Facility

Butterfly Biosphere at Thanksgiving Point

Closing Date

Description

Thanksgiving Point Institute seeks a Containment Director/Chief Entomologist for our fifth and newest venue, Butterfly Biosphere, scheduled to open late fall, 2018. Position starts January 2018.

This 24,000 square foot museum consists of three separate areas highlighting the significance of invertebrates to life on earth. The Discovery Zone is an 8,000 sq ft gallery featuring hands-on interactive exhibits and live invertebrate displays. The Costa Rica Climber is a 7,500 sq ft multi-story designed environment dedicated to active play and exploration. The Butterfly Conservatory is a 9,000 sq ft area filled with live butterflies flying among tropical and flowering plants, and featuring a meandering path, waterfall, and pond. The overarching message is that invertebrates are small but significant, and our goal is to provide opportunities for families to connect with the natural world, learn about the role invertebrates play in ecosystems, and understand the relationships that exist between humans and invertebrates and the impacts that each has on the other.

This is a new position and Containment Director/Chief Entomologist will be part of Thanksgiving Point’s Joint Management Team. The selected candidate will be responsible for developing foundational practices as well as providing input on the design and construction of the new venue and then, after opening, leading the execution of the day to day work outlined in the standard operating procedures and other managerial duties established in the development phase.

Education and Pre-requisites

Bachelor’s degree in biology, zoology, or a strongly related field; and demonstrable deep understanding of entomology and ecology.
A minimum of two years working with invertebrates in educational/museum/zoo or other settings.
A minimum of two years in a leadership role that includes mentoring and supervising staff and/or volunteers.
Proficiency in the use of a personal computer and standard business software, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Ability to perform essential duties which may include lifting up to 50 pounds, standing for long periods of time, bending and reaching, and working in hot and humid environments.
Must be adept at both verbal and written communication, with demonstrated success conveying scientific concepts to non-scientists, people of all ages and from diverse backgrounds.
Must have strong collaboration skills and work successfully as part of a team.
Must possess demonstrable leadership and management skills and ability to train and support other team members.
Must be comfortable interacting with guests of all ages and facilitating inquiry-based discovery.
Must value inquiry-based learning and support the facilitation of personal discovery over of didactic content delivery.
Must possess knowledge and application of animal husbandry practices for a variety of taxa commonly used in museum education programs.
Ability to work unsupervised and in support of Thanksgiving Point’s mission to cultivate transformative family learning.
Valid Driver’s license is required (Utah License will be necessary to be covered by insurance).
Must pass a background check as there is regular interaction with our young guests.

Compensation and benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience – with a range beginning at $60,000 annually.
This is a full time benefitted position with hours of work generally from 8:00 5:00 (flexible) Monday through Friday, however, the Containment Director will also work on some weekends, evenings, and holidays when special events or projects occur.

Application instructions

Apply online at https://thanksgivingpoint.applicantpro.com/jobs/685823.html