Science Educator

Are you an early career professional with an outgoing personality, a passion for science education and a commitment to making a difference? If so, we invite you to join us on this exciting journey. If you're ready to seize the opportunity to build your career while leaving a lasting impact on the future of astronomy, we encourage you to apply now. 

This is a full-time (35 hours per week), overtime-exempt remote position based from the employee’s home. Some travel, evening work, and weekend work are required to support a small number of events throughout the year.

As the organization’s primary educator, you will be responsible for a variety of tasks including, but not limited to:

• Participant education and training – Organize courses; oversee the mentor program; deliver workshops and webinars; and develop guides, FAQs, and tutorials that empower independent adult learners.
• Outreach and public engagement – Coordinate presentations to astronomy clubs and other public events.
• Collaboration with educational professionals – Build partnerships with schools, colleges, and observatories to integrate AAVSO into teaching and research.
• Content creation and communication – Write blogs, newsletters, and other materials that make variable star science accessible to amateur astronomers and student researchers.
• Program development and evaluation – Expand and assess AAVSO’s educational offerings in line with modern astronomy education standards.
• Grant writing and fundraising support – Assist in identifying opportunities and preparing proposals for education-focused initiatives.

What you need to be successful

• Bachelor's degree in astronomy, physics, STEM education, or a related field.
• Five years prior experience in informal science education.
• Mastery of the English language with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Mastery of Microsoft Office or Google Workspace Tools.
• Mastery of remote collaboration tools like Zoom, Slack, and similar software.
• Familiarity with audio and video production software.

How you can stand out

• Hands-on experience in one or more of AAVSO’s science focus areas: stellar photometry, stellar spectroscopy, exoplanet photometry, or sunspot counting.
• Federal grant writing experience.