Planetarium Educator (18-month position)

The Role
Liberty Science Center (LSC) invites your application for an exciting NASA-funded role designed to ignite the love of astronomy learning for young people. This part time Planetarium Educator role will: (1) present and develop NASA-themed content to students in grades 4-8 at weekly after school programs in the Hudson County, NJ, area; (2) operate an inflatable, portable planetarium at our community-based partner sites (3) train students on how to use and create engaging dome programs; and (4) operate equipment and facilitate programming, including live shows, movies, and laser light shows, onsite in all of LSC’s space-related facilities.

The Planetarium Educator will work three days a week, primarily between 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM. This role will report to the Planetarium Director and will work closely with members of the STEM Education department. This is an 18-month, grant-funded position, currently scheduled to end September 30th, 2027.

What You’ll Bring
As a Planetarium Educator, you are passionate about presenting astronomy, space science, and earth science topics. Your formal and informal education experience will help keep students engaged in NASA-based interactive experiences. Your experience as a skilled and dynamic presenter will come to the fore as you train students to create and deliver their own planetarium shows. Your experience in public presentations will be tapped as you give programs in LSC’s giant Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium and Weston Family Lab for Earth and Space Exploration.

What You’ll Do

The essential functions of the Part-Time Planetarium Educator (18-month) role are as follows:

• Supports LSC’s grant-funded program (‘NASA Afterschool Engagement’), in which you will provide NASA-themed afterschool content at public schools and at youth centers to students in grades 4-8.

• Work with the project team on content to be delivered weekly at after school and summer camp venues.

• Share NASA content with students by developing and delivering programs that deepen their understanding of NASA’s work, including the Artemis Mission and the James Webb Space Telescope.

• Operate a portable digital planetarium off-site as a venue for sharing content with students.

• Train students to use basic planetarium software to create and deliver their own programs for family nights at the afterschool venues.

• Assist selected students from the afterschool programs to present their shows in the main Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium at LSC.

• Present outreach programs using the portable planetarium at various venues in northern New Jersey.

• Present energetic, engaging live programs in the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, the largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, to audiences that include the general public, school groups, summer camp groups, and attendees of day and evening special events.

• Present educational programs on Science on a Sphere (the six-foot, earth science-focused globe in LSC’s Weston Family Lab), for Scout merit-badge programs, and other venues that bring astronomy and earth sciences to life for LSC’s audiences.

• Operate and perform basic maintenance on audio-visual and digital equipment, both within the planetarium and with platforms and programs used for remote educational programs.

• Facilitate Science on a Sphere presentations for potential funders, board members, and organizational partners.

• Collaborate inter-divisionally on developing and producing creative solutions that serve to strengthen LSC’s brand, mission, and revenue.

• Establish an environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the physical, social, and emotional development of our diverse audience.

• Other duties, as business needs require.
  
  

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Demonstrated ability in formal (classroom) education

• Experience in afterschool programming or other forms of informal education

• Excellent communication, public speaking, presentation, and interpersonal skills

• Understanding of current trends in astronomy and space science education

• Experience in presenting online programs over platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet.

• Skilled in editing and adapting video and other content to full-dome format

• Ability to contribute to a multicultural organization and serve students with diverse needs
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in astronomy, education, theater, or a related STEM discipline; equivalent professional experience will also be considered.

• Acting training and on-stage experience

• Other performance experience (e.g., singing, playing music, dancing).

• Experience in venues that involve engaging and holding the attention of large audiences

• One or more years of experience in ALL of the following:

  • Working, operating, and presenting in a planetarium setting

  • Using digital full-dome systems to create planetarium programs (experience in Evans and Sutherland’s Digistar system would be a significant plus)

  • Operating and maintaining telescopes

  • Designing and delivering content for summer camps

  • Teaching student groups in either formal or informal settings

• Being an active member of a regional, national, and/or international astronomy professional educational organization

Supervisory Responsibilities
The Planetarium Educator may manage and coach ‘near peer’ students that will also be funded under this project to help deliver the afterschool content to students.

Classification and Work Location
This is a part-time, non-exempt 18-month position, January 2026 to July 2027. This position must be available to work onsite at Liberty Science Center and at school venues in Hudson County.

Schedule
Weekday afternoon availability is essential, due to the schedule of after school programs. Weekend and weekday daytime availability is also necessary. This role is budgeted for approximately 20 hours a week.

LSC’s Work Culture at a Glimpse
LSC prides itself on fostering a culture that enables all employees to experience a sense of pleasure, passion, and purpose while in the workplace. We believe in embracing and driving change, inspiring fun and learning, and creating a positive and family-friendly team spirit. Our differences as individuals (race, gender, age, cultural heritage, physical ability, education, and lifestyle) are an asset and contribute to our ability to drive innovation. Lastly, at the heart of our work culture is the commitment to delivering a “wow factor” through our exceptional customer service to not only our guests but also one another.

Physical and Environmental Demands
The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

This position involves working in a portable planetarium, including transporting a projector, computer system, and inflatable planetarium dome. Must be able to lift equipment of up to 50 lbs. The setup of the portable dome requires the ability to bend over and crawl.

The ability to work for long periods of time at a computer is required. This position also requires tolerance for noise and extensive public speaking, often in noisy environments. This position involves working in dark presentation spaces;, must be able to navigate dimly lit environments. The planetarium control system is up one flight of stairs, so the ability to access the control system is necessary for this role.

The position requires frequent visits to the science center’s floor (walking on concrete floors, climbing stairs, etc.) and outdoors (walking on uneven ground, exposed to the elements),

Travel
Travel to local schools and other venues for delivering astronomy outreach programs is an essential part of the position. Possible travel out of state to attend conferences and training related to the position. Valid Driver’s License is required.

Employment Contingencies
This position requires two contingencies to be met before the first day of employment: (1) a successful criminal background check, (2) proof of authorization to work in the United States.

Compensation & Benefits
The Planetarium Educator position is compensated at a rate of $21.50/hour. Liberty Science Center also provides perks for all eligible part-time employees, including

Paid sick time

25% discount for staff in the LSC store

15% discount in on-site cafeteria

LSC Family Membership

Free Parking

To Apply
Please submit a resume and cover letter highlighting why Liberty Science Center and this particular role are a good fit for you.