Director of Outreach and Community Partnerships

Role overview

This role leads statewide outreach, community engagement, and partnership-based learning initiatives for Science Museum Oklahoma. The Director is responsible for designing, delivering, and assessing high-quality STEAM experiences that broaden access to hands-on, inquiry-driven science learning inside the museum and across communities throughout Oklahoma.

As a strategic leader, this position builds productive relationships with schools, educators, community groups, and other partners to strengthen the museum’s position as a valued educational and community resource. The work includes directing outreach programs, curriculum work, educator training, school-facing programming, collaborative initiatives, and community-centered events, while ensuring strong educational standards, safety, and alignment with the museum’s mission and goals.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and day-to-day oversight for department programs, partnerships, initiatives, and personnel.
• Manage recruiting, scheduling, coaching, training, performance reviews, discipline, and termination processes for team members.
• Guide the creation, review, delivery, and assessment of curriculum, outreach activities, educator workshops, school programs, and community engagement projects.
• Develop and sustain partnerships with schools, libraries, informal learning groups, community organizations, and statewide stakeholders.
• Find and pursue opportunities to broaden access to museum programming through outreach and collaboration.
• Help plan and execute special events, conferences, adult programs, and partnership-based activities that increase community engagement and public awareness.
• Protect educational quality, scientific accuracy, mission alignment, and inquiry-based learning across all outreach and education experiences.
• Use evaluation results, audience feedback, and community needs data to improve programs and shape strategy.
• Manage departmental budgets, outreach materials, and operational planning.
• Maintain procedures and safety practices for off-site demonstrations and programming.
• Work with museum teams and community partners to create meaningful experiences for varied audiences.
• Develop innovative ways to grow statewide participation and learning impact.
• Represent the museum and its mission in a professional manner.
• Take on additional museum duties as assigned in support of curiosity and discovery-based learning.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in education, museum studies, nonprofit leadership, or a STEAM-related discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience in formal or informal education, educational programming, outreach, standards-aligned curriculum, professional development, or community engagement.
• At least 3 years of supervisory or management experience.
• At least 3 years of experience developing collaborative relationships with schools, organizations, businesses, or community stakeholders.
• Master’s degree in education, museum studies, nonprofit leadership, or a STEAM-related field is preferred.
• Oklahoma educator or principal certification, or an equivalent certification from another state, is preferred.
• Working knowledge of inquiry-based learning, instructional practice, program evaluation, and accessibility best practices is preferred.
• Experience handling department budgets and operational logistics is preferred.
• Must be available for a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays when needed.
• Must be willing to travel across Oklahoma for outreach events, partner meetings, conferences, and programs.
• Strong leadership ability with experience developing and guiding teams.
• Ability to think strategically while also managing operational details.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including editing.
• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with colleagues and external partners.
• Comfort interacting with audiences of all ages in active, hands-on educational settings.
• Personality traits suited to the role include being kind, approachable, confident, and receptive to feedback.
• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office, is required.

Additional information

This role is based in an active, busy children’s museum environment. Duties involve extended periods of sitting, standing, and walking, as well as substantial computer use. The job may also require crawling, climbing, and crouching, plus occasional pushing, pulling, lifting, or carrying items weighing up to 40 pounds.

For business travel, the employee must be able to drive either a personal vehicle or a museum-provided vehicle. A Motor Vehicle Records check is required, along with annual proof of a valid driver’s license and insurance.

This position is designated as safety sensitive, meaning the duties could affect the health and safety of the employee or others.

Working relationships

The Director directly supervises members of the Outreach and Community Partnerships team and is expected to maintain positive working relationships with leadership, employees, applicants, vendors, and the public.

Introductory period

This position includes a 90-day introductory period. During this time, the employee receives training, feedback, and a performance review before the supervisor determines whether additional training, a performance plan, or full performance status is appropriate. This introductory period does not change the at-will employment relationship, and either the employee or the museum may end employment at any time, with or without cause. It also does not alter regular employee benefits for full-time or part-time staff.