Makerspace Supervisor

Pacific Science Center•Seattle, WA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Makerspace Supervisor contributes to Pacific Science Center’s mission to spark curiosity and fuel a passion for discovery, experimentation, and critical thinking in Maker & Innovation Lab (MIL), PacSci’s hands-on tinker activity area and makerspace. This role leads our prototype makerspace program, currently providing high quality maker experiences through teen engagement, drop- in maker activities, and maker equipment workshops. The Makerspace Supervisor acts as lead in the space, working with an innovative team to deliver programming and trainings, create and maintain organization systems, and ensure the maintenance of makerspace equipment. The Makerspace Supervisor develops and maintains community partnerships and acts on networking opportunities. This role is also a significant voice in the project developing the future expansion of Maker & Innovation Lab. Though not the final decision maker on the project, this role will lead work that will inform the final vision, including developing an operations approach and prototyping potential programs. The Makerspace Supervisor proactively leads by example, working alongside team members and supporting all levels of cleaning and maintenance in the department. Throughout this work the Makerspace Supervisor is committed to ensuring that Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access is prioritized in these efforts as well as colleague and community relationships.

Requirements

Personal bias awareness and a desire to be an anti-racist leader.
Demonstrated understanding of systemic race and gender imbalance in STEM/STEAM education.
Knowledge of effective management strategies.
Familiarity with making and tinkering practices in museums, community organizations, and other settings such as makerspaces.
Ability to use hand tools and basic electronics.
Excellent attention to detail and strong administrative skills.
Ability to work effectively and respectfully with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Flexibility and the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment
Excellent customer service skills including composure under pressure, conflict resolution skills, and the ability to represent Pacific Science Center’s mission and guiding principles.
Situational awareness, attention to safety, and creative problem-solving.
Tracking spending on program level budgets.
Excellent writing, speaking, time management, and organizational skills.
Makes complex, technical information accessible both verbally and in writing
Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and file sharing programs
Ability to supervise and support staff and volunteers, responding appropriately to the varying professional needs of individual staff
Ability to ensure guests of all ages and from diverse backgrounds are welcomed and served in a manner that makes their visit positive, memorable and consistent with Pacific Science Center’s mission, vision, and values
Ability to communicate the value of a makerspace to museum guests, partners, and prospective donors, e.g. the broader developmental benefits kids take from participation in maker activities
Demonstrated literacy with maker technology, and the ability to self-teach and evaluate tools for their potential use inside the makerspace, balancing benefits, risks and requirements with budget and maintenance considerations in the decision - making process
Taking initiative and acting independently, as well as with a team
Quickly learning and applying new content, policies and procedures
Minimum two years supervisory experience, preferably including both staff and volunteers, in a customer service-oriented environment (museum, retail, food service, etc.)
A demonstrated passion for tinkering and making
Work schedules will flex based on seasonal cycle needs throughout the year and includes occasional early mornings and late evenings. Availability to work Saturday and Sunday is preferred
Willingness to be first aid and CPR certified, training provided by PacSci
Work must be performed onsite

Nice To Haves

Prior career or volunteer experience working in a science museum or similar organization (children’s museum, zoo, aquarium, etc.)
Prior experience developing educational programming, ideally in a makerspace, museum, or similar informal STEM or workshop setting
Comfort with simple coding and with 2D and 3D design software used in digital fabrication
Valid driver’s license and personal transportation
Guests visiting PacSci come from many diverse backgrounds. Proficiency in a second language such as but not limited to Spanish, Somali, Mandarin, ASL, and/or Vietnamese is a highly preferred skill to support with on floor communication

Responsibilities

Plans and supports the programming efforts inside the makerspace, including the creation, delivery and evaluation of makerspace workshops, special equipment trainings, and other maker events that provide opportunities for staff, community partners, and PacSci guests to engage in the space on varying levels. The supervisor will take on some projects themselves but will always work in collaboration with others.
Collaborates with the Maker Programs Specialist, supervising and/or co-developing projects that aim to create programming in the makerspace.
Models appropriate and effective open ended facilitation techniques for makerspace programming, such as hands-on learning, parallel making, inquiry-based facilitation, demonstrations, and direct instruction.
Coordinates programming with partners pre-selected by the MIL Manager. Collaborates on program structure. Schedules and supervises programming, supports the facilitators delivering programming as well as facilitating directly when scheduling necessitates.
Recruits, trains, supervises, and supports volunteer Makers In Residence. Includes reviewing portfolios, interviewing, ensuring background checks, ordering supplies, and acting as the onsite point person.
Creates and manages makerspace materials, supplies and equipment inventories; submits purchasing requests for supplies and tracks spending; troubleshoots and repairs equipment as able and needed; delegates repairs and maintenance tasks to facilitators; monitors the cost of materials and assesses durability and associated maintenance costs across all aspects of makerspace operations.
Brings an innovative mindset to Maker & Innovation Lab programming integration and expansion, iterates on a variety of delivery platforms such as existing programs and workshops, and afterschool programs, as well as through community partner opportunities.
Works in partnership with the MIL leadership team, including the Innovation Exhibit Supervisor and the Maker & Innovation Lab Manager.
Supervises MIL operations in partnership with the Innovation Exhibit Supervisor, providing a structured and positive work environment in partnership with the manager, that includes supporting staff, volunteers, and youth with recruiting, training, scheduling, supervising, reviewing and approving time sheets, tracking attendance, daily shift rotations, etc.
Acts as the designated department operations lead when scheduled, on a rotation with the MIL leadership team. While doing so, supports the MIL team by responding to needs such as break coverage or guest concerns, as well as giving direction and providing supervision to ensure operations. Additionally, supports MIL and the broader PacSci guest operations by responding to radio calls for lost parties, first aid situations, etc.
Works in collaboration with other team members to ensure that MIL serves all audiences, including families, adults, youth and educators that are aligned with formal and informal learning standards. Actively seeks out methods for embedding culturally responsive adaptations across these platforms.
Supervises direct reports. Includes hiring, training, assigning tasks, performance coaching, annual performance reviews, and other support as needed.
Works in collaboration with the MIL leadership team to co-create and maintain project management solutions, including the management of tasks, maintenance routines, and long-term projects.
Ensures implementation of all policies and procedures, including first aid and emergency procedures and safe use of all tools and materials.
Acts on opportunities to do informal and formal evaluation on the effectiveness of programs and activities that can contribute to the body of knowledge regarding open ended exploration, maker facilitation, and project-based challenges.
Assists in marketing, web and social media efforts regarding programming.
Attends and contributes to interdepartmental meetings and collaborations, representing MIL concerns and responsibilities.
Other duties as assigned.