Planetarium Administrator

Planetarium Administrator

DEFTEC delivers mission-critical solutions through skillfully delivered services and innovative products. We are inspired by our clients' critical missions and driven to provide the most effective solutions to execute their missions, operational challenges, and requirements. Our dedicated, experienced, and talented employees work closely with our clients to ensure the delivery of exceptional services and products.

Position Overview:

The Planetarium Administrator is responsible for the full scope of day-to-day Planetarium operations at USAFA, including opening and closing procedures, audience queuing and seating, attendance tracking, and the presentation of feature and live shows with appropriate visitor instructions and USAFA-provided talking points, while also managing and troubleshooting the facility's audio-visual, projection, lighting, and IT systems, performing routine maintenance such as projector lamp replacement, developing original themed programming tied to USAFA and military history and space events, maintaining accurate inventory and operational documentation, and recruiting, training, and scheduling volunteers, auxiliary staff, and cadet personnel to support shows and cadet STEM outreach efforts; the role requires a bachelor's degree, a minimum of five years of combined professional experience in facility management, technology management, customer service, and communications, strong public speaking and technical troubleshooting skills, and a commitment to maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for all Planetarium visitors.

Job Responsibilities:

• Ensure the entry doors and external restrooms are unlocked a minimum of 30 minutes before show time and locked outside of office hours or after the last show of the day is complete. Will always be responsible for oversight of the Planetarium keys and ensure they are stored in the agreed upon location when not in use.
• Ensure the computers, projectors, lobby light display, lobby audio, lobby television, cove lighting, microphone(s) and dome audio are turned on a minimum of 30 minutes before show time and turned off outside of office hours or after the last show of the day is complete.
• Facilitate orderly entrance and exit of planetarium attendees by ensuring the audience is efficiently queued and directed towards their respective seats. All government reserved seats will be labeled appropriately. At the conclusion of a show, all audience members should exit. To attend multiple shows, audience members must re-queue.
• Lock the front door and display appropriate signage indicating the time of the next show when all waiting guests have been seated or all 110 planetarium seats have been filled. Communicate with government personnel as interior and exterior signage requires updating/restoration.
• Calculate and record the number of attendees per show in the government-provided spreadsheet.
• Introduce the show by welcoming the audience to USAFA; conveying any provided USAFA/CM talking points; providing instructions on how to operate the seats, where to locate the bathrooms and exits, what to do if feeling unwell, silence cellphones, and how to leave online rating/reviews; as well as identify other visitor opportunities on base.
• Ensure the pre-show is running before any audience members enter the auditorium, as well as at least two USAFA/CM-produced or provided advertisements being played before the feature show.
• Run movie shows by running USAFA promo show(s), then run feature show(s) allowing credits to run completely through to the end of the video. Half lighting can be turned on during credits.
• Run live shows by running USAFA promo show(s), then talk the audience through a narrative script relevant to content before airing current live show requirements as detailed by USAFA/CM.
• Offer question-and-answer sessions at the end of Live shows to allow visitors to ask questions about the material covered.
• Track available full-dome, IMAX, and giant screen show available for download and purchase and the contractor shall coordinate any new shows with designated USAFA/CM personnel to avoid possible unauthorized commitments.
• Develop themed Planetarium shows to highlight USAFA-related events and history, U.S. military events and history, and significant space events and history.
• Will coordinate and oversee operational and programming maintenance activities with the Government and designated external vendors or contractors to help ensure Planetarium equipment remains operational. Will use the established checklist to evaluate, troubleshoot, document, and resolve technical issues involving audio-visual media, hardware, software, productions, digital displays, and information technology systems or networks. The Administrator will replace faulty projector lamps using Government-provided replacement lamps, code approved new assets into the Planetarium system and support the continued programming of the Planetarium.
• Will maintain an accurate inventory log of Government-provided replacement lamps. At a minimum, the log shall identify the quantity on hand, the quantity installed or replaced during the reporting period, and projected consumption based on available operating information. The Contractor shall notify the COR when inventory reaches the Government-established reorder threshold or, when no threshold has been established, when the Contractor reasonably determines that remaining inventory may be insufficient to support anticipated operations. Notification shall be provided sufficiently in advance to allow the Government to procure replacement lamps without disrupting scheduled Planetarium operations.
• Maintain lost and found box and cleanliness of the interior of the planetarium. Shall perform regular visual reviews of the lobby, internal and external bathrooms and auditorium after all shows.
• Immediately contact medical and/or security personnel in the event of an emergency per posted emergency procedures. The Contractor shall notify and inform USAFA/CM at the earliest convenience and request additional support if necessary.
• Manage and facilitate volunteers and auxiliary and cadet personnel available and qualified to assist with shows in the Planetarium. Train volunteers, auxiliary, and cadet personnel on all duties required to run shows or a day in the Planetarium. Schedule volunteers, auxiliary, and cadet personnel for shifts in the Planetarium to assist or run shows. Contractor facilitates volunteer cadet programs and involves cadets with STEM outreach programs, creates training documentation for cadets, and manages a roster of volunteer cadets facilitating system ease of use and outreach efforts.
• Maintain appropriate documentation of operating procedures, inventory, technical support, maintenance, and vendor contacts.
• Responsible for maintaining clean and organized workspaces, including removing all trash and debris after each day.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of five (5) years combined professional experience in core area(s) essential to performing this cross-functional role, including facility management, technology management, customer service and communications.
• Technical aptitude to manage and troubleshoot multiple audio-visual media, hardware, software, productions, digital displays and information technology systems/networks.
• Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) experience and proficiency
• Bachelor's Degree is required.
• Excellent public speaking and communication skills
• Team building and instruction skills
• Customer service skills
• Community outreach skills
• Knowledge of higher education, K-20 STEM programming

DEFTEC offers a comprehensive whole-life benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, holiday, paid time off, 401K with a match, life insurance, short/long-term disability, and educational reimbursement. The DEFTEC team comprises professionals who make a difference daily in crucial national security missions. Our leadership knows that this happens by employing a diverse team that is well cared for. Our top priority is our employees, making DEFTEC an ideal workplace.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you require reasonable accommodations.

DEFTEC is a Drug-Free Workplace where post-offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria are met as outlined in our policies.

AAP/EEO Statement

DEFTEC Corp is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), gender, gender identity, and gender expression, religious creed, disability (mental and physical) including HIV and AIDS, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics ), genetic information, age, marital status, civil union status, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, denial of family and medical care leave, arrest record and/or any other characteristic(s) protected by federal, state or local law.

This policy applies to all terms of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment.

Other Duties

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of the activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.