We are excited to announce that we are hiring an education specialist to support our growing education and outreach offerings at Yerkes! This position offers a rare opportunity for the right candidate to make their mark on one of the iconic institutions and landscapes in the history of science. One of the major goals of the Yerkes Future Foundation is to transform the Observatory and its grounds into a destination for science and discovery. The person in this role will help share what makes Yerkes special – including its unique astronomical heritage, 50-acre arboretum, and the restoration of its native prairie landscape – with K-12 students, educators, and the general public.

Please see the position summary below, which includes a link to the Indeed.com job posting and the complete position description. Applications will close 5pm CT on February 27, 2026. We will be in touch with all applicants in early March.

As an education specialist at Yerkes Observatory, you’ll work with the outreach astronomer and programs team to coordinate and implement all education and outreach programming at the observatory. This position will particularly support the K-12 school visit program and large scale public outreach events including open houses, which welcome thousands of visitors to the observatory each year.

As one of the direct lines of communication with guests at the observatory, this position requires excellent communication and public speaking skills, a passion for science education, and a collaborative, customer-service oriented mindset. Applicants that are detail oriented, excel in coordinating multiple projects with varied timelines, and are comfortable with using technology are encouraged to apply. This role also has the opportunity to grow Yerkes’ environmental education offerings, so those with a background in environmental education are especially encouraged to apply. Only applications submitted on Indeed will be considered. You can apply here: https://www.indeed.com/job/education-specialist-10ba90e2a880de1a