Assistant Outreach Coordinator

The Organization

As an independent research organization, the Morgridge Institute for Research explores uncharted scientific territory to discover tomorrow’s cures. In affiliation with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we support researchers who take a fearless approach to advancing human health in emerging fields such as regenerative biology, metabolism, virology and biomedical imaging. Through public programming, we work to inspire scientific curiosity in everyday life.

The Opportunity:

The Assistant Outreach Coordinator assists Morgridge Institute public engagement with developing, supporting, and leading community-based partnerships, educational programs and outreach events in collaboration with other institute staff, student workers, and volunteers in a hybrid model that incorporates both remote and in-person engagements.

Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with others in public engagement, with community groups, and with UW-Madison campus groups to create and deliver programs focused on STEM outreach, including K-12 and public programs related to science and aimed at the unique focus of the Institute.
• Engage with community-based groups locally and across the state to identify opportunities for partnership through various public engagement programs both on and off campus.
• Develop and help deliver new outreach programs (e.g., lab activities, hand-outs, booklets) throughout the year and related to upcoming events with a particular emphasis on activities for K-12 students and adults.
• Assist in planning, preparing, coordinating and executing outreach events in ways that emphasize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Increasing STEM participation by people from historically marginalized populations is an explicit goal of the Morgridge Institute.
• Attend and oversee on-site programs and teaching lab outreach events as needed.
• Comply with Discovery Building facility use guidelines and adhere to the requirements of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Youth Protection (OYP) and Youth Protection Policy (UW-1045).
• Follow all safety guidelines, facility use guidelines, standard operating procedures, and other relevant regulatory requirements.
• Assist other projects, as necessary to support the mission, goals, and financial objectives of the organization.
• Consistently meet deadlines, including effort reports.
• Attend staff meetings and other meetings as required.
• Availability to work weekends and evenings.
• Willingness to utilize transportation as needed.
• Miscellaneous duties as required.

Requirements:

The criteria listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, though similar experiences will be considered. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary functions.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Experience in working with community-based organizations is preferred
• Experience in training, teaching or public speaking is preferred
• Experience in out-of-school or community learning settings a plus
• Experience with culturally responsive and inclusive teaching and learning is a plus
• Fluency in Spanish a plus

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Strong belief in the importance of education, teaching and training
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to lead and mentor others
• Ability to multitask with flexibility to adapt
• Ability to maintain high level of confidentiality and demonstrate high degree of accuracy, reliability, and responsibility
• Demonstrates valuing community-informed goals in STEM, is responsive to partners’ desired outcomes and capacities, and follows through with decisions, communications, and actions that are aligned among stakeholders
• Capable of working flexible working hours, especially during the weeks when technical training and outreach programs are offered
• Able to work weekend and/or evening hours on a rotating basis during outreach events
• Critique programming to continue growing programs and ability to find unique ways to serve various stakeholders

Working Conditions and Physical Effort:

• Work is normally performed in typical laboratory, office and off-site programming environments
• Evening and weekend work is required
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk
• Ability to lift 20 pounds and to set up and break down events preferred

In order to insure the safety of our workplace, proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required unless an exemption is granted for medical, disability or religious reasons.