JOB OPENING

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

CuriOdyssey is a science playground and zoo, located on the San Francisco Bay Peninsula in San Mateo, CA. As a team member here, you will be able to connect a passion for science and animals with a beautiful natural setting. You have the opportunity to preserve, build upon, and share the wonder of this place. In our daily interactions with visitors, we envision a time when all people honor nature, animals, and science, value unique experiences, and appreciate beauty in everyday life. CuriOdyssey functions around our mission to inspire love for science and curiosity about the world to create a brighter future. We accomplish this through upholding our values of Integrity, Creativity, and Community. We welcome and appreciate your contributions to CuriOdyssey.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Leaders in Training (LIT) Program Lead oversees the recruitment, onboarding, training, supervision, communication, recognition, and records management for teenage volunteers in the Leaders in Training (LIT) program. The Leader in Training (LIT) volunteer program, designed for teens entering 9th – 12th grade in Fall 2025, combines leadership development, science education, and environmental stewardship into one exceptional experience! This role ensures the program runs smoothly and aligns with the organization’s educational goals while fostering a positive, inclusive environment for participants.

This temporary full-time position offers a Monday - Friday, 40-hour work week, with a typical schedule of 8:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m. The expected end date is September 2025.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

Recruitment and Onboarding

• Develop and update recruitment materials to reflect program needs.
• Manages the LIT application process, including interviews, reference checks, and selection.
• Represents the program at community outreach events, including presentations and tabling.
• Collaborates with the Education and Volunteer departments to implement onboarding procedures.

Training and Supervision

• Provides comprehensive training and supervision for LIT participants, focusing on leadership development, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Training includes interactive sessions on activity facilitation, child engagement techniques, and emergency response protocols.
• Regularly conducts observations during the summer camp, assessing LIT facilitation of activities to ensure alignment with program goals. Offers constructive feedback to LIT participants to support their growth and skill development.
• Facilitates weekly meetings during the summer camp season, fostering a supportive environment for LITs to share experiences, receive feedback, and develop leadership skills.
• Ensures participants are familiar with emergency, safety, and health protocols, reinforcing their importance throughout the camp season.
• Maintains and regularly updates the LIT Handbook and photo rosters, providing clear guidance and up-to-date resources for participants.
• Collaborates with the education team to design and update program schedules, identifying appropriate activities that LITs can lead based on their skills and interests.
• Supports LITs in preparing for and executing camp activities effectively.
• Manages the Youth Programs Google Calendar, ensuring seamless coordination of LIT responsibilities and camp activities. Verifies the accuracy of recorded hours in Salesforce and makes adjustments as necessary.

Event Planning

• Organizes and executes LIT program events, including the annual LIT End of Summer Celebration and smaller social gatherings.
• Recruit and schedule youth volunteers for events such as First Fridays and seasonal programs.

Communications and Records Maintenance

• Maintains regular communication with LIT participants and their caregivers via email.
• Ensures past, current, and prospective participant records are accurate and secure.
• Responds promptly to inquiries from participants and caregivers.
• Conducts and analyzes annual satisfaction surveys to guide program enhancements.
• Manages the youth programs database and provides service hour verifications and recommendation letters as requested.

Other Duties

• Assists the education department during programs as needed, including but not limited to drop-offs and pick-up

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

An individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed above and any additional responsibilities as directed as well as satisfy the educational and skill requirements listed below:

Education and Experience

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Relevant experience in working with and supervising high school aged youth in settings, such as summer camps, museums, zoos, or comparable environments.
• Experience or interest in facilitating training for volunteers or work-related activities directed at high school aged youth.
• Demonstrated knowledge of inquiry or project-based learning for children.
• Experience or interest in the recruitment and retention of youth volunteers.
• Commitment to fostering a positive and meaningful volunteer experience for youth volunteers.
• Commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the program.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Preferred: Experience using Google Suite, Salesforce, and Canva, scanning and filing or willingness to be trained.

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations

• Take and clear a Live Scan background check
• Current CPR/First Aid/AED certification or willingness to obtain one
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination and booster
• Proof of a non-expired CA driver's license and insurance

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical requirements herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential job functions.

• Environment: Work is conducted at CuriOdyssey and immediately local space at Coyote Point, with some off-site tabling events at school sites, and community-based organizations. Programs will take place indoors and outdoors in various weather conditions.

PSYCHOLOGICAL DEMANDS

• Collaborates with the education team to address and manage LIT-related challenges, ensuring responses are thoughtful, effective, and handled with tact and confidentiality.
• Regularly communicate with youth participants and their caregivers with empathy, transparency and respect.
• Remain attentive to the physical safety of children and adolescents, including the proper identification and reporting of potential child abuse.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Compensation: $26.00 per hour, 40 hours/week
• Employment Status: Non-exempt full time
• Desired Start Date: March 2025
• General Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm, with occasional weekend shifts
  • Due to the program demands during peak seasonal camps, the use of vacation time during summer and other camp seasons may be limited.

TO APPLY

Please send a resume and cover letter to the Education Department at the email address: [email protected] with “LIT Program Lead” in the subject line.

CuriOdyssey seeks to build a diverse work team and encourages applications from candidates who will add to that diversity. CuriOdyssey is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace, and we are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that having staff, interns, and volunteers with diverse backgrounds enables us to better meet our mission. CuriOdyssey considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other identifiable status.

If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application or interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact [email protected].