Program Facilitator, FirstHand™

University City Science Center•Philadelphia, PA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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.
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.
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.
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 in an additional language is also a plus.
BA/BD/BS degree from an accredited college or university in Education or STEM field or other related field of study or equivalent.

Nice To Haves

Experience with culturally relevant pedagogy and project-based learning is a plus.
Comfort with college level biology content is a plus.
Experience working in Philadelphia middle or high schools is a plus.
Fluency in in an additional language is also a plus.

Responsibilities

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.
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.
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.