Job Listing: Visitor Center Manager

NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center - Wallops Island, VA

Closes - Open until closed

Position Title –  Visitor Center Manager

Salary - $60k-$80k

Job Type - Full Time

Apply:  Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to Ms. Elizabeth Alexis elizabeth.alexis@hq.doe.gov and Ms. Sharmaine Carter scarter@alexton.com

Overview

NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center welcomes an average of 85,000 guests annually. The Visitor Center provides exhibits, interactive public programs, special events, K-12 field trips, and public rocket launch viewing events. The Visitor Center Manager directs and manages all operations, 2 full time and 1 part time staff, interns, and volunteers of the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center, providing informal S.T.E.M. education and outreach opportunities and exhibitions about NASA’s communication priorities, Wallops Flight Facility missions, research, and findings.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Supervision, Management, and Administration: Oversee daily operations and facilities management including implementing informal S.T.E.M. education and outreach programs, coordination of special events and public rocket launch viewings, exhibit design and development, and providing various visitor services. Responsible for the daily opening and closing of the Visitor Center. Ensure operational efficiency that focuses effort on NASA’s strategic communication priorities to promote and foster S.T.E.M. engagement and inspire future careers. Hire, train, schedule, and supervise staff, interns, and volunteers. Works with a high degree of independence while communicating and strategizing regularly with multiple departments and companies across NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Goddard Space Flight Center.
• Informal STEM Programming, Events & Facility Tours: Assist the Informal Educator in the planning and presentation of informal education programs and events, including onsite and virtual K-12 field trips, special events, homeschool workshops, and astronomy nights. Assist the Program Coordinator in managing informal education requests and facility tour schedule. Conduct facility tours as needed. Ensure all security procedures are being followed. Responsible for planning, organizing, and conducting public rocket launch viewing events. Visitor Center Manager is required to attend most launch viewing events which are often held outside of normal operating hours.
• Facility Maintenance and Exhibits: Complete minor repairs to exhibits and Visitor Center facility, coordinate with multiple departments for larger repairs. Occasionally work with NASA departments on the creation and installation of new exhibits.
• Partnerships and Collaboration: Establish and foster partnerships and collaborations that strengthen and expand the center’s ability to disseminate and raise awareness of NASA’s resources and communications priorities. Continue to develop partnerships within NASA departments, including scientific missions, Office of Communications, NASA security, and facility management.
• Public Relations: Collaborate with the Office of Communications to develop, write, and execute promotional efforts such as press releases, social media content, online community calendars, webpages, written correspondence, and printed materials. Represent the Visitor Center in various settings including meetings, conferences, media, and in public forums.
• Other Duties as assigned: other duties may include set up for Office of Communications events, rocket launch event support, requesting cost estimates for facility work, providing visitors with special accommodations, and more.

Qualifications

• Four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study or specific course requirements such as museum work, science centers or in an applicable subject-matter field.
• Minimum of three years full-time specialized experience in museum and exhibits planning, designing and management, or a combination of specialized experience and education.
• Minimum of three years management experience supervising, training and managing direct reports and volunteers in areas such as providing public information, services, resources, interpretive programs, rules and regulations, and/or visitor safety.
• Minimum of three years of experience in either informal or formal education program planning, designing or implementation for a variety of audiences, academic levels and ages.
• Experience in long- and short-range planning, developing supporting budgets and program documents.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in assessing and evaluating program and exhibit effectiveness, functionality and success.
• Experience with past NASA projects/ programs a plus

Other Knowledge Skills & Abilities

This position requires performing outdoor work and exposure to year-round weather. Hosting large public gatherings during NASA rocket launch events is a priority. Regular weekend and evening work is required. Must be able to work on many projects simultaneously and provide prompt communication responses while managing frequent interruptions. This is a contractor position.

Compensation

Full time exempt position, regular weekend and evening work required. Salary. Alexton benefits package available.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to Ms. Elizabeth Alexis elizabeth.alexis@hq.doe.gov and Ms. Sharmaine Carter scarter@alexton.com . Ideal start date February 2023