ANSEP K-8 Cultural Engagement & Education Facilitator

The Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) is seeking a dedicated Cultural Engagement & Education Facilitator to join our team. ANSEP is committed to effecting systemic change in educational outcomes for students in STEM fields by building community, academic success, and cultural understanding from K–12 through higher education.

This role is a dynamic mix of cultural programming and core educational facilitation. You will split your time between delivering culturally responsive STEM activities—educating students about Alaska Native culture, values, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge—and managing day-to-day program operations. This daily support includes providing academic coaching, facilitating general STEM and life-skills activities, leading temporary staff, and supervising students during classroom, residential, recreational, and off-campus events. The position works primarily with middle school students (grades 6–8).

To be successful as the Cultural Engagement & Education Facilitator, you should bring a strong background in middle school youth education paired with a deep familiarity with Alaska Native cultures, values, and traditions. You will thrive if you excel at taking cultural concepts and seamlessly weaving them into engaging, hands-on STEM lessons for students of all backgrounds. Success in this position requires strong everyday classroom management, where you feel equally confident guiding youth through interactive science projects, supporting their academic growth, and coordinating daily logistics with program staff. Candidates who excel in this role demonstrate sound judgment when supervising students across classroom, residential, and outdoor environments, along with the flexibility to adapt activities seamlessly as student needs or schedules evolve.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Indigenous/Alaska Native Studies, STEM, Environmental Science, or a closely related field (or equivalent professional experience).

Youth Leadership & General STEM Facilitation: At least 1 year supervising youth programs, leading day-to-day educational activities, and facilitating hands-on STEM or environmental science learning for K–8 youth (with an emphasis on middle school students). AND

Cultural Responsiveness & Education: At least 1 year incorporating Indigenous perspectives into educational programming, sharing Alaska Native cultural knowledge with youth, or working directly with communities and Tribal organizations.

Knowledge Requirements: Understanding of K–8 child and middle school adolescent development, classroom management, and youth engagement strategies, alongside knowledge of Alaska Native cultures, values, histories, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and place-based learning frameworks.

Must be at least 21 years of age. 

Experience working with rural and/or Indigenous Alaska populations preferred.

Must be able to lift or move 25 to 50lbs with or without reasonable accommodation.

Must possess a valid Alaska Driver’s License and a clean 3-year driving record (eligible and willing to operate 15-passenger vans for student transportation).

Work Schedule Flexibility: Ability and willingness to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings, weekends, overnight residential supervision, and statewide events/travel as assigned.

Position Details:

This position is located on the UAA campus in Anchorage. This is a full-time, term-funded, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 79, based on education and experience.

We review applications on a rolling basis. Because we may close the posting once a sufficient pool of qualified candidates is established, we encourage early submission. Please note that once a viable pool is identified, further applications may not be reviewed. 

This is a term-funded position reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion.

To Apply, Please Submit:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Three professional references, including at least one current or previous supervisor

📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE.

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Cate Weist, ANSEP HR Manager at caweist@alaska.edu.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the ADA team at ua-ada@alaska.edu.

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online:  https://uas.alaska.edu/compliance/clery-act/annual-security-reports.html. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing  uas.orca@alaska.edu.