Director of Outreach and Community Partnerships

Science Museum Oklahoma • Oklahoma City, OK

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Outreach and Community Partnerships is responsible for leading Science Museum Oklahoma’s statewide outreach initiatives, community engagement efforts, and partnership-driven educational experiences. This position oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of high-quality STEAM programming designed to expand access to inquiry-based science experiences both within the museum and throughout communities across the state. The Director serves as a strategic leader in building and maintaining partnerships with schools, educators, community organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen Science Museum Oklahoma’s role as a trusted educational resource and community partner. This position is responsible for guiding outreach programming, curriculum development, educator workshops, school programming, partnership initiatives, and community-centered events. The Director ensures educational quality, safety standards, and alignment with the museum’s mission, strategic goals, and community needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in education, museum studies, nonprofit leadership, or STEAM-related field
• Five (5) or more years of experience in formal or informal education, educational programming, outreach initiatives, standards-aligned curriculum and professional development, or community engagement
• Three (3) or more years of supervisory or management experience
• Three (3) or more years of experience in building collaborative partnerships with schools, organizations, businesses, or community stakeholders
• Experience with informal or formal education programming, outreach initiatives, and community engagement strategies.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing teams.
• Experience building collaborative partnerships with schools, organizations, businesses, and community stakeholders.
• Knowledge of inquiry learning techniques, curriculum development, educator professional development, and best practices in formal and informal STEAM education.
• Experience developing and implementing educational programming for diverse audiences and learning environments.
• Ability to think strategically while effectively managing operational details and logistics.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong editing abilities.
• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaborating effectively across departments and with external partners.
• Comfortable engaging audiences of all ages in energetic and interactive educational experiences.
• Be kind, approachable, confident, and open to correction.
• Computer proficiency including Microsoft Office applications.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in education, museum studies, nonprofit leadership, or STEAM-related field
• Oklahoma educator or principal certification, or equivalent certification from another state
• Understanding of best practices associated with inquiry-based learning, education pedagogy, program evaluation practices, and accessibility
• Experience managing departmental budgets and operational logistics

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for department programming, partnerships, initiatives, and staff.
• Coordinate hiring, scheduling, motivating, training, coaching, evaluating, disciplining, and terminating department staff.
• Lead the development, review, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum, outreach programming, educator workshops, school programs, and community engagement initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with schools, libraries, informal learning organizations, community organizations, and statewide stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to expand access to Science Museum Oklahoma programming through strategic partnerships and outreach initiatives.
• Support the planning and implementation of special events, conferences, adult programming, and partnership initiatives that strengthen community engagement and organizational visibility.
• Ensure educational integrity, scientific accuracy, mission alignment, and inquiry-based learning practices across all outreach and educational experiences.
• Use program evaluation data, audience feedback, and community needs assessments to inform continuous improvement and strategic planning.
• Responsible for developing, managing, and adhering to departmental budgets, outreach resources, and operational logistics.
• Maintain outreach operational procedures and best safety practices for off-site programming and demonstrations.
• Collaborate with community organizations and museum departments to develop and support meaningful mission-aligned experiences for diverse audiences.
• Pursue innovative and creative opportunities to increase statewide engagement and educational impact.
• Professionally represent Science Museum Oklahoma and its mission.
• Support additional museum initiatives as assigned to spark curiosity and promote discovery learning experiences.

Benefits

• Introductory Period gives you time to fully learn your new role and adapt to your new work environment.
• The Museum time to provide training, feedback and performance review.
• The Introductory Period also does not affect the benefits that you are offered as a regular (FT/PT) employee at the Museum.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director