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.
At Chabot, we:
- Conduct ourselves with honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior, maintaining the trust and confidence of our community.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, valuing the diverse perspectives, ideas, and skills of our staff, volunteers, and partners, recognizing that collective efforts drive positive change.
- Encourage creativity and innovation, embracing new ideas, and approaches that advance our mission and optimize our impact and promote ongoing professional development, fostering a culture of learning, growth, and continuous improvement, where individuals are empowered to reach their full potential and contribute their unique strengths.
- Treat all individuals with dignity and respect, appreciating their unique backgrounds and experiences, fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone.
- Actively seek partnership and collaboration, recognizing that working together with others strengthens our ability to make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.
- Measure our success by the positive impact we make in our community, always seeking ways to address emerging needs, adapt to changing circumstances, and make meaningful and lasting change.
- We believe that everyone deserves a career they love. We strive to build a diverse team that reflects the people we serve; this is made possible through our commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, equity, and connectedness.
Member & Donor Engagement Manager Job Summary:
The Environmental Monitoring Inquiry Team Lead is a contract position facilitating one of the high school Galaxy Explorer (GE) Inquiry Teams. From 10 – 12 grades, Chabot’s Galaxy Explorers acquire a broad understanding of space, space-related careers, and an introduction to a range of relevant technical skills. At the same time, they are taking on increasing levels of responsibility supporting visitors in the Chabot Space & Science Center. In the first two years they spend one semester each on the Astronomy, Digital Media, Engineering, and Environmental Monitoring Inquiry Teams. The Teams meet half a day seven times during the semester with the other half of the day spent engaging visitors in the Center. Team meetings are on either a Saturday or Sunday, alternating the two semesters. Semester 1 spans September – early December, Semester 2 January – April with planning time before and after the sessions. This position has a fixed term employment : Term 1: Aug 2025 -Dec 2025; Term 2 : Jan 2026 – May 2026.This position requires on site work throughout the duration of the Term.
The Environmental Monitoring Inquiry Team Lead is responsible for facilitating morning and afternoon cohorts of 20 students that meet seven times each semester. The general theme of the course is exploring the intersection between satellite data and local field data, using space as a resource to learn more about Earth. Meetings include both data collection in the field and synthesis in the classroom. In the field, students learn plant identification, transect monitoring, and data recording techniques in a combination Coast Redwood-Monterrey Pine-Coast Live Oak forest. Specific attention is given to variables that may impact wildfire vulnerability, such as plant litter, woody debris, and invasive species. Class work centers on group environmental research projects that use ArcGIS map data to contextualize findings from the park. This team partners with the Friends of Joaquin Miller Park, a local community organization. Findings are reported to Friends of Joaquin Miller Park to be used for action plans, grants, and to enrich knowledge of the park ecosystem. At the end of each semester students participate in a public showcase of research posters highlighting their projects. 12 grade Interns with the team not only support the Team Lead during sessions but also participate in more advanced data analysis and reporting as part of the Joaquin Miller project.
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Prepare and facilitate a semester course of seven, 3-hour sessions, including a final public showcase.
- Introduce and practice the research design process through student-centered activities.
- Identify specific environmental field and GIS research techniques explicitly taught and practiced during the sessions.
- Incorporate professional and soft/durable -skill development throughout the course.
- Incorporate career awareness opportunities related to environmental monitoring and the use of satellite data through GIS technology.
- Participate in summer planning and training in preparation for Teams’ facilitation.
- Participate in the culminating showcase.
- Utilize Canvas for curating and managing Team materials and communication.
- Keep student attendance and communicate engagement concerns with the student and GE staff.
- Provide input on growth in students’ development of durable and technical skill competencies at the end of each semester.
Required Skills/Abilities:
- A passion for the environment and space.
- Excitement engaging science-oriented youth from diverse backgrounds in space-related environmental projects.
- California plant identification knowledge and experience using environmental field monitoring techniques.
- Ability to use GIS, collect and synthesize data, and proficiency with excel.
- Comfortable facilitating project-based learning and group work with high school students possessing a range of academic backgrounds.
- Comfortable with direct instruction and facilitating the acquisition of basic technical skills.
- Comfort and knowledge of preparing and supporting science research posters.
- High level of professionalism and responsibility.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in ecology, botany, environmental science or other related fields and / or significant professional or non-traditional experience.
- Academic course work or work experience with GIS, environmental field monitoring, California ecology / wildfire ecology, and basic statistics.
- Experience teaching or working with young people at the high school or college level.
Application Requirements:
- Please upload a copy of your Resume and Cover Letter to: https://www.indeed.com/job/environmental-monitoring-inquiry-team-lead-galaxy-explorers-59d3ea5c66bef949
- In your Cover Letter please outline your relevant experience and your passion for science education.
Work Environment:
Must be committed to working in a diverse workforce with dignity and respect, appreciating unique backgrounds and experiences, and fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone.
Physical Requirements:
The physical requirements listed below are characteristic of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods of time.
- Ability to lift 25 pounds.
- Ability to work indoors in environmentally controlled conditions, or outdoors in seasonal temperatures.
- Ability to work in a sometimes loud and active environments for an extended period.
- Ability to work in crowded environments.
CHABOT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Chabot is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our employees are people with differing strengths, experiences, and backgrounds who share a passion for bringing science to the full range of our community – sparking excitement about a universe of possibilities beyond our planet. Diversity not only includes race and gender identity but also age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and many other parts of one’s identity. All our employees’ points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility.
