National Schools’ Observatory Development and Marketing Officer

Liverpool John Moores University

National Schools’ Observatory Development and Marketing Officer (0.8fte)

Maternity cover - up to one year

£26,495 - £31,604 (pro rata) per annum
Vacancy Reference: 2207

The National Schools' Observatory (NSO) project are looking for an enthusiastic, driven team player to join the NSO project team. The position will include supporting the maintenance of the NSO website, and leading the marketing and social media output of the project in order to increase the number of registered users.

The NSO is a major educational website, established by Liverpool John Moores University to provide UK and Irish schools with access to a professional robotic telescope primarily designed for scientific research, called the Liverpool Telescope. The NSO aims to attract, inspire and enthuse children about science and technology through the medium of astronomy guided by our drive to provide "Access to the Universe for All".

You will assist in the development of new website content including adding educational content.  You will also assume the marketing role within the NSO promoting the resource to UK and Irish schools. Duties will also include organisation and participation in departmental outreach activities, and liaising with local schools.

The ideal candidate will have a keen interest in astronomy education and be educated to degree or equivalent level in a relevant (ideally STEM-based) subject. We will be looking for a proven ability to communicate scientific principles and concepts to school children using a wide range of resources. This will require you to have a working knowledge of web development tools such as HTML, PHP, CSS, etc. We would also like to see evidence that applicants have previously participated in successful marketing activities, including designing materials using appropriate software.

There will a requirement to travel within the UK and possibly internationally to represent the NSO and more widely the Astrophysics Research Institute and LJMU.

The National Schools' Observatory, and the Astrophysics Research Institute, are committed to the Equality and Diversity agenda and have recently received the Institute of Physics Juno Practitioner award. We encourage applications from all people, especially from those underrepresented in the fields of astrophysics and computing.

Closing date: 25 March 2018

LJMU is committed to achieving equality of opportunity.