Program Manager for Planetarium

University of Arkansas System•Little Rock, AR

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is seeking to hire a Planetarium Program Manager for the Shellam Flake Planetarium. The Program Manager is responsible for the development, coordination, and daily management of educational programming, public outreach activities, visitor engagement, and operational support for the planetarium. The Planetarium Program Manager will play a central role in advancing STEM education and outreach, experiential learning, and community engagement initiatives at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The position supports the mission of the Science Triangle by creating innovative and accessible educational experiences for K–12 students, university students, educators, and the broader public. The position will collaborate with faculty, staff, schools, community organizations, and external partners to expand the planetarium's impact and visibility as a regional hub for science education and public engagement. The Program Manager will also collaborate with other Science Triangle facilities and initiatives to support interdisciplinary STEM education, outreach, and public engagement activities. This position is governed by state and federal laws and agency/institution policies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in astronomy, physics, STEM education, science communication, museum studies, communications, or a related field
Experience in science outreach, education, public programming, or informal STEM learning
Strong organizational, communication, and presentation skills
Ability to work evenings and weekends as required for public events and astronomy programming
Ability to communicate scientific concepts to audiences of all ages and backgrounds
Strong public speaking and educational presentation skills
Ability to manage multiple programs and events simultaneously
Ability to work collaboratively with educators, faculty, students, and community partners
Strong technical aptitude related to educational and audiovisual technologies
Commitment to inclusive and accessible STEM education and outreach
Proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in astronomy, physics, science education, STEM education, science communication, museum studies, communications, or a related field
Experience presenting live planetarium programs to public audiences
Experience developing K–12 STEM educational programming
Familiarity with planetarium software, astronomical visualization systems, and audiovisual technologies
Experience supervising student employees, interns, or volunteers
Experience with grant-supported educational or outreach programs

Responsibilities

Develop, coordinate, and deliver planetarium shows, educational programs, workshops, and STEM outreach activities.
Design programming aligned with Arkansas K–12 science standards and university educational objectives.
Create engaging educational content related to STEM fields and emerging technologies.
Coordinate special programs for schools, summer camps, teacher workshops, and community organizations.
Develop, adapt, or curate full-dome content, interactive presentations, and educational resources for diverse audiences.
Develop programming that is accessible and engaging for audiences with diverse educational backgrounds, abilities, and interests.
Evaluate educational programming and outreach activities to support continuous improvement and reporting.
Organize and support public astronomy events, guest lectures, science festivals, and special presentations.
Build partnerships with schools, museums, libraries, nonprofits, and community organizations.
Develop and maintain partnerships with K–12 educators to enhance classroom integration of planetarium programming and STEM learning resources.
Promote scientific literacy and public interest in STEM disciplines.
Assist in expanding outreach efforts to underserved and rural communities across Arkansas.
Coordinate scheduling, facility utilization, and daily operations of the planetarium.
Operate and assist with maintenance of planetarium projection systems, audiovisual equipment, and educational technologies.
Ensure high-quality visitor experiences during public programs and educational events.
Support educational, community, and special-event use of the planetarium facility.
Assist with facility management, safety procedures, preventive maintenance, and equipment upgrades.
Supervise and train student workers, interns, and volunteers involved in planetarium operations and outreach activities.
Support experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
Encourage student participation in science communication and outreach initiatives.
Assist with marketing and promotion of planetarium programs through digital media, newsletters, and community outreach.
Coordinate event announcements, registration activities, and public communications.
Support website content updates and coordinate with university marketing personnel regarding promotion of planetarium programming.
Assist with budget tracking, program assessment, reporting, and operational planning.
Collect and analyze participation and visitor engagement metrics.
Support grant proposals, sponsorship development, and fundraising activities related to educational programming.
Contribute to long-term strategic planning for the planetarium and Science Triangle initiatives.