Community Engagement Manager

California Institute of Technology
vision insurance, parental leave, paid time off, sick time, tuition reimbursement
United States, California, Big Pine
Mar 12, 2026
Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community. Job Summary We are seeking an experienced, strategic leader to drive the community engagement for the Deep Synoptic Array (DSA), a world-leading radio telescope led by Caltech that aims to commence construction in the next year outside of Ely, Nevada. The array will use 1650, 6.15-meter dishes spread across a 10 x 12-mile area to observe at radio wavelengths (0.7 - 2 GHz frequency range) to survey the skies 10x faster than any radio telescope current or planned. The telescope will conduct a broad range of research, including the study of the formation of galaxies, the search for cosmic explosions, and investigations into the nature of gravity. The DSA is part of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System with construction funding from Schmidt Sciences. The applicant would fulfill the role of Community Engagement Manager for the DSA as part of the Project Management team and reports to the Lead Project Manager. This role will drive the development and implementation of a strategic community engagement plan that encapsulates the education, communications, and outreach goals into well-defined programs or projects for the DSA. The Community Engagement Manager may also be responsible for additional fund-raising or development of strategic partnerships (namely within the state of Nevada) to support the implementation of the plan. They will also manage the education and public outreach budget within the DSA project and will be required to develop timelines and budgets and report to the DSA leadership team and DSA funders. A successful Community Engagement Manager will ensure the DSA is viewed positively and has positive impact in the local Ely community, the state of Nevada, and beyond, which will help to ensure the successful construction and transition to operations of the telescope. Job location: Ely, NV or remote with frequent travel to Ely Essential Job Duties Lead the development and implementation of a community engagement plan with clear goals, outcomes, and measurable impacts, including strategies that help address the existing diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in the relevant technical and scientific communities related to DSA. Develop and strengthen key, strategic community relationships with an emphasis on relationships with educational institutes within Nevada. Lead the communications for DSA, identifying needs and creating solutions as needed. Full lifecycle management of contractors that support community engagement, including RfPs/RfQs, contracting, oversight/tracking, and closeout. Developing and managing the budget for education and public outreach within DSA. Developing and tracking a timeline for the community engagement plan. Writing monthly and quarterly reports on DSA community engagement. Presenting to and meeting with high-level community partners and stakeholders and DSA funders. Working with the DSA Leadership Team to advise on community engagement and being able to provide strategic solutions to community-related challenges during construction. Assist with Ely-based recruitment for DSA, including the development of local networking and advertising partners and serving on recruitment panels. Travel to Ely, Reno, Las Vegas, or other areas of Nevada as needed. Travel to Campus or Owens Valley Radio Observatory, as needed, to interact with faculty, engineering staff, and contractors. Perform additional duties related to community engagement, communications, and project management as assigned. Basic Qualifications Minimum 4-year degree in education, marketing, communications, STEM-sciences, or related. Minimum 5 years astronomy experience, or in a related STEM/Education field. Minimum 7 years of experience in community relations/engagement; preferably in astronomy or other scientific field with some staff management and contracting management experience. Knowledge of the state of Nevada community. Preferred Qualifications Advanced degree in a relevant field. Experience leading the development and implementation of strategic education, public outreach, and/or community engagement plans, preferably in the field of astronomy or closely related. Knowledge of modern astronomical research, instruments, and mastery of basic astronomy concepts. Required Documents Resume Hiring Range $89,400 - $108,000 Per Year The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training. As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our benefits and staff perks. EEO Statement We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. To read more Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) go to eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf. Disability Accommodations Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position. If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu. Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at employment@caltech.edu.