Director of Learning, Academy of Natural Sciences

Posted by Drexel University on December 8, 2020

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is seeking an experienced, creative, and innovative Director of Learning to reinvent the way people learn in natural history museums. The role requires someone who is both visionary and tactical, big-thinking and big-doing, inspired and inspiring, and invigorated by challenge. They will create programs that are high-quality, high-impact, cost-efficient, and user-led, and display a dedication to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in all aspects of their work.

The visionary: The director will work with the Chief Learning and Engagement Officer to craft a slate of programs that will serve audiences onsite, offsite, and online, through both expected and unexpected times. They will provide a vision for how to serve public audiences, school audiences, and communities through museums visits, offsite engagements, and online tools. They will seek to explore the themes of the natural world, ANS’ collections, and the institution’s four position statements through a multidisciplinary lens; creating opportunities to learn science through many media (visual arts, performing arts, history, geography, food, writing). They will actively engage the scientists at ANS and Drexel University in program design and implementation, as well as local experts and partners in all aspects of the work.

The tactical: The director will be responsible for strategically creating, hiring, managing, mentoring, and inspiring the department’s staff and the suite of programs they offer. All aspects of managing the operations of the department will be the responsibility of the director, including strategic planning, budget management, payroll approval, annual reviews, and quarterly reporting. Continuous monitoring and assessment of the work is a key element of this role; collecting and analyzing data, and making our impacts visible, will be a large part of the job. The director will also work closely with volunteers, Drexel co-op students, and interns, and manage their project load, schedules, and training as needed.

The ideal candidate will be a natural leader with robust management experience, a professional demeanor, a deep understanding of informal and free-choice learning, and a creative yet organized style of working. They will be intrinsically motivated to do outstanding work, passionate about learning and the natural sciences, and solutions-focused in their approach. They must display quality and excellence in their work at all times and guide all their teams to do the same. They will be an advocate for STEAM learning, integrating the sciences with other disciplines, and connecting the Academy with critical partners in the region, state, and nation.

Learn more and apply here