Director of Fiske Planetarium

The Department of Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences (APS) at the University of Colorado, Boulder (CU) invites applications for the position of Director of the Fiske Planetarium, starting in June 2017.  This is a 3-year non-tenure-track appointment that may be renewed indefinitely.  The position will be a Senior Instructor position in APS, and will require teaching undergraduate astronomy classes.

The Fiske planetarium is a 210-seat planetarium equipped with a state-of-the-art 8K x 8K digital projection system. Its current staff has expertise in science education and digital content development, allowing the production of new, professional-quality planetarium content.  Its primary mission is serving the students and faculty of the University of Colorado, in astronomy and other disciplines. Its secondary mission is serving the public via offerings in the sciences and arts, including an extensive K-12 program. A number of Fiske productions are nationally and internationally distributed. The University of Colorado is a national leader in science teaching at the university level.

The Fiske Director has overall responsibility for the direction of Fiske, and for the management of 8 professional staff and approximately 30 student employees.  The Fiske Director reports to the Chair of APS.  The Director is expected to develop and implement a robust program of science education and public outreach using the planetarium’s technical capabilities and the academic expertise available in the university environment.

The successful candidate should have a Ph.D. in a relevant field. Experience in undergraduate astronomy education, management, and writing grants is preferred.  Expertise in planetarium technology is an asset, but not required.  Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a list of publications, and a short description of professional interests.  Please also provide names and email addresses of three references who will be asked to upload their letters to the site.

We will begin considering applications on December 15, 2016.  The University of Colorado is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse workforce.  We encourage applications from women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans.  Alternative formats of this ad can be provided upon request for individuals with disabilities by contacting the ADA Coordinator at:  [email protected].