Community Science Coordinator

About the California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a world-class planetarium, aquarium, research center, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

Our extensive collections span plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. We are a diverse team of leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who work collaboratively to advance knowledge and inspire action through science and storytelling.

When you join the California Academy of Sciences, you become part of a mission-driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. Whether you're working behind the scenes in research or engaging the public on the museum floor, your work will help connect people to the natural world and empower them to protect it.

About the Opportunity

The Community Science Coordinator helps to plan, organize, and promote community science events and campaigns, acts as the point person for community science volunteers, and provides support in running and managing the community science programs based out of the Center for Biodiversity and Community Science. The Center for Biodiversity and Community Science works to bring people together to document biodiversity, to connect people to their local nature, to collect data critical to science and management, and to build partnerships to support community science and use of community-collected data.

We accomplish these goals through a variety of programs, including community bioblitzes, long-term intertidal monitoring, City Nature Challenge, and Snapshot Cal Coast, which scaffold collecting biodiversity observations using the iNaturalist platform with in-person community science field experiences.

The Academy is hiring two Community Science Coordinators who will work closely together and report to the Community Science Manager. There are two primary focus areas for our campaigns work, marine and terrestrial. One coordinator will lead efforts focused on marine community science campaigns, and the other will lead efforts focused on terrestrial community science campaigns. While each coordinator will have a primary focus area, both coordinators will collaboratively support the full suite of community science campaigns.

Both positions are full-time, temporary 2-year positions, with the possibility for extension.

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are intrinsic to Academy culture and operations, from recruitment and retention to science and advocacy. Explore Our Commitment to Racial Equity to learn about our intentional engagement of traditionally excluded groups in an effort to spark interest in or foster pathways to scientific careers.

Organizational Culture
Join a team dedicated to the Academy’s mission, vision and values! Currently, the Academy has a new strategic plan including three initiatives – Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030 – that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement to regenerate fragile ecosystems around the world. Learn more at https://www.calacademy.org/about-us/major-initiatives.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. The Academy is looking for candidates who do great work, and we know they may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every qualification for the position.

This position is based in San Francisco, California. The specific onsite/hybrid schedule for this position is listed below. This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by Cal Academy Workers United, and will be subject to the terms and conditions of that contract.

Key Responsibilities

• Help to develop, plan, and execute community science events (e.g., bioblitzes, species surveys) and campaigns


• Support administration of the annual community science programs City Nature Challenge and Snapshot Cal Coast: message organizers, develop resources, organize files and photos, provide assistance during meetings, etc.


• Partner on the development of new community science programs and campaigns in San Francisco and throughout California


• Liaise and meet with existing partners and help build new partnerships that support community science efforts


• Manage day-of logistics for, travel to, and hold off-site community science events throughout the Bay Area


• Regularly use the iNaturalist platform to make observations, help identify other people’s observations, set up projects for community science events, and write journal posts in those projects


• Work with the Academy Digital Engagement and Communications teams to develop media and social media outreach


• Create and distribute informational and promotional materials, such as posters, “how-to” guides, and infographics summarizing the results of community science events


• Communicate with volunteers and manage volunteer lists


• Keep the Academy Community Science web pages updated and manage the Community Science newsletter


• Work early mornings, evenings, and weekends, as needed


• Follows all Academy safety regulations


• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications: A successful candidate will have the following:

Experience and/or Education:

A qualified candidate will possess a combination of the following experience and/or equivalent education:

• One year of experience working in either formal or informal science or nature education, such as environmental education, classroom teaching, or interpretation


• In-depth experience using iNaturalist and knowing how to navigate and use its many features (e.g., projects, identifying, filtering data) a plus, but not required


• Bachelor’s degree in natural science (e.g., biology, ecology, geology) or education 

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities: 

• Knowledge of and willingness to learn more about California’s species, habitats, and ecosystems


• Strong interest in the natural world, and ability to communicate that passion


• Confident and flexible communicator, both written and verbal, to diverse audiences


• Works well as part of multi-disciplinary teams, diverse stakeholder groups, and independently


• Committed to working on a team that is striving to be anti-racist in work, interactions, systems, and tools


• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, plus flexibility and creativity


• Demonstrated ability to successfully collaborate with non-scientists


• Written and spoken Spanish fluency preferred 


• Ability to travel throughout the Bay Area


• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals

Physical Environment:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, use a computer, and communicate on the phone, in person, and online meetings/calls. The employee will spend time out-of-doors at events and programs, occasionally in hot or inclement weather. Must be able to transport 30 lbs. Must be able to perform repetitive motions 50% of the time.

Compensation and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $35.78- $37.23. Actual compensation will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualifications and experience, including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications and aligned with the internal peer group. We believe in fair and equitable compensation practices and are committed to providing competitive salaries within the industry and market standards. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked. Further details regarding compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

Schedule: Full-Time/Temporary, 40 hours per week

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume and application through our Careers Page portal.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 

The deadline to apply is Friday, January 23, 2025, 11:59 pm.

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).