Education Director

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our website.

• How to Apply
• Troubleshooting
• Tips for Applicants
• FAQ's

INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 09-03-2025

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Seymour Marine Discovery Center (SMDC), founded in 2000, serves as the outreach and public education component of the Science Division at the University of California Santa Cruz."The Seymour Centered educates people of all ages about marine science research and ocean conservation. The Center consists of a 17,500-square-foot facility with additional outdoor features on a cliff above the Pacific Ocean located on the UC Santa Cruz Coastal Science Campus. The overarching goal of the Seymour Marine Discovery Center is to instill in its visitors a deep and lasting appreciation of the role research plays in understanding and protecting the world's oceans.

More information can be found at: https://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Seymour Center Executive Director, the Education Director has overall responsibility for directing, developing, managing, and presenting the center's education programs that emphasize research and conservation efforts within the UCSC Science Division centered around the marine, ocean, and coastal sciences.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $85,000.00/year - $90,000.00/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Contract appointment

Job End Date: 1 year from hire date, with option to extend based on performance. More details to be discussed at the interview.

Work Location: Off Campus - Seymour Center

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 004518 (MUSEUM EDUCATOR 4) - Grade 21

Travel: Up to 25% of the time

JOB DUTIES

60% - Deliver Excellent Youth Education Experiences

• Leads the design, implementation, instruction, and evaluation of Seymour Center's educational programs including Discovery Labs and Ocean Explorers summer camp.
• Leads the Youth Education team: recruits, trains, manages, and evaluates career staff, student employees, interns, and volunteers responsible for delivering excellent youth experiences.
• Maintains program quality by aligning curricula with NGSS, UCSC research, and informal science education best practices.
• Serves as the lead instructor for the Discovery Lab school field trips.
• Teaches Ocean Explorers summer camp in the absence of the Youth Programs Manager.
• Partners with local organizations and/or schools to create educational programs that attract diverse families.
• Conceptualizes and develops strategies to attract audiences and new student educators.
• Researches, develops, and evaluates high-value, innovative, and collaborative educational experiences.
• Studies and applies theory and museum education best practices to solve problems, make decisions, and mentor staff and volunteers to ensure high-quality programming and professionalism.
• Provides coordination and customer service to target audiences, including teachers, parents, and students.
• Builds efficient and cost-effective operational systems for the Youth Education programs.
• Oversees programming operations, including program budget and related grants.
• May drive a university vehicle to transport children to off-site locations during the Ocean Explorers Summer Camp.

20% - Executive & Organizational Leadership

• Serves on the Seymour Center executive team, participating in strategic planning, budgeting, and cross-functional leadership.
• Attends internal meetings, completes paperwork, and performs other administrative duties as needed.
• Collaborates on the development of interpretive content for the exhibit hall.
• Works with UCSC researchers and the Science Division to ensure content reflects cutting-edge research and contributes to the campus wide research impact agenda.
• Supports volunteer and staff training to ensure excellence in exhibit- and tour-based interpretation.

20% - Strategic Initiative Development

• Designs and launches a new, high-touch educational program that addresses a local science education challenge and exemplifies Seymour Center's mission.
• Partners with UCSC researchers, K-12 educators, and community organizations to co-create a pilot rooted in Seymour Center's Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz framework.
• Aligns the initiative with UCSC Science Division priorities for community-engaged scholarship and measurable public impact.
• Represents the Center in cross-campus initiatives and Science Division projects focused on public engagement with research.
• Collaborates with campus stakeholders to secure funding, amplify outreach, and align Seymour's work with broader UCSC goals.
• Collaborates with the Executive Director and Deputy Director on funding the pilot with the vision of long term financial sustainability.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• CPR/First Aid/AED Certification.
• Bachelor's degree in education, marine science, science education, environmental studies field and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Continuing education in related field.
• At least 5 years of progressive experience in informal science education or related settings.
• Demonstrated success managing educational programs and supervising staff or volunteers.
• Advanced knowledge of museum educational techniques and approaches and the ability to apply them across programmatic type(s) and environment(s).
• Advanced knowledge of the learning characteristics of museum audiences.
• Advanced knowledge of marine, ocean, and coastal science and conservation.
• Advanced knowledge and skills in training development and/or learning strategies and program and educator assessment.
• Thorough project management skills.
• Advanced skills in conducting analysis and demonstrated organizational and problem solving skills in decision making.
• Strong presentation skills, including originality, creativity, and ability to maintain classroom attention.
• Strong verbal communication skills.
• Strong written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Proven skills and experience in administering museum education operations, including planning and oversight of staff.
• Track record of building partnerships with schools, researchers, or community-based organizations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced knowledge of emerging educational technologies and their application within museum education programming.
• Experience translating scientific research into public-facing programming.
• Thorough knowledge of budget tracking and analysis strategies.
• Strong knowledge of promotional and marketing techniques for museum educational programming.
• Familiarity with UC campus systems, research structures, or science engagement initiatives.
• Knowledge of coastal environmental issues and science education networks in Santa Cruz or California.
• Demonstrable history of building financially sustainable education programs.
• Bilingual: fluent or proficient in written and spoken English and Spanish.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• Must possess CPR/First Aid/AED certification or have the ability to obtain it within 60-calendar days of hire.
• Must possess a valid license to drive in the state of California and participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pull notice program.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• Ability to safely perform the physical requirements necessary to move light to moderate objects up to 60 lbs., with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate will be required to work all scheduled hours on-site.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as directed.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• Ability to travel to multiple work locations on and off campus.
• Will be required to wear a University provided uniform.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.
• Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
- Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.