Chair, Discovery Hall Programs (Outreach & Education)

Chair, Discovery Hall Programs (Outreach & Education)

Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL)

The Dauphin Island Sea
Lab
invites applications for the position of Chair of Discovery Hall Programs
(DHP), also recognized as the Assistant Director for Outreach
&
Education. The Chair serves as the chief academic administrator for DISL’s
Outreach and K-12 Education programs and is responsible for
academic, personnel, financial, and administrative leadership.

Position Overview

The Chair of Discovery Hall
Programs serves as the chief academic and administrative leader for DISL’s
Outreach and Education programs. This position oversees all
academic, personnel, financial, and operational functions of the department. The
Chair is both a faculty member and an administrator,
responsible for curriculum development, program instruction, strategic leadership, and
maintaining the academic rigor and reputation of the
department.

The Chair works collaboratively with faculty and staff to ensure
high‑quality educational programming, effective
administration, and alignment with the goals of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

Reports
To: Executive Director, DISL

FLSA Status:
Exempt
Location: Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, update, and oversee academic‑year
  classes, K–12 programming, summer activities, and professional development
  offerings.
• Fulfill departmental administrative
  obligations, including budgeting, reporting, and evaluations.
• Ensure
  collection and analysis of program activity data.


• Write and manage grants and associated reporting requirements.
• Hold
  regular departmental meetings and lead the annual
  faculty/staff retreat. Select participants for summer and professional development
  programs.
• Hire and supervise faculty, staff,
  counselors, and interns.
• Conduct annual performance reviews and recommend
  promotions and salary adjustments.
• Maintain
  departmental website accuracy and assist in publicizing activities.
• Oversee
  equipment and infrastructure maintenance.


• Sustain professional credibility and collaborative relationships with regional educators
  and organizations.

Academic
Leadership

• Develop, modify, and implement
  curricula for academic‑year classes, summer programs, workshops, and professional
  development programs through knowledge of national and
  state literacy standards.
• Work with other DISL Departments to facilitate
  interdepartmental collaboration to meet the
  organization’s mission and strategic initiatives. .
• Assist with teaching for
  academic‑year courses, summer programs, and workshops
  as needed.
• Represent the department in professional and public venues.

• Program
  Development & Oversight
  • Work collaboratively with DHP/O&E faculty to update and enhance academic and
    non‑academic
    programming, including K–12 activities and professional development offerings.
  • Integrate educational messages and
    materials with
    Alabama Aquarium personnel.
  • Ensure consistency and excellence in departmental messaging and external
    recognition.
  Administrative Management
  • Provide direction and supervision for departmental operations.
  • 
    Meet
    departmental obligations to DISL administration, including budgeting, reporting, and evaluations.
  • Oversee collection and
    analysis
    of data related to departmental activities.
  • Hold regular faculty/staff meetings and lead the annual departmental
    retreat.
  
  
  • Participate in DISL committee meetings to represent departmental interests.
  Personnel Management
  • Hire faculty,
    staff, counselors, and interns with input from faculty and oversight from DISL
    administration.
  • Conduct annual performance reviews
    of DHP/O&E faculty and staff.
  • Make recommendations regarding
    promotions, salaries, and leave.
  • Sign timecards for
    departmental personnel.
  • Participate in the annual performance review
    of the Chair’s own position by core DHP/O&E faculty and
    five-year comprehensive review process that includes a seminar presentation.
  
  
  Grants & Funding
  • Write grants to fund
    or
    expand departmental activities.
  • 
    Ensure that all grant obligations—including reporting and budgeting—are met.
  
  Communications,
  Outreach & Partnerships
  • Work with IT and administrative staff to ensure that the website and public materials
    are
    current
    and accurate.
  • Support the publicizing of departmental activities.
  • Maintain collegial relationships with Gulf
    region
    educators and partner organizations.
  • Publish departmental activities and innovations where appropriate.
  
  Operations & Infrastructure
  • Oversee maintenance of departmental equipment and infrastructure.
  
  
  • Serve as the
    responsible
    point of contact for student summer programs.
  Other
  Duties
  • Maintain credibility among educators and research
    scientists
  • Perform additional duties assigned by the
    Executive Director.
• Conditions & Physical Requirements
  

  Nature is
  our primary classroom, and the Chair is expected to lead by
  example in the field. Candidates must be prepared for:

  
  
  • All-Weather
    Operations: Working in all weather conditions, including
    the high heat, humidity, and heavy rain typical of a coastal
    environment.
  • 
    Aquatic Environments: Ability to work safely and
    effectively in and around water (marshes, beaches, and
    vessels).
  • Physical
    Stamina: Capacity for extensive walking and physical
    activity across the DISL campus and various field
    sites.
  • Licensure: Ability
    to obtain a Class B CDL (with passenger endorsement)
    for student transportation.

• Professional
  Competencies

• Collaborative leadership and communication skills
• Strong administrative
  and organizational
  abilities
• 
  Curriculum development and teaching expertise
• Grant writing and budget management
• 
  Commitment to
  educational excellence
  and public outreach
• Ability to foster a climate of mutual respect and inclusivity

Preferred
Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in marine science, environmental science, science
  education, or a closely
  related field.
• 5-7 years experience directing or coordinating educational programs at the K–12,
  undergraduate, or professional
  level.
• Demonstrated success in grant writing and grant management.
• Experience with
  budgeting, reporting, and departmental
  administration.
• Evidence of scholarly activity, publication, or professional contributions
  in science education.


• Experience leading retreat planning, committee participation, or institutional initiatives.


• Familiarity with coastal or marine
  education networks, Gulf‑region partnerships, or outreach institutions.
• Demonstrated
  teaching experience in formal or informal
  science education.
• Experience in academic program development or curriculum design.


• Administrative or leadership
  experience in an educational or outreach setting.
• Experience supervising staff or managing
  teams.
• Strong communication,
  organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty,
  staff, and external partners.

Application Process for the Chair, Discovery Hall Programs Application
Materials

Applicants should
submit the following as a single PDF:

1. Cover Letter
• Describe interest in
  the position
• Address leadership
  experience, teaching experience, curriculum development, and outreach background


2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Statement of
   Teaching and Outreach Vision for a remote marine station (1–2 pages)
4. Statement of
   Leadership or Administrative Philosophy (1–2
   pages)
5. Contact information for 3–5 professional references

Search Timeline

• Campus interviews: 6–10 weeks
  after posting
• Preferred start date: 2–4 months
  after candidate selection

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EEO Statement

The
Dauphin Island Sea Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer and
encourages applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds.

Background Check Notice

Employment is contingent
upon successful completion of a background check.

Contact for
Inquiries For questions about the position, contact:
Ms. Chris Shaw, HR Manager, cshaw@disl.edu