Education and Outreach Officer

The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is seeking a full-time Education and Outreach Officer, based at our offices in Burlington House, London, to deliver the public engagement goals of our new strategy.

The RAS is the leading UK membership organisation dedicated to astronomy, space science and geophysics. A learned society founded more than 200 years ago, we have more than 4,000 members (Fellows) in a total of 70 countries. We recently secured a 999-year lease on our premises in Burlington House, London, an agreement with Government that stipulates an enhanced offer for wider society, based on maximising the use of our historic building and its unique place in science.

As our Education and Outreach Officer, you will be passionate about our work, and harness that inspiration to teach and facilitate a world-class programme. This will encompass a wide range of audiences from schoolchildren to adults from underserved groups.

You will work with our Deputy Executive Director, and education and events colleagues, to deliver this ambition nationally but with a focus on our building and our locality, collaborating with and building relationships with external partners, and drawing on and supporting the work of our Fellowship.

For the right person, this is a rare opportunity to join a talented team who are lucky enough to work in and engage the wider public in one of the most exciting areas of science.

Essential attributes

1. Educated to graduate level in a physics, astronomy, or Earth sciences related discipline
2. Significant experience of teaching science in formal education at a non-advanced level
3. A teaching qualification such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education
4. Experience of committee work, including preparing papers and agendas for meetings, taking minutes, and writing formal reports
5. Experience of formal evaluation of activities and longer programmes
6. Comfortable with engaging different audiences, and possessing a good understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion
7. Happy to work with colleagues and collaborators at different levels of seniority, from students to senior academics and managers in industry
8. A good understanding of safeguarding policy, particularly covering children and young people and vulnerable adults

Desirable attributes

1. An understanding of education and public engagement policy, including curriculum change
2. Experience of public engagement in a science setting, for example a university department, observatory, museum or science centre
3. Experience of securing external grant funding for public engagement

To apply for this role please send an up to date curriculum vitae and covering letter, along with the names of two referees.