Planetarium Manager
McNair – Davis Planetarium/Space Theater Jackson, MS
Reports To: Department of Human & Cultural Services Director, City of Jackson
Summary:
Planetarium Manager is the "face" of the institution and the primary marketer for all the planetarium services provided to the greater Jackson, MS community. This person is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the McNair - Davis Planetarium. This includes overseeing all aspects of the planetarium and exhibits, developing and implementing innovative educational programs, managing staff and volunteers, ensuring the financial sustainability of the programs, and fostering partnerships and relationships with area museums, convention center, area schools and colleges, and astronomical and planetarium communities. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of astronomy, planetarium operating systems, projection systems, coupled with a passion for science education and a proven ability to lead and inspire.
Essential Duties:
1. Program Development and Delivery:
- Assist other staff members, as needed, in developing and implementing innovative and engaging programs for a wide range of audiences, including school groups, families, and the public.
- Assist other staff in creating and delivering live presentations. Assist in developing and curating automated shows and help oversee the production of new content.
- Oversee the development of specialized programs for groups, entertainment shows, and planetarium/building rentals.
- Collaborate with other staff to develop and implement integrated educational programs and outreach initiatives.
- Stay current on the latest astronomical discoveries, technologies, and research findings.
2. Astronomy Center Management:
- Oversee the daily operations of the planetarium and the broader astronomy center, including scheduling, staffing, and facility upkeep.
- Manage the budget for both the planetarium, exhibit operations, and gift shop ensuring accounting/financial/fiduciary objectives are met.
- Supervise and mentor planetarium staff and volunteers, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
- Ensure the safety and comfort of all visitors to both the planetarium and exhibits.
- Assist other staff, as needed, in the maintenance and troubleshooting of all planetarium and exhibit equipment.
3. Outreach and Community Engagement:
- Develop and implement outreach programs to engage the local community and promote the astronomy center and planetarium.
- Collaborate with local schools, universities, and other community organizations to foster partnerships and promote astronomy education.
- Participate in community events and festivals, representing the institution and promoting its astronomy programs.
- Promote the planetarium and astronomy center through various channels, including social media, website, and local media.
- Actively promote the planetarium as an economic development tool, that brings people downtown where they can shop, eat, and make the most out of their planetarium visit experience.
4. Grant Writing and Fundraising:
- Identify and pursue grant opportunities to support planetarium programs, exhibits, and astronomy center initiatives.
- Partner to develop and implement fundraising campaigns to generate revenue for planetarium operation and capital improvements.
5. Research and Development:
- Conduct research on best practices in informal planetarium education and operations, with a focus on incorporating the latest astronomical research and discoveries.
- Explore and implement new technologies and innovative programming techniques, including live presentations, and interactive exhibits.
Qualifications:
- At minimum, a Bachelor's degree in Astronomy, Physics, Science Education or a closely related field.
- A Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in planetarium operations, and management.
- In-depth knowledge of astronomy, astrophysics, and space science.
- Strong understanding of planetarium technologies, including digital projectors, digital operating systems, lighting and audio systems, and special effects systems.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
- Experience in developing and delivering engaging educational programs and entertainment productions for diverse audiences.
- Proficiency in using planetarium software and equipment.
- Experience in managing staff and volunteers.
- Experience in grant writing and fundraising.
Benefits:
- Health Insurance and paid yearly vacations/days off due to illness and family matters. (TBD)
Work Location and Schedule:
Applicant will be working 40 hours/week on site. It is estimated that 7 out of 8 weeks of each month, applicant will work Mon-Fri, usually 9 am to 5 pm. At least one week in every two months, applicant will be working 40 hours - Wed-Sun, with work hours that may extend into Friday and Saturday evenings.
Salary Range:
$70K-$ K, depending on experience and qualifications.
Note to all applicants:
The planetarium operates 6 to 7 days each week depending on the season. As such, all full-time staff are expected to work some weekends and evenings. The full-time staff is supplemented by part-time staff. The full-time staff, however, will on occasion be taking turns at supervising or substituting for the part-time staff assigned to weekend and evening programs.
This policy not only makes the weekend and evening programs more professional, it also gives normally assigned weekend and evening staff an occasional weekend or evening off. This policy requires a lot of cross-training and a lot of collaboration, forming a team of part- time and full-time staff that have "walked in each other's shoes", with the goal of creating mutual respect, reduce weekend and evening staff burnout, and put forth the very best performance by the entire staff.
