Director of Education

Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) works to advance understanding of the natural systems that create Earth’s weather and climate by operating a weather station at the summit of the Northeast’s highest peak for nearly one hundred years. The Director of Education reports to the Deputy Director with a focus on providing high quality educational programs and experiences for learners of all ages related to weather, climate, and the heritage of the White Mountain Region.

The Director of Education contributes to and oversees programming and staff that support Kindergarten thru twelfth grade (K-12) student and teacher programs, programming for adult and general audiences, tours of MWOBS’s renowned summit weather station, programming and exhibits within the Extreme Mount Washington museum, and support for the content and operation of the Observatory’s Gladys Brooks Memorial Library.

This role provides opportunities for professional development, working remotely on occasion, and setting flexible hours. To be considered for this full-time, year-round role, applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, three references and one relevant work sample to jobs. Please reference “Director of Education” in the subject line. No phone calls, please. A complete description of job responsibilities can be found below.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage the educational aspects of the Observatory’s seasonal Extreme Mount Washington museum atop Mount Washington. Maintain existing and develop new exhibits with staff and/or external contractors that focus broadly on weather, climate, and the mountain environment. The Director of Education also oversees staff who support a volunteer docent program and a seasonal Summit Interpreter position that provide interactive educational experiences for visitors to Mount Washington.
• Operate and manage on-the-mountain programs, including day and overnight trips, special tours and other programs. The Director of Education must craft a seasonal schedule, work with other staff members regarding trip logistics, recruit trip staff, promote the programs with the Director of External Affairs, communicate with trip participants and provide overall program administration. Safety in trip operations is paramount, as is creating an overall trip experience that provides educational value and a positive experience of the organization to participants.
  
  The Director of Education is expected to serve as trip leader on an occasional basis.
• Oversight of K-12 student and teacher educational programs with STEM Education Manager that include but are not limited to school day, after school, field trip, virtual, camp, and professional development workshop formats.
• Oversight of adults and general audience programs that include but are not limited to managing the Observatory’s Science in the Mountains lecture series, special workshops, and in-person and virtual presentations.
• Oversight and growth of K-12 education research and curriculum development projects with Deputy Director.
• Promote, book and manage member, public, and group tours of the summit weather station.
• Create, produce, and distribute outreach materials, such as educational and informational brochures on appropriate topics. Respond to informal inquiries on subjects relevant to the Observatory’s mission.
• Oversight and operation of the Observatory’s Gladys Brooks Memorial Library (specializing in books and other materials related to Mount Washington, the White Mountains, and related topics). Oversight of the Library’s Curator and volunteers and their work in managing the historical collection of materials relating to the Observatory, Mount Washington and the White Mountains.
• Collaborate with the Deputy and Executive Directors and/or other Observatory staff to develop corporate, foundation and other grant support for the Observatory’s educational programs. From time to time, serve as the principal investigator on grants and complete all administrative tasks (budgeting, reporting, etc.) that each grant requires.
• Coordinate transportation, facility and equipment usage, and other related matters with other Observatory staff as needed.
• Conduct regular…