Join our team

Sidewalk Science Center is seeking educators, astronomers, scientists, communicators, or anyone interested in sharing their passion for science and education. As an educator with us, you will impact the lives of hundreds of children, teens, and adults every single month. We offer travel and networking opportunities, as well as events with organizations, museums, and other community partners.

As we are still growing and structuring, all positions are on a contracted, at-will basis unless otherwise stated. Hours and work available are dependent on events Sidewalk Science Center is hired to perform for clients. As of February 2024, we are averaging 15 hired events per month, and 8 volunteer events, with 2-3 hours worked scheduled per event on average. We currently cannot offer regular part-time or full-time hours or benefits.

Volunteer Positions

Paid Positions

Apply Here

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Volunteer Positions

Volunteer at Sidewalk Science Center on your own schedule. We currently host free SSCs in public parks in the Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, and St. Pete regions, so there is always an opportunity to meet new people, see new sights, and create new experiences within the local community.

Sidewalk Scientist

As a Sidewalk Scientist, you will teach a range of science experiments, demonstrations, and team-building activities at each Sidewalk Science Center session. Training & staff t-shirts provided.

Available Hours: 2-20 hours per month are available for volunteer Sidewalk Scientist positions

Volunteers may also work as paid educators for private & community events; volunteering is not a requirement for paid employment.

Sidewalk Astronomer

As a Sidewalk Astronomer, you will show people the cosmos using telescopes, binoculars, phone apps, interactive displays, and more. You will often work alongside one or two Sidewalk Scientists, who will run experiments and activities alongside your telescope experience. Training, telescope, and staff t-shirts provided.

Available Hours: 2-20 hours per month are available for volunteer Sidewalk Astronomer positions

Volunteers may also work as paid educators for private & community events; volunteering is not a requirement for paid employment.

Volunteer
Coordinator

This position is on a voluntary basis.

As a Volunteer Coordinator, you will work directly with the Executive Director to create the Sidewalk Science Center free outreach schedule every month, and communicate with SSC volunteers and educators to ensure at least two educators are present at every free event. Training and staff t-shirts are provided.

Responsibilities include:

Scheduling no fewer than four (4) free SSC outreach sessions each month
Transporting some or all equipment in your personal vehicle to each session
Selecting and transporting experiments and/or telescopes to each session
Disseminating informational materials highlighting SSC at each session
Checking up-to-date weather forecasts in order to determine if an SSC session should be canceled that day
Maintaining an accurate count of visitors during each session and reporting data to the Executive Director
Tracking donations at each session
Evenly distributing cash tips received
Recording volunteer hours for educators in their region

Sidewalk Science Center needs reliable Volunteer Coordinators in the following regions:

Sarasota
Bradenton
St. Petersburg

Volunteer Coordinators are expected to schedule no fewer than four (4) SSC outreach sessions per month. Sessions may be held on any day of the week, though some locations have higher traffic on weekends only. SSC volunteers never work alone; pairs and trios are mandatory. Only the Executive Director and Volunteer Coordinators may choose to host an SSC session without other educators present.

Candidates who have experience creating schedules, recruiting and managing volunteers, and preparing reports for data collection will do well in this position. It is a low-stress position, and you will be surrounded by people who are passionate about science and education. Visitors to SSC are highly appreciative of our services, and you will see and feel the impact of your efforts firsthand.

Please apply below if interested in becoming a Volunteer Coordinator with Sidewalk Science Center.

Apply Here

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Paid Positions

starting at $30.00/hour, paid twice per month

Paid educators at Sidewalk Science Center work private & community events throughout the month. Many events take place at private residences, scout camps, classrooms, rooftops, and community spaces. Willingness to regularly travel is a MUST, as some events take place as far away as Clearwater (north of Tampa) and Fort Myers (south of Punta Gorda). You will host birthday parties, camp programs, community programs, and more.

Educator

As an Educator, you will implement a range of science experiments during our Backyard Science Lab and Hybrid programs. Training & staff t-shirts provided.

