Staff Scientist

**Staff Scientist**:
**Department**:Discovery Centre Science Education
**Supervisor**: Director, Science Education
**Position Category**: Full Time
**Working Hours**:35 hours per week

**Benefits**: Medical and RRSP plan

**Position Summary**

The Staff Scientist is responsible for leading the delivery of an exceptional experience for all Discovery Centre visitors. The role is primarily focused on encouraging visitor interaction with the centre’s exhibits and facilitating educational demonstrations and hands-on activities and programs. The Staff Scientist has additional responsibility for keeping the visitor experience fresh; developing and delivering new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) programs for public visitors, birthday party guests, organized groups and day camps. The Staff Scientist is also involved in training staff and volunteers.

**Summary of Responsibilities**

**Facilitate STEAM experiences for all visitors**
- Engage and interact with visitors in the exhibit galleries, providing an exceptional visitor experience
- Deliver STEAM themed programming/Science on the Spot demonstrations and hands-on activities
- Be knowledgeable about Discovery Centre exhibits, programs and dome theatre shows; be comfortable sharing that information to visitors
- Host Discovery Centre birthday party programs; setting up the party room, greeting guests and delivering interactive demonstrations
- Facilitate evening and camp programming as needed
- Deliver the centre’s corporate team building program - Corporate Recess
- Clean exhibits and demonstration equipment regularly

**Create a safe, welcoming environment for all visitors**
- Provide a warm welcome to visitors, including delivering a formal orientation to groups
- Assist in providing safety for centre visitors: monitor visitor activities and calmly follow protocol in response to an incident
- Provide leadership in the emergency evacuation of visitors
- Follow all safety guidelines as they relate to exhibits and programs
- Assist with the creation of safety guidelines and risk assessments for new programs

**Continually refresh the visitor experience**
- Develop new demonstrations and hands-on activities relevant to the centre’s gallery themes
- Develop birthday party and organized group programs as required
- Keeps up to date in fields relevant to exhibit galleries
- Create programming for PD day, Winter and March Break camps

**Contribute to the successful operation of Discovery Centre**
- Create daily team schedules and host morning/de-brief meetings
- Mentor Facilitators and volunteers
- Participate actively in training programs, staff meetings and other learning opportunities
- Participate in the centre’s OH&S program
- Daily reporting of visitor interactions

**Other Duties**:
Other duties as assigned by the Director, Science Education, including providing guidance to students and volunteers.

**Qualifications**:
Experience: Relevant experience includes working positions related to interpretation, education, or recreational programming, especially those within science centres or museums.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required; additional languages would be considered an asset.

Competencies:

- Excellent public speaking/presentation skills
- Excellent customer service skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
- Highly organized
- Able to approach problems with a creative and flexible outlook
- Demonstrated aptitude for safe practices

Other Qualifications:

- A clean criminal record check and child abuse registry check are mandatory
- Must hold or be willing to work towards a certificate in First Aid with CPR C
- A clean driving license is considered an asset

**Hours of Work**

The full time Staff Scientist will sometimes be required to work beyond core business hours and holidays. The current work week is Wednesday to Sundays, 35 hours per week.

**Application**

Discovery Centre is committed to leveraging our facility, people, and programming to create inclusive spaces that ignite a passion for science and discovery. We are also committed to advancing diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility practices within our workplace, public engagement spaces, and programming. Our Centre’s Board of Directors, management, and staff believe diverse participation and representation are essential and that our networks thrive when we create an inclusive and equitable culture where all people can see themselves reflected, feel respected, and have their contributions valued.

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please contact to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.