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Director, Early Childhood Stem Experiences

The Director, Early Childhood Stem Experiences, is responsible for elevating the quality, reach, and impact of Stem programming for young learners at Liberty Science Center. This role leads the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of engaging lab workshops, non-standards-based experiences, public programs, and grant-funded initiatives. The Director sets the vision and strategic direction for Early Childhood Stem Education, ensuring alignment with best practices in early childhood development and informal learning. They oversee a team of passionate Early Childhood Stem Educators, providing coaching, training, and performance management to ensure excellence in program delivery. In addition to program leadership, the Director cultivates and maintains key partnerships with school districts, community stakeholders, and local universities to support long-term community engagement. They collaborate with senior leadership to develop short- and long-term strategies, contribute to grant development and compliance, and model the use of project management tools to drive data-informed planning. The Director also helps build institutional capacity by sharing pedagogical expertise and supporting professional development across departments to ensure a cohesive, organization-wide approach to working with young children. The Director, Early Childhood Stem Experiences, reports to the Senior Director of School and Public Programs and collaborates closely with colleagues on the Stem Leadership team. You have a good understanding of various pedagogical approaches to education, familiarity with learning styles and developmental stages, and a facility for creating innovative, high-touch educational experiences for diverse audiences. You have a fluid and effective ability to model best practices for team members to ensure that programs are implemented with best practices, design, and delivery in mind. You are knowledgeable of the state of Stem education in New Jersey. You have a deeply held belief that all students can learn and should have access to Stem learning that is engaging and fun. You are a strategic, forward thinker with superior leadership skills. You are an effective leader who understands the subtleties of motivating, directing, and enriching a diverse team of individuals. You can translate a vision into measurable goals. Below is a list of the essential functions that this role should expect to perform with or without reasonable accommodations. Manage and plan the administrative duties for Early Childhood Models and manages the effective use of project management tools to support proactive, data-informed decision-making and ongoing team planning Oversee the Early Childhood team, including hiring, training, and evaluation, to create and deliver high-quality educational programs Collaborate with the Senior Director of School and Public Programs in the supervision, positive coaching, performance management, positive discipline, learning, and development of Stem Educators Elevate the quality, experience, and impact of Early Childhood Stem programs such as lab workshops, non-standards-based programming, public program experiences, and grant-funded initiatives Collaborate with the Senior Director, School and Public Programs, Senior Manager, School Programs, and other leadership members to develop short-term and long-term program strategies for the institution, emphasizing informal and engaging science learning Ensure implementation of best practices in the design and delivery of meaningful and immersive Early Childhood Stem experiences Collaborate with External Affairs in seeking, researching, developing, and implementing grant-funded opportunities and adhering to set guidelines and metrics for successful completion of the grant Develop strategies to monitor, assess, and communicate the effectiveness and impact of Early Childhood Stem programs Maintain and update a portfolio of Stem programs based on data from feedback surveys, gap analyses, and needs assessments Partner with other team members and departments to collaboratively brainstorm and develop programming for a variety of audiences and goals Shares pedagogical knowledge to inform the design of exhibitions and professional development for guest-facing staff and managers to create a uniform, institution-wide approach to working with young children Collaborate with the Senior Director, School and Public Programs, and the Vice President, Stem Education, to help define the role Liberty Science Center will play in advancing Early Childhood education in New Jersey Collaborate with other departments across the institution to identify funding opportunities, develop marketing and communication plans, build team capacity, and expand outreach Present at meetings and conferences, both internally and externally, contributing to the collective learning within the museum and educational field Build relationships and maintain partnerships critical to the ongoing development and delivery of Early Childhood Programs Maintain relationships with partners and make data-driven recommendations for the development and delivery of Early Childhood Stem Experiences Cultivates and maintains strong relationships with local university partners and school districts to support ongoing community engagement and collaboration Model professionalism and adherence to all Lsc policies and protocols Provide content and managerial support to the broader team as needed Collaborate in the management of the Center for Learning and Teaching Collaborate in the planning and execution of team-wide programming initiatives Other responsibilities as assigned to meet the needs of the business Commitment to Mission: Knowledge of Liberty Science Center's mission and a deep understanding of Stem programs' core role in inspiring and empowering curious and creative thinkers Leadership: Demonstrated ability to galvanize and elevate a diverse team around a mission-driven vision, resulting in high-impact outcomes and sustained organizational growth Pedagogy: Knowledge of early childhood pedagogical frameworks and the ability to effectively translate and adapt those principles into developmentally appropriate, engaging programming for diverse audiences and stakeholders, including children, families, educators, and community and institutional partners Communication: Exceptional written, oral, and communication skills; a skillful presenter and storyteller Project Management: Proven ability to lead multiple projects from conception through delivery with strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills, complemented by a positive track record of innovative, results-oriented strategic thinking that drives continuous improvement and measurable outcomes Teamwork: Collaborative and solutions-oriented team player with the ability to work seamlessly across departments and engage stakeholders to achieve shared goals Program Development: Demonstrated ability to design meaningful, cohesive programs using a data-driven approach while leveraging a range of educational tools and methods to create innovative, high-impact learning for diverse audiences Bachelor's degree in a Stem-related discipline required; Master's degree or higher in a Stem field and/or education preferred Minimum of 5+ years of experience in a formal and/or informal PreK-5 educational environment Teacher Certification preferred 3+ years of previous managerial experience, including direct supervision of staff, preferably in a leadership or director-level role Expertise in early childhood development and pedagogy 3+ years of experience in building and maintaining relationships with partners The Director, Early Childhood Stem Experiences, directly supervises the Early Childhood Stem Educators. The Director of Early Childhood Stem Experiences collaborates in supervising Stem Educators and Stem Presenters. This position will require travel in the greater tri-state area. A valid driver's license is required. The Director, Early Childhood Stem Experiences, is a regular full-time, exempt position, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act. This role is eligible for full benefits. The ideal candidate must be available to work remotely and on occasional weekends, evenings, and holidays, as business needs or special events may require. The position may require the ability to stand and speak for long periods. The ability to lift 30 pounds is required. The position may require visits to the museum floor and off-site facilities (walking on concrete floors, climbing stairs, etc.) and outdoors (walking on uneven ground, exposed to the elements), tolerating high noise levels, and public speaking. 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. Liberty Science Center is located in a beautiful waterfront state park in Jersey City, New Jersey. Not only is Jersey City easy to get to from any points in Northern NJ and Manhattan, but it also holds the title of the most diverse city in the United States. Employees have access to free parking, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, and the NJ Path train. In addition, all employees have access to an on-site caf and a terrace with stunning NYC views. In addition, you will have many opportunities to participate in interesting on-site events, programs, and exhibition