At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates and values diversity. We firmly believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices, working together, increases our capacity to serve our visitors and fulfill our mission. We welcome people from all walks of life into our team and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply.
Priority deadline for applications is April 10, 2026. Due to the volume of incoming applications, the role may be closed earlier than April 10, 2026.
Job Summary:
Under limited oversight, coach and mentor Education programs staff in the specialty of STEAM pedagogy, as staff develop and deliver curriculum, programs, and program evaluations. Work with Education leadership to identify and meet the professional development needs of Education programs staff in regards to specific specialty. Facilitate design sprints for staff to develop new curriculum, new programs, and to publish about their work. Manage all aspects of multiple Education programs and/or projects. Stay informed as to the latest science, opinions, strategies, and standards with respect to STEAM pedagogy, develop awareness and efficacy with social emotional learning (SEL) best practices and trauma-informed strategies. Manage special projects and partnerships as they arise. Represent the Education Division both internally across divisions and in the community as needed. Perform other duties as assigned.
Core Activities:
- Educator Coaching: Mentor and coach Education Programs staff in curriculum development, program development, and program evaluation, with regard to specific specialty in STEAM pedagogy and awareness of SEL best practices; help them create professional development goals and reflect on their work
- Model best instructional practices, methods, materials, and technology use, through model lessons, co-teaching, observing staff, and providing formative feedback to staff
- Use data from personal observations, management feedback, and program evaluation to identify areas of strength and opportunity for growth for individual staff members
- Provide feedback and guidance to staff as they design new, or improve existing, evaluation tools and methods to measure program outcomes
- Professional Development Leadership: Work with Education Leadership and collaborate with all Divisional Coaches to:
- Identify overarching staff professional development needs with regard to specific specialty in STEAM pedagogy
- Identify and engage with outside experts to provide professional development
- Design professional development, when appropriate and aligned with proven expertise in STEAM pedagogy
- Program Delivery: Lead existing training sessions for professional educators and lead existing educational sessions for PK-12 students, in both short-term and long-term programs, including:
- Develop a full understanding of and expertise in the topic
- Gather necessary learning tools, props, documents, and/or presentation slides
- Identify and implement modifications to existing learning tools, props, documents, and/or presentation slides based on the needs of the specific audience and the latest research
- Facilitate in-person and online sessions, assessing and adjusting as-needed during the sessions based on the developmental and learning needs of the specific audience
- Build and maintain a positive, culturally sustaining program environment that encourages strong relationships among and between program participants, volunteers, and staff
- Program Development: Lead colleagues to create, test, and iterate short- and long-term programs, including:
- Conduct front-end audience evaluation and research to understand the needs of specific audiences
- Identify existing and needed curriculum for the program to meet stated learning goals
- Create program agendas with estimated timing, materials, and facilitators
- Identify and implement modifications to program agendas based on evaluation results and the latest educational research
- Ensure programs utilize culturally sustaining education strategies
- Facilitate design sprints, based in Agile project management techniques and Liberatory Design, to engage Education staff in developing new curriculum and programs.
- Manage several publishing projects, identifying professional and academic publications that align with the Education Division’s work, and leading colleagues in planning, writing, and submitting peer-reviewed articles about their work
- Stay informed of the latest science, research, opinions, strategies, trends, and academic standards with regard to expertise in STEAM pedagogy, and, in collaboration with other divisional coaches, SEL and trauma-informed best practices. Share this knowledge with Education Programs leadership, management, and staff via regular check-ins and by providing staff professional development.
- Advise Education leadership on long-term strategic plans, utilizing in-depth expertise in STEAM pedagogy in collaboration with other divisional coaches.
- Develop and maintain partnerships with local school districts, institutions of higher education, and community organizations. Represent the department, division, and the Aquarium to community partners, the general public, visiting dignitaries and the professional education community.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):
- Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in natural science, formal or informal education, curriculum, youth counseling; or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
- Advanced education combined with 8-10 years formal and/or informal teaching experience
- In-depth expertise in STEAM pedagogy and awareness of social emotional learning (SEL) best practices
- Broad, deep knowledge of national and state standards, teaching methods, and professional development strategies
- Proven success mentoring educators in teaching science content, utilizing integrated STEM educational and SEL best practices
- Proven success contributing to a work culture rooted in equity
- Experience teaching learners from a diversity of backgrounds, developmental stages, and abilities
- Commitment to and experience with culturally responsive/sustaining education
- Proven success overseeing projects and leading project teams
- Excellent classroom and public presentation skills and ability to represent institutional image to a variety of audiences
- Proven success building and maintaining positive learning environments with a diversity of program participants, including strong team building skills
- Able to write clearly, concisely, and fluently in English
- Strong leadership, management, and organizational skills
- Strong interpersonal skills with excellent verbal communication with individuals and groups
- A high degree of versatility and ability to prioritize and coordinate a variety of projects and programs and interact with diverse interest groups and support personnel
- Flexible with changes in work priorities
- Familiarity with Monterey Bay natural history, as well as marine and basic science
- Experience and comfort in the use of technology as an educational tool with students and adults, including but not limited to iPad apps, Google Suite, and web-based educational tools
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Must possess, or be able to obtain within the first 3 months of employment, a valid California driver's license in order to operate Monterey Bay Aquarium vehicles
- Ability to work within and maintain Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Core Values
- Based on program focus, may prefer added qualifications:
- teaching credential
- extensive experience integrating pedagogical best practices
- fluent Spanish speaking and writing skills
Physical Requirements to Perform Essential Job Functions:
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Drive a standard vehicle, including large vans and pick-up trucks; utilize a laptop computer, tablet, cell phone, VR headset, and other hand-held technologies; present in classrooms (Bechtel Center for Ocean Education and Leadership, Aquarium labs, etc.) and in the field (on beaches, wetlands, forests, parks, etc.); comfort in the water to be able to accompany participants on water events, such as tide pooling, snorkeling, and boogie boarding.
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Standing to present for much of the day; regularly walking and hiking indoors and outdoors; some pushing carts of materials.
- Occasional unassisted lifting up to 50 lbs
- Typical office environment, field work (beach and coastal shoreline), ocean
Annual Compensation Range:
$77,700-$96,000 USD annually. Starting rate will vary based on previous experience and relevant skills/knowledge set.
