Compensation: $61,947 per year. This is a full-time federal position at the GS-09 level with benefits package.

Location: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (Edgewater, MD)

Application Deadline: October 7, 2022

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) invites applications for a Citizen Science Coordinator. SERC is a research institute of the Smithsonian Institution dedicated to ecological and environmental research and education. The 2,650-acre campus includes forests, farmlands and wetlands and 15 miles of shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay. SERC is based in Edgewater, Maryland, 25 miles from the central Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and 5 miles from Annapolis.

The SERC campus consists of an array of historic and modern buildings, including a large modern laboratory building, wet lab, dock and other facilities for environmental research and education. Staff include approximately 110 employees. A 40-person, centrally managed maintenance and security staff are on site. SERC receives 15,000 visitors annually, including 6,000 students on field trips. Visit serc.si.edu for more information.

Description: The SERC citizen science program engages over 2,000 volunteers each year in projects that occur on our campus, in K-12 classrooms, at partner organizations, and virtually. All labs at SERC engage volunteers in their work, and volunteers engage in a wide range of activities and projects throughout the year. Our volunteers range from middle school students to retirees and includes those who have strong science backgrounds as well as those who have little to no experience participating in science or research. The SERC Citizen Science Coordinator will be responsible for management and coordination of all aspects of SERC’s citizen science program. This position is telework eligible and a mutually acceptable telework plan will be developed with the accepted applicant.

Key duties include:

  • Work with SERC senior staff to coordinate a citizen and community science program that supports SERC’s research and public engagement mission
  • Collaborate with research staff to design and implement new and existing citizen science and community science projects
  • Track and evaluate progress and success of citizen and community science projects
  • Engage partners and stakeholders in citizen and community science projects
  • Recruit, train, and manage volunteers
  • Assist with data management and development of data quality procedures for citizen and community science projects
  • Provide mentorship and oversight for interns and students who are part of citizen science and public engagement projects
  • Plan and implement public and educational programs for a variety of audiences
  • Develop communication materials including website content, newsletters, presentations, demonstrations, and videos.

The Citizen Science Coordinator will report to the Director of Public Engagement, and act as a key member of the SERC Public Engagement Team. The Citizen Science Coordinator will work closely with the STEM Education Coordinator, Internship and Fellowship Coordinator, and Public Engagement Specialists and Fellows.

We seek to fill this position with a person who values collaboration and adaptability, and who is passionate about public engagement in science.

Qualifications: This position is open to all U.S. citizens.

The SERC community recognizes the value of diversity in promoting innovative science and creative solutions, and we strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We recognize that each applicant for this role will bring unique skills, knowledge, experiences, and background to this position. The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race/ethnicity, national origin, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital/parental/caregiver status and disability.

Basic Requirements:

A Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a related discipline appropriate to the position plus at least one year of specialized experience. Please see additional details about minimum requirements in the USAJobs posting.

For this position, specialized experience is considered:

Experience organizing, coordinating, and/or evaluating public participation in a science research program, including projects that include collaboration with scientists, training of citizen scientists, volunteer management, data management and collection, and liaising with stakeholders, schools, or other professional organizations. Has experience collecting, managing, and reporting data for scientific research and public outreach.