Opening in 2015, the Science Mill is a nonprofit science museum dedicated to engaging all students in STEM through hands-on, interactive exhibits and remotely delivered programs. Kids learn by doing, experimenting, discovering and, most importantly, by being curious.
The Science Mill is a place of minds-on participation — fully experiential, where curiosity is the primary currency and the intentional chaos of active learning is celebrated. Operating primarily in Texas with a 50-exhibit museum in Johnson City, the Science Mill has successfully delivered STEM programs in other states and countries.
Our vision: A world where all kids — regardless of economic status, location, gender, or race — have equitable access to STEM programs and can imagine themselves in a future STEM workforce and science-literate community.
The Science Mill is a nonprofit STEM science museum dedicated to inspiring curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning through hands-on, interactive exhibits. We welcome learners of all ages and backgrounds and connect science, technology, engineering, and math to everyday life in meaningful, memorable ways.
We're looking for an Exhibits Manager who loves solving problems, working with their hands, and sharing how things work with the public. Training and onboarding are provided.
- Maintain, troubleshoot, and repair interactive exhibits to keep them safe, reliable, and engaging.
- Perform daily walkthroughs to test exhibits and address issues quickly.
- Diagnose and resolve mechanical, electronic, and software issues on the spot.
- Upload, manage, and maintain exhibit software and firmware.
- Develop and manage preventative maintenance schedules.
- Coordinate with third-party vendors for repairs, parts, and specialized services.
- Escalate complex issues to senior staff when needed.
- Ensure a consistently high-quality guest experience through excellent exhibit performance.
- Provide daily care for living exhibits, including aquariums, animals, and plants.
- Monitor water quality, life-support systems, and overall exhibit health.
- Finetune biological and mechanical systems for optimal performance.
- Proactively identify small changes before they become larger problems.
- Engage visitors on the exhibit floor in a friendly, approachable way.
- Demonstrate and "show off" exhibits, explaining how and why they work.
- Adapt explanations for different ages, backgrounds, and learning styles.
- Serve as a visible ambassador for the Science Mill's mission.
- Strong mechanical and technical aptitude with hands-on repair experience.
- Comfortable working with software, electronics, microcontrollers, and circuitry.
- Excellent diagnostic and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating with a team.
- Detail-oriented with a strong focus on safety and reliability.
- Comfortable in a public, visitor-facing environment.
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree and/or relevant hands-on experience (zoo, aquarium, pet store, plant nursery, or similar).
- Ability to use ladders and lift up to 40 pounds.
- Access to a vehicle for reimbursed work errands.
- Self-starter who takes ownership and initiative.
- Clear communicator and supportive team member.
- Natural explainer who enjoys helping others understand systems.
- Reliable, resourceful, and curious.
- Interest in biology, living systems, and how things work.
- Enjoys solving practical, real-world problems.
- Advanced aquatic or life-support systems.
- Automation and control systems.
- Biology, environmental science, or related fields.
- Research laboratory experience.
- 4-H or similar youth science/agriculture programs.
Send a letter of interest and your resume telling us about your hands-on experience and what draws you to working in a science museum environment.
Apply at hr@sciencemill.org For more information, visit sciencemill.orgThe Science Mill is a hands-on science museum, family destination, and educational organization in Johnson City, Texas, dedicated to introducing and exciting all kids to a world of future STEM careers.
Our mission is to inspire and give students the confidence, tools, and support needed to reach their full potential as skilled members in a 21st-century workforce — with a vision where all kids, regardless of economic status, location, gender, or race, have equitable access to STEM programs.
The Director of Operations and STEM Programs provides strategic, operational, and instructional leadership for both museum operations and STEM education programming. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role ensures exceptional visitor experiences, effective day-to-day operations, and the delivery of high-quality educational programs that advance the Science Mill's mission.
This is a leadership role for a collaborative, organized, and mission-driven museum and STEM learning professional who enjoys both strategic planning and hands-on implementation. Success is measured by visitor satisfaction, program quality, educational impact, staff development, budget management, and growth of statewide STEM engagement.
- Lead and develop a cross-functional team of STEM educators, program staff, curriculum writers, visitor services staff, volunteers, and facilities personnel.
- Oversee daily museum operations, ensuring exhibits, learning spaces, and public areas are safe, welcoming, engaging, and fully functional.
- Manage on-site STEM programming, including family visits, field trips, homeschool days, special events, daily activities, and learning labs.
- Guide statewide outreach programs, including summer camps, after-school clubs, mobile/off-site programs, and STEM teacher professional development.
- Collaborate with staff to develop and improve curriculum, activities, exhibits, and resources that are hands-on, inquiry-based, inclusive, age-appropriate, and connected to real-world STEM careers.
- Establish operational procedures, staffing plans, safety practices, training expectations, and performance standards.
- Use data, feedback, and evaluation tools to assess effectiveness, improve programs and operations, and report outcomes.
- Build partnerships with schools, districts, community organizations, funders, and STEM professionals to expand reach and impact.
- Lead budgeting, resource planning, grant reporting, and long-range planning for STEM programs and operations.
- Represent the Science Mill professionally with educators, families, donors, partners, and the broader community.
- Bachelor's degree or higher in a STEM-related field.
- Leadership experience in a STEM organization, science museum, educational nonprofit, school district, informal learning setting, or similar environment.
- Experience supervising, coaching, and developing teams.
- Strong understanding of informal STEM education, hands-on learning, inquiry-based instruction, and youth development.
- Excellent organizational and operational skills, with the ability to manage multiple programs, schedules, priorities, and stakeholders.
- Commitment to accessible, inclusive STEM learning for diverse learners and communities.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings, weekends, special events, and Texas-based travel.
- Experience in museum, visitor services, attraction, or nonprofit operations.
- Experience developing standards-aligned STEM curriculum or programs, including TEKS or similar frameworks.
- Experience managing field trips, camps, after-school programs, educator professional development, or statewide outreach.
- Background in grant-funded programs, partnership development, or program evaluation.
- Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills.
Please submit your resume and a letter of interest outlining your passion for the Science Mill's mission, your relevant experience, and your leadership approach.
Apply at hr@sciencemill.org For more information, visit sciencemill.org