Senior Program Specialist

Description:

This position is located in the Smithsonian Institution, Undersecretary of Science and Research, National Air & Space Museum, Bezos Learning Center. The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum (NASM) is one of over 20 units that comprise the Smithsonian Institution - including museums, libraries, research centers, publications, web presence and the national zoo - and is dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge to enlighten, inspire, and engage individuals of all ages. The Bezos Learning Center leverages the rich collections, research, and education assets of both NASM and Smithsonian overall to develop meaningful and relevant onsite and digital experiences that engage local, national, and global audiences.
The incumbent serves as a Senior Program Specialist, responsible for overseeing two staff members.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervision
Plans, organizes, directs, supervises, and manages the personnel management activities of an education team. Oversees and coordinates complex, long-term projects. Plans and carries out the full range of supervisory and managerial authorities related to assignment of work, coordination with other programs, management advisory services, technical work direction, evaluation of subordinates, selections for vacant positions, resolving complaints, proposing disciplinary actions, determining, or approving training needs, approving expenditure of funds, recommending awards and bonuses and determining means to improve productivity.
Exercises delegated managerial authority to set annual and multi-year plans and schedules for projects accomplished in-house and by contract. Determines goals and objectives for the team, where emphasis should be placed and how best to use resources including realignments to address shortfalls or to satisfy priority needs. Ensures the design, implementation, and achievement of performance metrics.
Education and Training
Devises and researches the applicability of new learning techniques and technologies to advance the dissemination of institutional resources both in physical or digital environments.
Applies insight and understanding into instructional design methods, educational technology training, design and development, and various learning styles to facilitate education within the institution in non-formal settings.
Technical understanding in academic learning environments, structures, curriculum, and teaching standards used to provide instruction for various learning styles and age groups.
Incorporates museum educational programs, resources, and materials with established educational principles, practices, and methods sufficient to measure and assess the proficiency in which student retain the information.
Technical Competence
Proposes innovative strategies for developing and adapting educational programs to further the mission of the department, which lead to adapting legacy educational materials with new and modern approaches to learning.
Works in concert with researchers, evaluators, and various museum personnel to ensure that educational content aligns with institutional offerings and that subject matter discussed accurately conveys themes, facts, characteristics, and technical information conveyed in exhibits and artifacts within the institutions collection.
Develops formal documents that schedule material to be evaluated for consistency with established educational practices; submits drafts of new learning materials replacing outdated educational resources; and devises qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate the efficacy of learning products.
Research and Innovation
Catalogues and prioritizes content development with designated exhibits and installations; identifies metrics that evidences popular institutional offerings; sources applicable technological interfaces providing similar content but different learning experience and develops proposals for acquisition and implementation.
Monitors and ensures evaluation is conducted on organizational activities – out of school programs for youth, and the associated rotating display of student work - to ensure the achievement of desired results.
Researches and suggests new and innovative technologies that amplify the BLCs ability to meaningfully engage audiences. Once approved, implement technology appropriately.
Accesses the digital infrastructure of the BLC to broaden audience reach and impact through virtual programs and products that engage learners who are not visiting the Museum’s physical location in DC.
Project Management
Coordinates projects that lead to the development of youth-focused programs alongside institutional researchers and evaluators to determine presentation content, structure, and topics. Participates in the review of program-related deliverables like signage, publications, programs, and materials to ensure that information is appropriate and accurate.
Leverages the rich collections, research, and education assets of both NASM and Smithsonian overall to develop meaningful and relevant onsite and digital experiences that engage youth – locally and nationally, and eventually worldwide.
Contributes to the research, development, and testing in the use of new and unprecedented learning interfaces that are both digital and physical; meeting with vendors and suppliers; and supporting discussions whether to acquire the resource and technology.
Leads the planning, management and execution of educational programming that will showcase and make accessible NASM content (60%) and often support pan-institutional collaboration (40%). Provides reporting concerning project status, detailing successes, failures, or approvals required, tracks progress in relation to agreed timeframes, and notifies leadership of project lag and source.
Performs other duties as necessary.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from an accredited four-year college or university and/or 3-5 years of related experience (described below); or an equivalent combination of education and experience.