Position Overview:

This position will support the activities of the Experimental Practice group at the MIT Museum, which fosters, implements, and documents creative approaches related to the Museum’s work, starting with community engagement with science. This work is typically done with many collaborating teams working in different regions and cultural contexts. This position is responsible for the processes and systems that support these vibrant professional collaborations and networks, including dynamic websites, active communications, professional presentations, and energetic convenings. Those networks include the Science Festival Alliance and the associated Science Events Summit, and it is expected that this position will focus on these for at least half of the time in the first year. The Experimental Practice group’s portfolio of grant-funded projects is always evolving, so this position will help set the strategic direction and future growth of the group. 

The successful candidate will have project coordination experience, strong communication skills, the ability to provide clear guidance to independent contractors and collaborators, and a passion for supporting and investigating innovative approaches to community engagement. 

This is a grant funded, one-year Term position, with the possibility of renewal depending on funding. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

This Project Coordinator position will: 

• Support multiple projects concurrently, including the development and maintenance of project timelines, scheduling and tracking project progress, and documenting coordinated relationship building. 
• Build positive working relationships with a wide range of professionals, taking the initiative to carry out carefully considered spoken, written, in-person, and online correspondence, and acting as a representative of both the MIT Museum and a variety of funded projects. 
• Develop and implement processes and databases to sustain the group’s many relationships with professionals, collaborating organizations, and national stakeholders. 
• Coordinate and participate in online communications, including maintaining and creating thoughtful content for project websites, newsletters, and social media oriented toward professional audiences. Work directly with contracted designers and web developers. 
• Assist with the conceptualization, development and implementation of projects that support both national professional networks related to the work of the MIT Museum, and public-facing initiatives and events in and around the MIT Museum. 
• Plan and support in-person professional appearances related to assigned projects, including conference sessions and networking events, and at least one annual conference produced by the Experimental Practice group. 
• Assist in organizing payments to collaborators and contractors in coordination with MIT’s centralized financial operations. 
• Participate in other Museum activity as assigned, as well as other duties as needed or required, including work performed at lower levels when necessary. 

Supervision Received:

Reports to the Manager of Experimental Practice. 

Supervision Exercised:

No direct reports. 

Qualifications & Skills: 

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of directly relevant experience. Equivalent amount of experience in coordination of public events, community organizing, or science engagement may be considered in lieu of a Bachelor's degree. 
• Project management skills with an ability to plan, prioritize, and implement project activity. Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple projects while meeting deadlines. 
• Experience working on complex projects that involve many inputs and outcomes with multiple collaborators, including community-based partners. 
• Experience in the production and facilitation of professional meetings and workshops, as well as in-person and on-line public events. Demonstrated ability to attend to the details that make in-person meetings and events effective and memorable. Strong interpersonal and networking abilities are required. 
• Excellent written, spoken, and communication skills. Must be comfortable with website content management and online subscription services (such as email marketing platforms, online forum management, etc.). 
• Familiarity with the overlapping professional fields of informal STEM education, public engagement with science, and science communication; and/or familiarity with community engagement. 
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing issues related to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion. 
• Demonstrated initiative, flexibility, openness to change, and accountability. Works within a team environment, providing support to and collaboration with colleagues. 
• Occasional weekend and evening work required; national and infrequent international travel also required. This position is not eligible for a fully remote work schedule. 

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Experience in program development or event production at the intersection of art and science and/or STEAM-focused programs. 
• Experience with institutions of higher education in the form of graduate study, collaboration, or work experiences. 
• Experience developing long-term social media and communication campaigns. 
• Previous involvement in relevant projects that either have a national scope or involve deep community engagement. 
• Experience with content management systems (CMS) and customer relation management systems (CRM databases). 
• Familiarity with qualitative research methods.

To apply, visit the MIT Human Resources Site. This role is a pay scale 6.