Role: Science Communicator (2 posts available)

Reporting to: Head of Programmes and Delivery
Location: Cambridge
Salary: £25,000 guide salary
Employment: Full-time
Start Date: From January 2024
Apply to: jobs@cambridgesciencecentre.org

Cambridge Science Centre is looking for an enthusiastic person to join our team of Science Communicators. As a Science Communicator, you will be involved in all aspects of our delivery of hands-on science technology, engineering and maths to young people with schools and communities – from single day events to multi-month pop-up science centres around the region.

Cambridge Science Centre
Cambridge Science Centre (CSC) envisions a future where every child, and, by extension, everyone, enjoys, explores, and shapes the world through science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). We use hands-on, fun, and accurate engagements to impact people’s emotional and skill-based relationship with STEM and the broader world, and to encourage consideration of actions that individuals can take, support, and influence. We strive to be a part of the communities that we are serving by listening to their wants and needs and delivering STEM engagement in a manner that makes it accessible and effective. We use our core suite of show, workshop, drop-in activity, and exhibit formats to craft meaningful engagements for the diverse communities across the East of England.

CSC is currently focusing on an outreach model – we go to schools and communities to deliver in their spaces. This takes various formats from one-day events or school visits to multi-month pop-up science centres in community venues that can host schools, community groups and free-exploration days. CSC is also in the process of establishing a new permanent space in Cambridge that will allow us to offer deeper engagement opportunities to complement and enhance our ongoing outreach work. Across our formats, we work with a variety of ages from 0 to 16 years old and engage the adults in these young people’s lives. We also work with the incredible array of STEM-related organisations in Cambridge and across the region to enhance our content via their input, guest appearances at our events and volunteering opportunities.
CSC is an independent educational charity (Registered Charity No. 1146349. Find out more at www.cambridgesciencecentre.org.
 
Science Communicator Role
A Science Communicator brings STEM alive through the engaging and passionate delivery of prepared content (e.g., shows, workshops and exhibits) to young people and their families/carers and teachers in school and community settings and to provide a relevant experience to which people can relate by responding to audience attitudes and questions. Science Communicators are responsible for setting up and running delivery in a wide-variety of locations

Duties:
- Explain the STEM behind the exhibits and present shows, workshops and drop-in activities in a lively, fun and engaging manner to their intended audiences
- Frequent travel (primarily driving with company vehicle) to a variety of locations across the East of England, including schools and community venues, which will include occasional overnight stays
- Safe set-up and -down of equipment and running of an event in line with standard procedures and guidelines
- The work rota includes one in three weekends and occasional evenings (time worked will be returned as time in-lieu)
- Support a positive team and organisation environment by being considerate and respectful to others
- Provide a high-quality visitor experience to all audiences
- Gather and provide feedback as required by our Evaluation programme
- Undertake administrative work related to the role, including but not limited to:
-- Completion of necessary event organisation planning documents and systems
--   General reporting and action to ensure the equipment is maintained
--   General reporting and action to support the maintenance of quality and accuracy of content
--   Maintain a clean, tidy, and safe work areas
--   Partake in training, and identify training needs and communicate to the Head of Programmes and Delivery for review
- As required, undertake a secondary role (e.g., project or business-as-normal lead, content development, etc.) and other tasks and duties as may from time to time be requested

Required Skills and Qualifications:
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- A passion for supporting young people and the adults in their lives
- A passion for science, technology, engineering and maths
- Strong teamwork skills, allowing you to work with colleagues across the charity during conversations, projects, meetings or other collaborations
- Be an advocate for accessibility
- An ability to organise your own time and prioritise tasks as well as to adapt to changing priorities and to respond quickly to requests 
- Willing to learn new things and do independent research
- Computer literate
- Full clean driving license
- Achieve a satisfactory enhanced DBS check

It would be advantageous if you can also bring the following to the role:
- Experience in science communications or of working with families, adults and children
- Customer service skills and experience
- Level 3 or equivalent qualifications in a STEM subject

Details:
- CSC’s Head Office on Clifton Road, Cambridge, CB1 7ED, and travel to locations around the region is required
- Core working hours are 9 am-5 pm (including a 30-minute unpaid lunch break). However, some event may require earlier start or later finishing times
- Parking and bike storage are available on-site

Benefits include:
- 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
- Support with mental health in partnership with BetterHelp

Recruitment Process and Timeline:
Submit a Cover Letter explaining why you wish to join CSC as a science communicator and what you will bring to the role, and a CV to jobs@cambridgesciencecentre.org.

For candidates invited to interview:
- The interview has two parts:
--   1. A 5-10-minute presentation to the interview panel and other staff members
--   2. A discussion of the role with the interview panel only
- The presentation is a 5-10-minute interactive talk on a STEM topic of your choice.
- This presentation should be aimed at an audience of 7-11 years-old and will be followed by 5-10 minutes of questions which should be answered as if to the target age group.
- You are welcome to bring props and/or slides for the presentation
- In-person and online interviews are available

Interviews will be held on a rolling basis
Start date is from January 2024

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