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Position Type:

Regular

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Visa Sponsored Job:

No

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

No

Hiring Range:

105,550.00 USD - 131,940.00 USD

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.

Application Closes at 12:00am MST on:

2026-11-04

About the Role

UCAR is excited to announce the job opening for an Educational Designer III role. This position is responsible for leading the educational design function for the UCAR Center for Science Education’s (SciEd) Content and Program team. In this role, you will spearhead the design, development, dissemination, and assessment of national-scale STEM education resources and educator professional development to foster a strong understanding of atmospheric and related sciences relevant to UCAR research.

Additionally, the position involves overseeing the strategic vision for high-quality educational materials, representing UCAR’s preK-12 capabilities within the education and scientific communities to generate funding, leading grant and proposal writing, and participating in SciEd’s Project Leads and Supervisors teams.

SciEd serves the geoscience community by amplifying and complementing the work of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) member universities by reaching our audiences: preK-12 educators, university faculty, students, and the public through excellence in educational programs and experiences.

Job Description

Responsibilities

Educational Design & Materials Development

• Vision & Strategy: Envision innovative educational solutions and establish the long-range strategy for high-quality preK-12 STEM learning materials and educator professional development
• Project & Team Oversight: Lead educational design projects and direct design team members—including supervising an Educational Designer II—to ensure learning resources meet rigorous standards of quality, accessibility, and inclusivity
• Budget & Production Management: Determine and oversee production budget requirements for educational design projects within the team budget
• National Dissemination & Professional Learning: Oversee educator training programs and manage the national and international dissemination of SciEd learning materials

Grant Leadership & Business Development

• Proposal Writing & PI Leadership: Identify new funding opportunities and lead or support collaborative grant proposals to federal agencies and foundations as Principal Investigator (PI) or project lead.
• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with universities, scientists, and community partners to develop resource plans that support UCAR’s strategic goals and meet sponsor broader impact requirements.
• Grant Administration: Administer project grant budgets and maintain regular communication with program sponsors across the grant lifecycle.

Strategic Leadership & Outreach

• Leadership Team Engagement: Serve as an active member of SciEd’s Project Leads and Supervisors teams, contributing to overall program management, strategic planning, and hiring decisions.
• Community Advocacy: Represent UCAR’s preK-12 capabilities to sponsors, educational organizations, teachers, and scientists to cultivate future formal education funding.
• Science Communication: Author publications, present at national conferences, and contribute to promotional materials, social media, and SciEd’s K-12 e-newsletter.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree in a relevant academic discipline (education, educational or instructional design, or STEM field);
• 5 years of relevant experience;
  • Or a Bachelor’s and 10 years of equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Pedagogical & Technical Expertise

• Inclusive Design: Expert knowledge of inclusive and accessible preK-12 STEM educational materials design, development, and evaluation processes.
• Web-Based Media & Teacher PD: Demonstrated experience designing web-based educational materials for diverse preK-12 audiences, along with advanced knowledge of teacher professional development best practices.
• Scientific Literacy: Advanced knowledge of Earth system science or scientific disciplines relevant to UCAR research.
• Early Childhood Education: Demonstrated experience with creating educational …