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LabVenture Educator
Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Administration
Portland, ME, USA
USD 23-23 / hour
Posted on Oct 7, 2025
Job Type
Full-time
Description
JOB TITLE: LabVenture Educator
SUPERVISOR: LabVenture Visit Manager
Starting Salary Range: Full Time, hourly at $23/hr
Overview:
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) develops and delivers collaborative solutions to global ocean challenges. We are dedicated to the resilience of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the communities that depend on it. To learn more, visit gmri.org.
The LabVenture Program brings around 9,000 5th or 6th grade students in the state of Maine, from all 16 counties, to the Cohen Center for Interactive Learning (CCIL) for a two-and-a-half-hour hands-on science experience. LabVenture Educators host visiting students, facilitating a customized, multimedia marine science research program. Educators will work together as a team and with the Visit and Program Managers to run the day-to-day operations of the CCIL.
Educators will be responsible for up to six 2.5 hour in-person programs each week as well as virtual programming as needed. Program duties include working with the LabVenture team to welcome the students, deliver/lead student presentations/discussions, assist students while they conduct research at their multi-touch research tables, monitor for and troubleshoot errors, monitor “chats,” and operate the "behind-the-scenes" technology.
Educators will also be responsible for preparing equipment and supplies, maintaining the Cohen Center, cleaning after each visit, and other responsibilities and tasks as they arise. Each presentation is different and dynamic, necessitating extraordinary skills in preparation, improvisation, and response to the audience. A comfort with technology is a must for both in-person and virtual programs.
The LabVenture staff is a collaborative and creative team that works together to build, grow, and evolve the LabVenture learning experience. The team is driven by big ideas and has big goals. In addition to the day-to-day operations of the CCIL and student visits, this position will spend approximately 8 hours a week helping maintain our animals and life support system, collaborating with scientists and educators to continue our Scientist to Go series, and supporting program efforts across the Education department, including but are not limited to teacher communications, event support, and data collection.
We envision this role starting the first week of December, but for the right candidate we can be flexible.
Responsibilities/Tasks:
- Preparing CCIL materials and supplies for school visits
- Leading up to six 2.5 hour in-person programs per week in coordination with other educators and the Visit Manager
- Supervising students and providing technical assistance as needed during in-person and virtual programs
- Maintaining positive teacher-student relations with groups coming to CCIL
- Collaborating with the LabVenture team to continuously improve the program and student experience.
- Overseeing our tank and life support system
- Assisting with side projects as they arise, such as supporting professional development events, supporting GMRI events, space maintenance, and assisting in improving student experiences
Requirements
Required Qualifications:
- Associates or Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Science and/or Education
- Experience working with elementary/middle-school-age children
- Excellent public speaking skills
- Enjoy working in a dynamic environment with a highly motivated team
- Comfort working with technology
- Ability to work at our building in Portland on a regular schedule
- Successful candidates will be required to pass a background check
Other Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with or willingness to learn about larger aquarium systems
- Experience working with and troubleshooting hardware and software products
Diversity and Inclusion:
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) has a long-standing policy and commitment to providing equal access and equal employment opportunities in all terms, conditions, processes, and benefits of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, family status, veteran status, or any other classification protected by law. GMRI's employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, family status, veteran status, or any other classification protected by law.
Applicants and employees are encouraged to voluntarily provide certain status data to assist GMRI in fulfilling various reporting requirements of the federal government. This self-identification is completely voluntary, will be kept confidential and separate from your application data, and used only to meet certain state or federal reporting requirements. Providing or declining to provide this information will not result in adverse action of any kind.
Salary and Benefits:
Gulf of Maine Research Institute offers a competitive salary and benefits package.
Application Instructions:
All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the successful candidate has been selected. The deadline to submit applications is October 28, 2025.