Role Description

Astronomy in Action is looking for a fun and engaging science communicator to join us during an exciting phase of growth in the Ottawa region, delivering our amazing live planetarium programs to local clients in our planetarium domes.

Successful candidates will travel to locations around Ottawa with a portable planetarium, visiting a variety of clients, including schools, Scouts Canada, Girl Guides of Canada, community groups, and more. They will set up the dome in client locations and deliver programs for public, private, and school audiences, sharing the wonders of the universe with diverse guests.

Qualifications

- A passion for astronomy, education, and space exploration
- Experience working with children and youth in an educational setting
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Ability to work independently and professionally
- A background in science, education, or science communication
- Ability to multitask and solve problems efficiently
- Flexible availability (occasional evenings and weekends)
- Fluency and ability to present in both French and English

Benefits

- A fun and rewarding job with a positive impact on society
- Opportunities for advancement in a rapidly-growing company
- The chance to contribute ideas and experience to a growing organization
- Training in science communication and presentation skills
- Training in astronomy and space science concepts
- Experience in the unique educational environment of the planetarium
- Working at a variety of locations and meeting diverse clients

Overview of Responsibilities

- Welcome groups with pre-program chat
- Communicate rules to groups (as needed, typical for schools)




- Adjust content to audience level based on program descriptions
- Answer live questions using visual content in the dome
- Engage audience with visual content and software
- Encourage audience participation with special content and techniques
- Ensure programs adhere to agreed-upon schedule, adjust program content as needed

Manage planetarium and equipment

- Travel to program venue and connect with clients/representatives
- Lift equipment in and out of vehicle, and occasionally up and down stairs at client sites
- Unload and set up physical planetarium and occasionally inflatable seating
- Set up planetarium projection system in dome, ensure proper alignment
- Tape down cords to minimize tripping hazards
- Test operation and audio levels to ensure environment is ready to welcome guests
- Maintain equipment and notify co-workers of equipment repairs/replacement

Manage guests

- Welcome and check in guests for each show
- Communicate rules to groups prior to admittance
- Assist teachers and group leaders with managing audience
- During public programs, process purchases for walk-ins, after verifying tickets are still available
- Address any issues and answer questions from guests

Work within a team

- Work with fellow staff to unpack and pack dome and projection equipment




- Support each other in the goal to provide a quality experience to guests
- Communicate constructively with office manager, director, and other AIA staff

Travel and Physical Requirements

This position involves transporting a portable planetarium system to client sites in the Ottawa region. The successful candidate will need access to a reliable personal vehicle and a valid driver’s license. The equipment consists of the dome (duffel bag 70 lbs), the projection system (hard case 50 lbs), the fan (25 lbs), and a small bag for extension/power cords. The duffel bag and hard case both have handles and wheels for easy movement.

Compensation & Growth

Phase 1 (Training): $25/hr during initial onboarding and training period. This covers physical setup, equipment handling, and content delivery shadowing.

Phase 2 (Independent Delivery): Once training is successfully completed and the presenter is ready to lead programs independently, the rate of compensation will increase, up to $35/hr. Additionally, at this stage, the successful candidate will be enrolled in our company benefits program, which includes employer-paid premiums for health, dental, and paramedical care.

Ongoing Development: Any additional workshops or content-refresh training will continue to be compensated at the $25/hr base rate.

Vacation Pay: Compensation includes 4% vacation pay, paid out on each pay period in lieu of paid time off.

We also fully reimburse all business-related travel. For 2026, we follow the CRA non-taxable allowance rates of $0.73 per km for the first 5,000 km (and $0.67 thereafter). This rate is designed to cover fuel, maintenance, and insurance costs.

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📌 Planetarium Presenter (Ottawa)
🏢 Astronomy in Action
📍 Ottawa