Pay Rate: $30.00/hour

Educators may also cross-train as a volunteer at public Sidewalk Science Centers

Astronomer

As an Astronomer, you will guide private & community Astronomy Nights and Hybrid programs. Show people the cosmos using telescopes, binoculars, phone apps, interactive displays, and more. Training, telescope, and staff t-shirts provided.

Pay Rate: $30.00/hour

Educators may also cross-train as a volunteer at public Sidewalk Science Centers

Event Coordinator - Sarasota County

Pay Rate: combined $35.00/hour, divided as $30.00/hour worked at events + $5.00 per every hour of events scheduled each month.

As an Event Coordinator, you will work directly with clients to schedule events in your region and communicate with SSC educators and astronomers to fill all open shifts available. At monthly staff meetings, you will review all events that month and assign educators and astronomers to the remaining open shifts if applicable. Training and staff t-shirts are provided.

Responsibilities include:

Communicating with the Executive Director to manage event requests and schedule educators to fill every event
Responding to potential clients who contact SSC and providing accurate and up-to-date information about the programs they request
Providing clients with accurate and up-to-date information about programs that might best suit their needs
Providing payment links and contracts to every client, and ensuring client payments are made within a defined window
Taking final payments at events when necessary, or ensuring payments are collected in a timely manner after each event
Communicating with the Executive Director to improve upon existing programs, or create new programs
Ensuring astronomers and educators know the details of the program they will lead, and have the client's information for smooth communication with the client and timely arrival at the location
Ensuring astronomers and educators are aware of the equipment required for the programs they will lead
Selecting and transporting experiments and/or telescopes to each session
Checking up-to-date weather forecasts in order to determine if an SSC session should be canceled that day, and communicating recommendations to clients in a timely manner
Maintaining an accurate count of attendees during each event and reporting data to the Executive Director

Sidewalk Science Center needs reliable Event Coordinators in the following regions:

Sarasota
Bradenton
St. Petersburg

Event Coordinators will schedule both Astronomy Night and Backyard Science Lab sessions, as well as customized events for a variety of schools, scouts, exhibitions, and community organizations. Programs may be scheduled on any day or night of the week. For astronomy programs, Event Coordinators should keep a schedule or mobile app of Moon phases, objects, and constellations of the night sky in order to suggest the best dates for Astronomy Nights for the client's wants and needs.

Candidates who have experience creating schedules, recruiting and managing volunteers, and preparing reports for data collection will do well in this position.

Please apply below if interested in becoming a Volunteer Coordinator with Sidewalk Science Center.

Event Coordinator - Manatee County

Pay Rate: combined $35.00/hour, divided as $30.00/hour at events and meetings + $5.00 per every hour of events scheduled each month.

Responsibilities include:

Communicating with the Executive Director to manage event requests and schedule educators to fill every event
Responding to potential clients who contact SSC and providing accurate and up-to-date information about the programs they request
Providing clients with accurate and up-to-date information about programs that might best suit their needs
Providing payment links and contracts to every client, and ensuring client payments are made within a defined window
Taking final payments at events when necessary, or ensuring payments are collected in a timely manner after each event
Communicating with the Executive Director to improve upon existing programs, or create new programs
Ensuring astronomers and educators know the details of the program they will lead, and have the client's information for smooth communication with the client and timely arrival at the location
Ensuring astronomers and educators are aware of the equipment required for the programs they will lead
Selecting and transporting experiments and/or telescopes to each session
Checking up-to-date weather forecasts in order to determine if an SSC session should be canceled that day, and communicating recommendations to clients in a timely manner
Maintaining an accurate count of attendees during each event and reporting data to the Executive Director

Sidewalk Science Center needs reliable Event Coordinators in the following regions:

Sarasota
Bradenton
St. Petersburg

Candidates who have experience creating schedules, recruiting and managing volunteers, and preparing reports for data collection will do well in this position.

Please apply below if interested in becoming an Event Coordinator with Sidewalk Science Center.

Apply Here