Tribal Arts Program Partner

Position Title: Tribal Arts Program Partner

Department: Maker & Innovation Lab

Reports to: Manager of Content and Experience

Pay Class: Fulltime, Limited Duration EMPLOYEE until Dec 31, 2028 (almost 3 years)

FLSA Status: Hourly, Non-Exempt           

Position Summary

The Tribal Arts Partner is a full-time limited-duration position through December 2028 that leads the implementation and evolution of Pacific Science Center’s Welcoming with Intention initiative, a multi-year effort to deepen connections between arts, culture, and science through an Indigenous-led artist-in-residence program within the Maker & Innovation Lab. Working in partnership with Pacific Northwest Indigenous artists, culture bearers, Tribal communities, and internal stakeholders, this role advances the strategic vision for integrating Indigenous knowledge, cultural practices, and creative expression into the visitor experience.

The Tribal Arts Partner oversees the planning, development, and execution of key initiative components, including teen and youth outreach, artist residencies, community engagement activities, advisory committee processes, public programming, and artwork installations. This role is responsible for cultivating and sustaining authentic, reciprocal relationships with Tribal communities and cultural partners, ensuring that collaboration is grounded in trust, respect, and shared decision-making. The Tribal Arts Partner serves as a key steward of the initiative’s goals, aligning project activities with broader organizational priorities while documenting and evaluating outcomes to inform future practice.

In addition to leading initiative delivery, the Tribal Arts Partner contributes to the strategic development of the Maker & Innovation Lab programming, developing experiences that integrate problem-solving, cultural learning, and creativity. Through cross-departmental collaboration, community partnership, and program leadership, this role advances Pacific Science Center’s commitment to inclusive engagement, cultural responsiveness, and innovative learning experiences.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities  

• Lead planning and execution of initiative activities, including Tribal artist residencies, community engagement opportunities, Tribal advisory committee meetings, public programs, workshops, demonstrations, art installations, and annual community celebration.

• Co-create and implement culturally responsive programs, experiences, and engagement strategies in partnership with Tribal artists, advisors, and community members, ensuring Indigenous voices and perspectives guide program development and delivery.

• Manage project implementation, including work planning, scheduling, resource coordination, budget tracking, documentation, and reporting to ensure successful achievement of project goals and deliverables.

• Cultivate and sustain authentic, reciprocal relationships with Tribal Nations, Tribal leaders, Indigenous artists, culture bearers, teen and youth-serving organizations, and community partners to advance the goals of the Welcoming with Intention initiative.

• Serve as a leader and resource to the development and delivery of other teen and youth-focused programming at PacSci.

• Document project outcomes, lessons learned, and community feedback to support institutional learning, continuous improvement, and the long-term sustainability of Indigenous partnership efforts and youth programs at PacSci.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Demonstrated experience establishing, cultivating, and sustaining authentic, reciprocal relationships with Tribal Nations, Tribal leaders, Indigenous artists, culture bearers, and Indigenous-serving organizations.

• Commitment to culturally responsive, equity-centered practices, including awareness of personal bias and experience working collaboratively across cultural perspectives and knowledge systems.

• Strong project and program management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, coordinate complex initiatives, track deliverables, and maintain organized documentation.

• Strong communication skills, including facilitation, public speaking, relationship-based communication, and professional written correspondence with a variety of audiences.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment, assess risk appropriately, and make informed decisions in community-centered and guest-facing environments.

• Experience planning and implementing public programs, community events, workshops, or cultural engagement activities involving multiple stakeholders.

• Ability to create welcoming, inclusive, and psychologically safe environments for community partners, artists, youth participants, staff, and guests.

• Familiarity with hands-on, public-facing, creative learning environments, arts programming, museums, cultural institutions, or informal learning settings.

• Ability and willingness to work onsite, including partial weekend work and seasonal schedule shifts.

Preferred           

• Existing relationships and trusted partnerships within Pacific Northwest Tribal communities, or a demonstrated record of successfully developing and maintaining long-term relationships grounded in respect, accountability, and shared goals.

• Ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships with diplomacy, cultural humility, and professionalism while fostering trust and advancing shared objectives.

• Proven ability to facilitate difficult conversations, resolve conflicts constructively, and represent organizational values with integrity in community, partner, and public settings.

• Exceptional communication skills, including clear and accessible verbal communication, strong writing abilities, and the capacity to translate complex concepts for diverse audiences and community partners.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

• While performing the duties of this job, will be required to maneuver through the Maker and Innovation Lab and science center; manipulate and safely use objects, tools or controls; move up to 50lbs with assistance; reach to retrieve supplies and objects, picking up items off of the floor; communicate with guests; respond quickly to sounds in the area; stoop, crouch, kneel or otherwise be able to adjust to a child’s height. Must be able to observe and perceive participants in all program delivery areas.
• This job will require exposure to chemicals, fumes, dust, loud noises, and other potential irritants or hazards common in a makerspace.  
• This position must pivot comfortably between planning and administrative tasks, to being public-facing working directly with guests, volunteers and staff, to being project spokesperson.  
• This role is required to spend a significant amount of time on the Pacific Science Center exhibit floor, which at peak times of operations can be a crowded, noisy, and chaotic environment. Noise and energy levels of the exhibit floor vary dramatically from high to low.  
• A uniform shirt is provided and required to be worn while delivering programming

 This position description generally describes the principal functions of the position, and the level of knowledge and skills typically required.  It does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee, and it is subject to change as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

Compensation

Pay is based on several factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and years of experience.

In addition to base salary, all employees receive:

• Employee PacSci Membership
• Commuter Benefits
• 403b Retirement Plan

Full-time regular employees (40 hrs/week) additionally recieve following benefits: 

• Medical, Dental, Vision, basic life insurance, and disability insurance
• 4 weeks of vacation, 12 floating holidays, and sick pay
• 403(b) Retirement Savings
• Employee Assistance Program

Pacific Science Center stands with those who are courageously fighting against hate, racism, and injustice. We recognize that not being racist is not sufficient. We must be actively anti-racist, and we commit to doing so.  We prioritize inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in everything we do. Curiosity and critical thinking are essential to the dialogue and changes that need to happen.

Pacific Science Center complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us at HRDepartment@pacsci.org.

Salary : $32 - $40