Completes special projects specific to the function of the department or as needed for the department under the guidance of the managers.
• Actively participates and engages in wider Science Center meetings, programs, and events.
• Adheres to UCSC’s security guidelines and ensures the appropriate handling of sensitive information.
• Facilitates and attends relevant staff meetings to promote communication and execution of goals.
• Other duties as assigned within the scope of position expectations.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Confident and Passionate Educator

• Ability to confidently manage middle and high school classrooms with agility and attention to student needs.
• Ability to engage different types of learners in hands‑on curricula.
• In‑depth knowledge and experience leading youth programs in formal or informal STEM settings. Experience with culturally relevant pedagogy and project‑based learning is a plus.

Problem solver and Lifelong learner

• Enthusiastic about hands‑on STEM learning and has a general interest in gaining more knowledge in STEM subjects and topics related to FirstHand curricular content.
• Comfort with college level biology content is a plus.
• A hands‑on attitude towards new technology and systems, willingness to learn the technology required.
• Ability to demonstrate self‑initiative and work effectively independently.

Strong Communicator and Team Player

• Demonstrated ability to work with other people through a cooperative effort. Thrives on a small team that collaborates regularly.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, about arts, science and technology initiatives with the Science Center management team, SC staff, and a wide variety of external stakeholders.
• Possesses strong interpersonal skills and exemplifies SC values of unity, open communication, integrity, equity & inclusion, impact, and innovation in action.
• Demonstrated ability to execute goals by carefully setting priorities, meeting deadlines, delegating appropriately, and scheduling time efficiently, and ability to organize multiple tasks in an efficient manner and follow‑up and follow‑through with strong attention to detail.
• Possesses strong professionalism and integrity and acts in good faith with stewardship of UCSC resources.
• Adheres to all UCSC and departmental policies and procedures.

Experience, Education, and Licensure

Minimum Experience: 2‑3 years of experience working in direct service/education of middle and/or high school‑aged youth. Teaching experience in Informal Science and STEM education program development is preferred. Experience working in Philadelphia middle or high schools is a plus. Fluency in an additional language is also a plus.

Minimum Education: BA/BD/BS degree from an accredited college or university in Education or STEM field or other related field of study or equivalent.