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Employment

The Science Center of Iowa engages and inspires Iowans along their journey of lifelong science learning.

Thank you for your interest in joining our dedicated, enthusiastic staff!

Use the filters below to view full-time, part-time, event, internship and preschool positions. Once you have identified a position to apply for:

For more information, contact scihr@sciowa.org.

Positions

  • Volunteer Manager

    Classification: Full Time, Non-Exempt
    Reports To: CFO & Vice President of Administration
    Department: Volunteer

    Position Purpose

    The successful candidate will develop and execute strategies to recruit, train, and retain a qualified and engaged volunteer workforce that supports the Science Center of Iowa (SCI) year-round. Further, recruit, train, schedule, and oversee volunteer junior councilors through SCI summer camps. By collaborating with staff and aligning efforts with SCI’s brand and strategic objectives, the candidate will leverage marketing, outreach, and relationship-building to enhance volunteer engagement. Cultivating partnerships with civic, service, and business organizations will foster long-term volunteerism, while working closely with various departments to strengthen connections between volunteerism and amplifying advocacy for SCI.

    Responsibilities

    To perform this role effectively, the individual must be able to execute each essential duty proficiently, with or without reasonable accommodations. Additional duties may be assigned as needed.

    • Maintain an up-to-date volunteer manual containing organizational information, job descriptions, expectations, scheduling procedures, and online volunteer platform.
    • Manage the recruitment, training, and professionalism of all volunteers, including recruiting and fostering relationships with corporate volunteer groups.
    • Collaborate with internal departments to assess and fulfill volunteer needs and ensure volunteers receive appropriate training in their service areas.
    • Conduct volunteer orientations, ongoing training sessions, and evaluations.
    • Monitor and enhance the overall performance of the volunteer program
    • Track volunteer participation, skills, performance, availability, and schedules using designated platform.
    • Communicate effectively with volunteers through orientations, group meetings, manuals, emails, monthly newsletters, online volunteer platform, and phone calls to keep them informed of organizational updates and duties.
    • Ensure compliance with Iowa State Law and museum policies by performing proper background checks.
    • Coordinate and staff identified SCI internal events and community events and festivals to promote SCI.
    • Oversee the volunteer program budget and develop an annual program plan.
    • Attend daily 8:30 am operational huddle (meeting) Tuesday to Friday.
    • Serve as an active participant in the Manager on Duty rotation.

    Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

    Supervisory Responsibility

    This position supervises all volunteers. Supervisory responsibilities include interviewing, onboarding, assigning and directing work, providing developmental feedback, facilitating conflict resolution and taking corrective action with volunteers when deemed appropriate based on performance or conduct.

    Education, Experience, and/or Other Requirements

    Required:

    • Three years of experience in a volunteer leadership role.
    • High school graduate or equivalent.
    • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
    • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
    • Strong understanding of organizational needs.
    • Enthusiastic, energetic, and positive demeanor.
    • Self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
    • Ability to collaborate with staff across all organizational levels.
    • Successful pass a background check.

    Preferred:

    • Bachelor’s degree.
    • Knowledge of Get Connected’s online volunteer platform and/or experience working in other volunteer software/platforms.
    • Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

    Physical Demands

    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position requires prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer but is occasionally active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing. The employee must regularly lift and/or move items up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

    Hours and Work Schedule

    Hours will vary based on business needs and includes days, evenings, weekends, and holidays. A Monday-Friday is typical with core hours occurring between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Some evening and weekend work may be required, as well as some travel in central Iowa.

    To Apply

    Email your resume and completed application materials to scihr@sciowa.org.

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