PLANETARIUM SPECIALIST

U.S. Space & Rocket Center•Huntsville, AL

About The Position

The Planetarium Specialist creates and presents unique, live, interactive presentations for the Intuitive Planetarium at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The role presents astronomy and space science shows to a wide range of audiences, supports guest engagement and visitor services, and helps maintain the planetarium and its concessions area. The position reports to the Planetarium Operations Manager and works collaboratively with the planetarium team and other departments. It has no supervisory responsibilities and may require occasional travel to conferences and outreach events. The position is part-time and pays $17.00 an hour.

Requirements

Must be authorized to work in the United States.
Willingness to learn and grow.
Interpersonal skills to work as an integral part of a team.
Appropriate interpersonal and personal boundaries.
Maturity of judgment and behavior, and acceptance of responsibility for one's actions and their effects on others.
Adherence to and participation in the Center’s Safety Program.
Ability to work often seven days a week and in the evenings.
Ability to walk and climb stairs; sit and stand for long periods; carry and lift equipment and supplies up to 25 pounds at waist height; bend, kneel, and reach; operate a computer terminal; and talk and hear to present lectures, answer questions, assist guests, and interact with employees.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in astronomy or physics, or equivalent educational and professional experience.
Experience presenting astronomical topics to large audiences of up to 250 people and to audiences of all ages.
Computer proficiency.
Programming experience.
Ability to multitask while presenting, including flying through the universe while engaging the audience.
Planetarium software experience.

Responsibilities

Present live, interactive astronomy and space science shows in an engaging and professional manner for a wide variety of audiences.
Keep the planetarium clean between shows and ensure the dome is ready for guests.
Engage with guests through effective communication and interpersonal skills to build customer relationships and provide a positive planetarium experience.
Maintain broad knowledge of astronomy, current and historical space missions, and recent space science discoveries.
Assist with sales and ticketing at the planetarium concessions stand.
Help visitors explore and understand exhibits throughout the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and learn about scheduled planetarium shows.
Support internal, external, and outreach projects as assigned.
Work collaboratively with the planetarium team and assist planetarium and concessions staff as needed.
Follow Center policies and procedures, safety requirements, and professional standards for customer service, conduct, attendance, and work areas.
Promote teamwork and maintain productive, professional relationships with colleagues across departments.
Work safely and keep the workplace safe.