Education Curator

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, 20 miles south of Wilmington, NC, in Kure Beach, overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Fear River. A living collection of more than 4,000 animals in 93,000 square feet of exhibit space attracts and engages more than 500,000 visitors each year. The Aquarium is surrounded by protected woodland, marsh, and beach. Visitors often plan to stop at sites adjacent to the Aquarium - Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and historic Fort Fisher Civil War Museum.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Provides guidance, leadership, support, and supervision for education staff, interns, and volunteers. Essential attributes include superb written and oral communication skills, a collaborative spirit, and creativity.  
• Represents the Aquarium with local, state, and federal agencies and departments; serves as an educational resource for the general public, teachers, students, and community stakeholders; coordinates teacher training; develops and evaluates programs, exhibits, and staff. These duties can be supported through active grant solicitation and administration. 
• Works closely with Aquarium leadership on long term strategic planning, including program and exhibit design. 
• Planning includes creating and implementing special events and other initiatives aligned with the Aquarium's mission to attract and engage visitors.
• Develops and administers budgets for free and fee-based programs.

Experience Required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies 

To qualify for this position you must meet ALL the following requirements listed below:

Qualified candidates must have:

• Experience developing, implementing, and managing an Education Program at an Aquarium, Zoo, Nature Center, Museum, or similar facility.
• Experience managing an Education Program budget.
• Experience in grant management. Supervisory experience.
• Must possess a valid North Carolina driver's license or have the ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment.
• Minimum Education and Experience Requirements Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.
• Master's degree in biology, education, history, museum studies, zoology, or a curriculum related to area of expertise from an appropriately accredited institution, and six years of experience in assigned specialty area, two of which must have been in a supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Further Comments

Supplemental and Contact Information The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) selects applicants for employment based on required education and experience and job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, or political influence. Please be sure to complete the application in full. Note the following: Resumes and cover letters: Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application nor will it be considered for qualifying credit. "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will not be accepted with your application being rejected as incomplete. Cover letters are highly encouraged but not required. Transcripts: Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions and a copy of your transcripts indicating the degree received can be uploaded with your application. If the position you are applying for requires verification of classes taken for the position, then your transcripts must be uploaded to be considered. Veterans Preference: To obtain veterans preference, you must scan and upload a copy of your DD-214 or discharge orders. Americans with Disabilities: Applicants requesting an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are eligible to submit paper applications via mail or by fax. Please call the human resources office for assistance. Please refrain from submitting multiple applications, however; If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on the closing date.

Perks

The North Carolina Aquarium's mission is to inspire appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments. This mission is achieved by attracting, retaining, and developing a world class team of professionals; providing visitors with outstanding exhibits, experiences, and customer service; practicing sustainability, internal customer service, and fiscal responsibility; and working to save and restore aquatic species and habitats. The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) takes care of the things that people love about North Carolina, literally from A to Z. The Arts to the Zoo, and so much else – parks, aquariums, historic sites, archaeology, African American Heritage Commission, science and history museums, the state Symphony, Library and Archives, historic preservation, land and water stewardship, and more. These places, and the ideas they represent, create a shared identity in North Carolina. They provide common ground. Everyone is welcome. Our goal is to promote equity and inclusion among our employees and our programming to reflect and celebrate our state's diverse population, culture, and history. We encourage you to apply to become a part of our team.