School and Community Engagement Specialist

Space Center Houston is a space exploration learning destination dedicated to revealing how science and humanity power space exploration through meaningful, moving experiences about people and the courage, innovation, and teamwork they use to expand the boundaries of what's possible. We inspire guests of all ages to connect with the significance of space exploration as incredible feats of human spaceflight continue to bring joy and wonder to the world. Owned and operated by the nonprofit Manned Space Flight Education Foundation, we are the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center and a Smithsonian affiliate.

We are currently seeking a full-time School and Community Engagement Outreach Specialist responsible for developing and implementing programs to build and maintain positive relationships with school districts and the community.  Responsibilities and qualifications are shown below:

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinate and implement outreach initiatives that strengthen relationships with K–12 schools, school districts, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and corporate partners. 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with educators, district leaders, nonprofit organizations, civic leaders, government agencies, and community stakeholders to increase awareness and engagement. 

• Serve as the primary relationship point of contact for assigned schools, districts, and community partners by providing exceptional customer service, maintaining consistent communication, and identifying opportunities for long-term collaboration. 

• Proactively identify new partnership opportunities that advance Space Center Houston's mission while expanding access to high-quality STEM education throughout the Greater Houston community. 

• Collaborate with internal departments, NASA personnel, educators, community organizations, and external partners to develop innovative educational experiences that align with organizational goals and community needs. 

• Coordinate the planning and implementation of community outreach programs, educational initiatives, field experiences, and large-scale engagement events while ensuring exceptional customer experiences and operational excellence. 

• Monitor community needs, educational trends, and partnership opportunities to recommend new initiatives, programs, and engagement strategies that increase organizational impact. 

• Represent Space Center Houston at community meetings, networking events, conferences, and educational forums as a professional ambassador for the organization. 

• Support museum wide DEAI initiatives to ensure inclusive and welcoming experiences for all visitors. 

• Maintain systems to track partnership engagement, outreach activities, participation metrics, customer feedback, and program outcomes to evaluate success and inform continuous improvement. 

• Collaborate with the Marketing, Communications, Development, and Education teams to ensure consistent messaging, coordinated outreach efforts, and successful promotion of educational programs.  

• Coordinate outreach logistics, event timelines, instructor schedules, program materials, supply procurement, inventory management, and operational readiness to ensure seamless program delivery. 

• Provide day-of-event leadership during outreach events by coordinating instructors, volunteers and cross-functional teams while maintaining high standards for customer service, safety, and program quality. 

• Continuously identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen partnerships, increase operational efficiency, and enhance the overall community engagement program effectiveness.   

• Perform other duties and special projects as needed.  

 POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Communications, Nonprofit Management, Community Development, or a related STEM field; or equivalent work experience.  

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in STEM education, community engagement, partnership development, education, outreach, nonprofit leadership, or a related field. 

• Bi-lingual preferred. 

• Demonstrated success building and sustaining relationships with school districts, educators, nonprofit organizations, corporate partners, and community stakeholders. 

• Strong knowledge of the Greater Houston educational landscape and an established professional network within schools, community organizations, or nonprofit sectors is highly desirable. 

• Demonstrated project management skills with the ability to organize multiple priorities, manage complex logistics, and consistently meet deadlines. 

• Knowledge of NASA education objectives and priorities preferred. 

• Passion for STEM education, community engagement, educational equity, and inspiring the next generation of learners. 

• Excellent organizational, verbal, written, and listening skills with the ability to present pre-approved curriculum effectively and provide exceptional customer service.  

• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work. 

• Computer literacy with highly advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office especially Outlook, Word, Excel, TEAMS and PowerPoint.  

• The ability to coordinate and prioritize multiple activities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.    

• Must be reliable and able to work with limited supervision.  

PHYSICAL ABILITIES / WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Primarily works in an office environment with frequent use of a computer, phone, and standard office equipment.   

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for extended periods while working at a desk or facilitating meetings and onboarding sessions.   

• Frequently communicates with media in person, by phone, and via electronic communication; must be able to exchange accurate information in these settings.   

• May occasionally need to move about the facility to attend meetings.   

• Work environment may include a mix of office settings and active operational areas, requiring adaptability and awareness of surroundings.   

• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions while maintaining attention to detail and professionalism.   

• May be required to work occasional evenings, weekends, or special events based on business needs.   

• Ability to travel to offsite events as needed.  

Salary : $62,000 - $67,000