City of Palo Alto

  • Science Instructor

  • City of Palo Alto
  • Palo Alto, California United States View Map

Job Description

Description

Inspire the next generation of scientists at the Junior Museum & Zoo!

The City of Palo Alto’s Community Services Department is excited to announce that the Junior Museum & Zoo (JMZ) is currently recruiting for a part-time Science Instructor I (Instructor I - H).

We’re looking for a dynamic and passionate educator to deliver hands-on science instruction in Life, Physical, and Earth Sciences to preschool and elementary-aged children. Instruction takes place in South Bay and Peninsula area schools, at local open-space preserves, and at the Junior Museum & Zoo itself through field trips, camps, and family programs.

About the Junior Museum & Zoo

The Junior Museum & Zoo is a beloved local destination that:
  • Serves children from birth to age 8 through its science exhibits and live animal displays
  • Supports children up to age 11 through school programs and summer camps
  • Welcomes 121,000+ visitors annually
  • Delivers 23,000+ science lessons through school and community programs

Our mission is to engage a child’s curiosity in science and nature .

Position Summary:
With training, the Instructor I - H schedules, prepares for and facilitates school and family science lessons and summer camps. This role requires previous teaching experience and some science-content knowledge.

Ideal Qualifications:
  • At least two years of experience working with children in an educational setting.
  • Content knowledge in the Life, Physical, and Earth Sciences, as demonstrated through at least a bachelor’s degree in one of the sciences. A degree in early childhood or elementary education, and a strong interest in science is also acceptable.
  • Ability to lift up to 15 pounds.
  • Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills.
  • Ability to work independently.

Why Join Us?
By becoming a Science Instructor (Instructor I - H) at the Junior Museum & Zoo, you will:
  • Work with a supportive and mission-driven team
  • Inspire curiosity and a love of science in young learners
  • Teach in diverse environments-schools, nature preserves, and the museum
  • Play a key role in one of the region’s most impactful science education programs


This is an SEIU Hourly (limited-benefits) position that may not exceed 1,000 hours per fiscal year. Budgeted hours and schedule (to be set by supervisor upon hire) may allow for fewer hours than this. In lieu of providing a medical plan, the City grants a medical stipend of $3.80 per hour in paid status.

Essential Duties

  • Attend weekly in-person planning meetings on Monday mornings.
  • Schedule science lessons with school-teachers via phone, email, or in person.
  • Learn lesson curricula by:
    • Observing more experienced instructors.
    • Studying written materials and background content.
    • Collaborating with team members.
  • Lead engaging lessons and field trips in schools and during other public programs.
  • Prepare materials, clean up, and properly store supplies.
  • Assist in maintaining program supplies, collections, and equipment.


Minimum Qualifications

Requires previous teaching experience. Requires prior in-depth knowledge of the disciplines to be taught.

Supplemental Information

Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with their employer.

City of Palo Alto offers the following benefits to those in a SEIU Hourly position:

Medical Stipend
$3.80 effective the pay period including July 1, 2024.

Sick Leave
Earn .03 hour of sick leave for each hour worked.

Retirement
City of Palo Alto PST (Part-time, Seasonal & Temporary Employees) Retirement Plan

Please note: The City does not participate in CA State Disability Insurance (SDI) or Social Security.

Closing Date/Time: 10/7/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
City of Palo Alto

City of Palo Alto

650-329-2376

The Community


The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-News

City Government

Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.

Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.

Join an Award Winning Team 

Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.

Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."

Contact Us

Phone: 650-329-2376   

Email: [email protected]   

Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map

 

Show more
Apply Now Employer Profile

MORE JOBS

Show More