The European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world’s most productive ground-based astronomical observatory. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries.

ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in northern Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor (home to ALMA and APEX), and the ESO Headquarters are located in Garching, near Munich, Germany.

At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory, and will host and operate the southern array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, the world’s largest and most sensitive high energy gamma-ray observatory. ESO is a major partner in ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky" and whose operations will be fully integrated into the Paranal Observatory.

Due to a new project between ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre, in Garching, near Munich, Germany, and the Forscherstation, Heidelberg, ESO is advertising the position of:

Education Specialist (Kindergarten/Elementary School)

The ESO Supernova is an education facility, based at the ESO Headquarters site in Garching, which attracts approximately 60000 visitors per year. Around 10000 visitors per year are young people visiting as part of their education. Demand for education visits continues to be high.

Forscherstation Heidelberg aims to inspire educational specialists and teachers from nurseries, day care centres, after-school care centres and elementary schools in natural sciences so that they can discover the world together with children. To achieve this, Forscherstation trusts in the training of educators, the provision of appropriate enquiry-based concepts, applied research and the education of young scientists.

The project “Fostering early science education at the ESO Supernova in cooperation with the Forscherstation” aims to strengthen and expand the education offer of the ESO Supernova, especially for children aged 3-12 as well as educators and primary school teachers.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The Education Specialist will be in charge of leading the afore mentioned project at the ESO Supernova (ES). He/she will work on the development and delivery of enquiry-based educational materials suitable for children aged 3 to 12 years, linked both to school curricula and to the topics presented in the planetarium shows and astronomy exhibition of the ES. They will be the day-to-day contact person for the schools and responsible for the educator trainings taking place at the ES. The main tasks include:

• Management of the information and advertising structure for the Forscherstation training courses
• Establishment and support of a small equipment loan service (including giving advice)
• Coordination and planning of training courses for educators (in collaboration with Forscherstation)
• Development and delivery of training courses for educators
• Development and delivery of ESO Supernova educational programme for children aged 3 to 12 years, including hands-on workshops, guided tours and planetarium shows
• Representing Forscherstation and ESO Supernova at conferences, meetings etc.

University degree (or comparable) preferably in elementary and childhood education or primary education (essential), with a focus on the natural sciences (desirable).

Language skills:

ESO aims to support members of personnel in maintaining a good work-life balance between their professional and private life. ESO is also committed to offering family-friendly support, creating a work environment and policies which allow staff to balance their professional and private responsibilities through flexible working arrangements and financial support for families.

The contract is for a fixed term duration of two years and is subject to successful completion of the probation period. It is part of the time limited project between ESO and the Forscherstation and subject to the continued funding of this project. There may be a possibility of extension(s) subject to individual performance, organisational requirements within the project between ESO and the Forscherstation, and as defined in the applicable policies and staff rules and regulations. The contract is not eligible for indefinite appointment. For any further information, please visit ESO's conditions of employment. Please note that the contract policy and in particular the regulations concerning fixed-term and indefinite contracts are currently under review which may lead to changes in the contractual conditions applicable to this position.

Duty Station: Garching near Munich, Germany

Application:

Closing date for applications is 17 March 2023