Public Programs Coordinator

$54,000 t0 $ 58,000 DOE, full-time, in-person

Chabot Space & Science Center is a non-profit science center and observatory dedicated to inspiring and educating learners of all ages about the Universe and planet Earth. Chabot’s mission is to spark and engage curiosity, deepen access and inclusion within science education, and provide opportunity for pathways into careers in the sciences.

Situated on a beautiful 13-acre campus nestled in the redwoods of Oakland’s regional parks, Chabot Space & Science Center includes immersive exhibits, hands‑on learning activities, science festivals, a state of the art planetarium, and is home to the official NASA Ames Visitor Center. Chabot’s research‑level astronomical observatory, featuring three large scale telescopes, is the largest observatory complex free for regular public viewing in the Western United States.

Position Summary

The Public Programs Coordinator brings science to life for the people of the East Bay, kids, families, adults, and everyone in between. Reporting to the Director of Museum Programs, this person leads the planning and delivery of the festivals, star parties, performances, and community programs that turn a visit to Chabot into a spark: a moment where science stops being abstract and starts feeling like something you own.

This is a job for someone who’s just as excited leading a 21+ science night as a family bubble fest weekend, and who wants Oakland to feel like Chabot belongs to them. You’ll design and lead public programs from concept through execution, working closely with the Director of Museum Programs and partnering across Education, Visitor Experience, Marketing, Facilities, and Volunteers to pull it off.

That means being a proactive communicator and a steady project leader: clarifying roles, keeping people in the loop, and taking accountability for making each program come together well.

Program Development

• Plan and lead public programs and events, family programs, adult programs, performances, festivals, celestial events, cultural programs, presentations, exhibit‑related experiences, evening programs, and community or off‑site programs.
• Take each program from concept through planning, delivery, evaluation, and follow‑up, keeping timelines, budgets, and deliverables on track.
• Work with the Director of Museum Programs to shape the annual program calendar with mission‑aligned experiences that are fun, welcoming, accessible, and relevant across ages.
• Develop hands‑on activities, demonstrations, and other informal learning experiences alongside Education staff, scientists, artists, performers, and community partners, making sure every program is scientifically accurate, age‑appropriate, and genuinely accessible.
• Research, cultivate, and maintain relationships with program partners and presenters, coordinating schedules, contracts, invoices, and everything else a good partnership needs, so Chabot’s programs reflect and welcome the East Bay we serve.
• Maintain clear project plans, timelines, and shared documents so everyone involved knows what’s next and who owns it.
• Oversee public programs and events from setup through breakdown, making sure the visitor experience is coordinated, safe, accessible, and fun.
• Serve as the staff lead and safety point person during programs: directing event flow, making calls in real time, troubleshooting, and keeping everyone on the same page.
• Build run‑of‑show documents, floor plans, staffing plans, and clear staff and volunteer assignments so nothing gets left to chance.
• Lead pre‑event coordination meetings and day‑of briefings so staff, volunteers, partners, and presenters know their roles, their handoffs, and what to do if something goes sideways.
• Coordinate spaces, room setups, signage, supplies,…