Chief Learning Officer - Da Vinci Science Center

The Chief Learning Officer (CLO) will be a strategic thought-partner and member of the Executive Team at the Da Vinci Science Center (Da Vinci). The position will report to the Executive Director and CEO.  They will be responsible for setting and executing the strategic direction for Education, Innovation, and TechEd on the exhibit floor, in the classrooms, and at school and community sites.  The CLO will oversee the professional development and training of a diverse, highly qualified team of STEAM education professionals. The CLO will also be responsible for continually evaluating Da Vinci program offerings and their effectiveness to maximize the Science Center’s impact and ensure its continued role as a STEAM education leader in the region while positioning Da Vinci at the forefront of Education, Innovation, and TechEd in the science museum world.           

The CLO will supervise a department of 8+ full-time staff and 15+ part-time staff depending upon the season, as well as numerous interns and volunteers.  The size of the department is expected to grow as new signature programs are implemented. The CLO will serve as the staff liaison to the Da Vinci Education Advisory Committee, tapping the expertise of school and community partners to shape future plans for STEAM education programs, and to the Women and Science and Engineering (WISE) Executive Council, working with female STEAM leaders to shape the development of the WISE Initiative. The CLO will also serve with the CEO on the LVEDC Talent and Supply Council Committee.

The CLO will play a critical role in partnering with the Executive Team in strategic decision-making as Da Vinci expands learning opportunities for a regional market at its new downtown facility.  The CLO will lead the development of educational partnerships and strategy with area schools and school districts, STEAM employers, colleges and universities, community organizations, and other key stakeholders including corporate partners.  The CLO will also work closely with the Director of the Allentown School District Partnership Program to expand District educational programs, in particular those serving low-income youth and families living in the neighborhoods surrounding the new downtown Science Center.  Working closely with the Philanthropy Department, the CLO will pursue public and private funding to expand the Science Center’s capacity to meet regional demand for STEAM education.

A successful CLO will expand high-impact school and community partnerships and enhance the reputation and financial viability of a well-respected organization as it expands its programming to meet priority community needs.

What You Bring

You are an experienced visionary and thought leader, in museum Education, Innovation, and TechEd with specific expertise in leading education teams and creating dynamic science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) programming.  You have a passion for unlocking student potential and illuminating STEAM career pathways for all students. You strive for inclusive excellence, making diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging a priority in everything you do.  You are an inspirational leader committed to expanding the expertise of your team, you employ a variety of methods for accomplishing your vision and impact, and you are meticulous about collecting and sharing data to drive improvement.  You cultivate positive relationships both within the organization and with collaborators in the community.  You actively enhance the Science Center’s customer service culture.                     

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Education Strategy and Impact

●         Lead the development of the strategic direction for STEAM education, incorporating research on best practices, feedback from parents and school and community partners, data from evaluation of Science Center programs, and state and national STEAM priorities.

●         Engage external partners, key stakeholders, and members of the community to inform and co-develop extraordinary learning experiences tailored to institutional goals and community needs and promoting inclusive excellence.  

●         Oversee the recruitment, training, and evaluation of a diverse, highly qualified team of STEAM educational professionals.  

●         Expand opportunities to connect young people with practicing STEAM professionals encouraging them to consider further studies and STEAM Careers, including but not limited to exhibit floor experiences, STEAM Career Pathways Certificate Program, WISE Initiative, and School Field Trip experiences.

●         With the Philanthropy Department, develop strategies to pursue major regional and national funding opportunities and support grant program development, with a focus on signature programs that address community needs.

●         Oversee the evaluation of Science Center educational programs.

●         Partner with the Institutional Giving Officer to improve systems for data collection to assess educational impact and prepare reports for funders on education impact measures. 

●         Utilize evaluation data to improve the guest experience and maximize educational impact. 

●         Disseminate evaluation results for staff learning and to meet grant funding requirements.

●         Expand access to Da Vinci experiences through increased representation of diverse role models, use of Spanish in educational programming, and design culturally relevant experiences responsive to diverse audiences.

●         Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of best practices for STEAM teaching and learning.

●         Serve as the Science Center’s primary spokesperson and advocate for STEAM education.

●         Serve as the staff liaison to the Da Vinci STEAM Education Advisory Committee and WISE Executive Council. (Administration support to be provided by CEO Office.)

