Operations and Materials Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Museum of Science, Boston

Innovation and creativity come from the unique perspectives of a diverse staff.  We value your perspective.

 

Who We Are

As science and technology increasingly shape our lives, the Museum of Science strives to equip and inspire everyone to use science for the global good while keeping up with the pace of change. Among the world's largest science centers and New England's most attended cultural institution, we engage nearly five million people a year – at Science Park and in museums around the world, in classrooms, and online.

The Museum's singular location connecting Boston and Cambridge puts us at the junction of some of the world's most influential academic institutions and industries, local and state government, schools, and the public. Trusted by each sector, we are ideally positioned to convene, inspire, and create meaningful experiences for all. Come join us on our mission to inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone and living our vision for a world where science belongs to each of us for the good of all of us. 

What You'll Accomplish

As the Materials and Operations Associate, you will provide hands-on operational and logistical support to PK12 teams that deliver professional learning, curriculum, and outreach experiences for K–12 educators. You will help ensure that materials, supplies, spaces, and systems are organized and ready to support successful workshops, conferences, pilot testing, and other PK12 activities.

Working closely with colleagues across Professional Learning, Business Operations, and Curriculum, you will:

• Support Professional Learning, conferences, and outreach events . Prepare, organize, pack, ship, receive, and restock materials for approximately 40 teacher workshops and 15 conferences each year, as well as outreach activities and curriculum pilots. Coordinate with team members to ensure facilitators and staff have the materials and supplies they need for successful in-person and virtual events.
• Maintain materials, inventory, and Professional Learning kits. Organize and track hundreds of Professional Learning, curricular, and marketing materials. Support ordering and receiving, monitor inventory levels, assemble and replenish Professional Learning kits, and maintain accurate records to ensure materials are organized, available, and ready when needed.
• Support Professional Learning customers and event registration. Provide responsive, high-quality support to educators and other Professional Learning participants by owning the Professional Learning email, responding to inquiries, processing registrations, maintaining accurate participant and event data, and communicating event details. Help troubleshoot registration and participation questions and connect customers with the appropriate team member when additional support is needed.
• Support curriculum materials and kit development. Work with the Curriculum team to organize and track materials being tested or considered for curriculum kits. Assist with sourcing materials and communicating with vendors, including Hand2Mind, to identify appropriate options that meet curriculum and budget needs.
• Maintain organized and functional PK12 spaces. Help keep shared storage areas, meeting rooms, and classrooms clean, organized, and ready for use. Support basic audio/visual setup for hybrid meetings and help organize and track PK12-owned technology.
• Collaborate across PK12 and support continuous improvement. Develop familiarity with YES curriculum products and work with colleagues across Professional Learning, Curriculum, Sales, and Operations to anticipate needs and respond to requests. Incorporate feedback and help improve materials organization, kit builds, inventory systems, and other operational processes.

What We're Looking For (Competencies)

• Organized & Detail-Oriented: You are comfortable keeping track of many materials, requests, deadlines, and details and can maintain accurate, organized records and physical spaces. Reliable & Responsive: You follow through on assigned tasks, communicate when questions or challenges arise, and help ensure materials and spaces are ready when teams need them. Collaborative Mindset: You work well as part of a cross-functional team and are comfortable coordinating with colleagues working both onsite and remotely.
• Problem-Solving Ability: You can identify day-to-day operational challenges, troubleshoot issues, and work with your manager and colleagues to find practical solutions.
• Strong Communication: You communicate clearly and professionally with colleagues and external vendors and are comfortable asking questions when additional information is needed. Comfort with Technology: You are comfortable using Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, and learning systems used for inventory, tracking, and team collaboration.
• Interest in PK12 Education: You are interested in supporting programs, products, and experiences designed for K–12 educators and students.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This is a hands-on operations role that requires being onsite at the Museum of Science, Boston five days per week.

The Materials and Operations Associate will regularly work with physical materials and supplies, including organizing storage spaces, assembling and maintaining kits, packing and unpacking boxes, and preparing, shipping, receiving, and restocking materials. The role requires comfort moving between office, classroom, meeting, and storage environments throughout the day.

Physical requirements include lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling up to 50 lbs., and routinely performing activities such as reaching, handling, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and many hours of standing. 

Physical / Sensory Requirement  

Not Required  

Occasional  

Frequent  

Continuous  

Notes  

Sitting, standing, and/or walking 

☐ 

☐ 

☐ 

X  

 

Bending, reaching, climbing, or kneeling 

☐ 

☐ 

☐ 

X  

 

Repetitive hand movements / fine motor skills 

☐ 

☐ 

☐ 

X  

 

Lifting / carrying 

☐ 

☐ 

☐ 

X  

Max weight: 50 lbs.  

Visual requirements 

☐ 

☐ 

☐ 

X  

 

Hearing / verbal communication requirements 

☐ 

☐ 

X  

☐ 

 

Other job-related physical or sensory requirements 

☐ 

☐ 

☐ 

X  

 

How We Work-Our Values

Mission-Focused: We inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone.

Audience-Driven: Everything we do begins with the people we serve.

Innovative: We are curious, take smart risks, share responsibility, and own outcomes.

Generous: We offer time and energy towards common goals. 

Salary Range

$60,000—$65,000 USD

The Museum of Science is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.