McWane Science Center

Culture & Entertainment

Apt Insight

They have a deeply mission-driven culture where staff care about community impact, but compensation and career mobility can be tough hurdles. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the organization operates in the culture, museum, and experiential learning sector. Operating as a nonprofit institution, it features multi-floor interactive science exhibits, educational outreach programs, and an IMAX Dome Theater. While its community presence is broad across the state, day-to-day operations reflect the typical constraints of a regional non-profit center.

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About

McWane Science Center & Museum is a museum located in Birmingham, AL that offers a wide range of science and museum programs.

Founded1975

HeadquartersBirmingham, US

IndustryCulture & Entertainment

Websitewww.mcwane.org

Employees119

Open roles at McWane Science Center

3 open roles, newest first.

Vice President of EducationBirmingham, Alabama · Onsite

IMAX AssociateBirmingham, Alabama · Onsite

Special Programs Manager at Science CenterBirmingham, Alabama · Onsite

Why people join & leave

Why join

Commitment to STEM educationFriendly and collaborative teamsWelcoming and diverse environmentFree museum access and perks

Why leave

Below-market nonprofit compensationHigh turnover in frontline rolesLimited internal promotion opportunitiesFrustrations with executive leadership

Company Pulse

Headcount

-8%past year

In the News

What Alabama schools love about these hands-on field trips | Bham Nowbhamnow.com · Aug 20, 2026

Employee Experience

3.9/5

Career Opportunities

3.0

Compensation & Benefits

2.6

Culture & Values

4.1

Diversity & Inclusion

4.6

Senior Management

3.5

Work-Life Balance

4.3

Quick Take

Strengths

High inclusion ratingDiversity and inclusion scores reach 92 out of 100 in workplace reviews.

Strong workplace cultureCulture and values score sits at 82 out of 100 with a collaborative team environment.

Watch out

Lagging compensation scoreCompensation and benefits rating is low at 52 out of 100.

Note

Leadership approval gapThe CEO rating stands at 65 out of 100 while senior management rates at 70.

Things to consider

Below-market pay — Staff frequently note low nonprofit wages, minimal raises, and lower pay bands for entry-level positions.

Limited internal growth — Employees report few opportunities for upward mobility, with leadership frequently hiring externally for senior roles.

Leadership

Jun EbersoleDirector of Collections

What They Build

McWane Science Center maintains technical infrastructure supporting museum operations, web portals, interactive exhibits, and theater systems. Technical staff manage enterprise nonprofit tools alongside digital exhibit software and web technologies. The work balances donor and visitor management databases with audio-visual and physical computing components.

Interactive Exhibits

Donor Management Systems

Visitor Services Platforms

Theater Systems

Domains

Full Stack Development

Systems Administration

IT Infrastructure

AV Engineering

Tech Stack

React

Python

HTML

Blackbaud

Salesforce

DonorPerfect

Volgistics