Education, Innovation, and TechEd strategy for Programs On and Off-Site

●         Lead the team in research, conceptualization, and content development, design, staff training, piloting and implementation, and evaluation of professional development, museum education, and outreach programs.

o    The Professional Development portfolio includes training, consulting, and co-teaching on and off-site to support next generation science teaching and learning. 

o    The Museum Education portfolio includes reserved education programs such as Guided Field Trips, School Workshops, Animal Encounters for schools and other groups (developed in collaboration with the Animal Care Team), Science Shows, ATAS Innovation Studio experiences, Summer Camps, School’s Out Science Camps, Scout Programs, Camp-In Overnight Programs, and Science Clubs.  The Education staff will develop the Science Shows and the ATAS Innovation Studio experiences for the public and train Operations staff to deliver these programs.  

o    The Outreach Portfolio includes Classroom/After School Programs, Science Shows, Family Celebrations, and Community Engagement.

●         Establish educational priorities and develop an annual plan and budget.  Track performance against programmatic and financial goals. Meet or exceed annual financial performance goals.

●         With support from the Philanthropy Department, oversee management and budgets for departmental grants.

●         Collaborate with the Marketing Department to advertise and promote educational programs utilizing a variety of strategies to target specific audiences.

●         Work closely with the Operations Department to coordinate scheduling of in-building programs and the required staffing and facility setup, cleaning, security, and maintenance.

Signature Programs in Work Force Development and Innovation

●         Create annual and long-term vision for the Isaacman Next Generation Science Institute (school partnerships and programming to support next generation science teaching and learning), STEAM Career Pathways Certificate Program, and the Innovation Hub (Fab Lab, Mobile Fab Lab, and Media and Production Studio).

●         Develop budgets and create and execute program plans that achieve these visions. 

●         Design programs to generate earned revenue as well as support low-income audiences, particularly those in neighborhoods surrounding the Science Center. 

●         Plan for long-term sustainability through a mix of paid participation and philanthropic support.

●         Work with marketing, communications, and fundraising operations, serving as an ambassador and spokesperson for these programs and their role in addressing priority community needs.

Educational Experiences in the Exhibit Galleries

●         Oversee the development and implementation of exhibit facilitation guides, training sessions for staff and volunteers on effective facilitation and interpretation techniques, and training sessions for                Operations managers to provide staff and volunteer coaching and feedback.

●         Review and adapt educational resources for traveling exhibitions and actively contribute to their assessment and selection, with the goal of optimizing the experience for Da Vinci visitors.

●         Oversee floor activation and pocket science experiences and training for staff and volunteers on effective visitor engagement.

●         Collaborate with Operations Department to extend outreach to corporate partners to share their expertise with visitors through short talks, cart demonstrations, and/or facilitation on the exhibit floor.

Executive Team Member Responsibilities

●         Serve as a member of the Da Vinci Science Center’s Executive Team overseeing the entire organization, setting the Da Vinci’s strategic direction and ensuring the organization delivers its goals and overall operating budget, and always operates in a manner consistent with its values. 

●         Collaborate with fellow Executive Team members to ensure that all departments work cooperatively with each other and in the best interest of the Center and its various stakeholders.

Other duties as assigned.

 QUALIFICATIONS

●         BA degree in science or engineering field required; higher degree in Educational Leadership or similar field a plus. Advanced knowledge of STEAM education, Innovation, and TechEd, including, but not limited to, in‑depth knowledge of and experience using Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), inquiry-based teaching in STEAM, and project-based learning; knowledge or experience of positive youth development models and practices; and knowledge of and experience using effective, research based, professional development/adult learning strategies in a museum/science center setting.

●         A minimum of 10 years of experience managing education programs with 5 years in the leadership role and budgetary responsibility of $1 million or more.

●         Demonstrated ability to develop strong, positive relationships with regional Innovation, Tech, and STEAM businesses, health care organizations, K-12 institutions, colleges and universities, and non-profit organizations.

●         Demonstrated track record securing and managing regional, state, and national grants.

●         Strong written and verbal communication skills, including effective use of appropriate information and communication technologies (writing tools, spreadsheets or other budgeting tools, presentation tools).

●         Ability to work with and lead people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and skill levels.

●         Strong planning and organizational skills, problem-solving skills, budget management skills, and decision-making ability.

●         Supervisory/team management experience.

●         Knowledge of the Lehigh Valley education environment and dedication to the mission of Da Vinci.

●         Able to maintain a flexible schedule with the ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as required.

●         A sense of wonder, fun, and risk-taking; and a desire to spark curiosity in self and others.

●         Fluency in Spanish a plus.