Museum Educator, K-12 and Family Programs

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (T/m) is striving to reach new audiences to share the world’s largest collection of fine-scale miniatures and the largest collection of antique toys on public display. T/m’s mission is to educate, inspire, and delight adults and children through the Museum’s collection and preservation of toys and miniatures.

About the role

The Museum Educator will support T/m’s mission by creating and implementing a programming plan for schools, youth, and adult community learning, strengthening the Museum’s position as a site for life-long learning and civic engagement.

Responsibilities

• Family and Youth Programs
  • Work with subject experts, collectors, educators, and other professionals to develop content and deliver programs.
  • Create and maintain an annual school and community programming plan; coordinate regular programming meetings with other staff.
  • Develop and implement an annual spring break and summer camp program.
  • Assist in developing programs in the galleries, offsite, or via video conferencing platforms, including tours, hands-on educational activities, kits, videos, and audio recordings.
  • Contribute to producing interpretive materials about the Museum’s collection (catalogs, gallery guides, exhibit labels, etc.).
  • Work with other Learning and Engagement staff to ensure all programs are adequately covered by volunteer assistance; provide introductions for group tours, as necessary.
  • Develop partnerships with community programs that serve youth specifically and create an atmosphere that is welcoming to all.
• Schools and Educator Engagement
  • Establish, maintain, and expand strong cooperative relationships with K-12 schools.
  • Research and develop education curriculum to deliver collection-focused programs for educators and K-12 students in school classrooms, during field trips onsite, and/or online for virtual visits.
  • Remain current on issues, standards, and best practices within the museum field and museum education.
• Visitor Research and Evaluation
  • Create, distribute, and receive program evaluations; assist in analyzing responses and utilize participant feedback to guide future projects.
  • Report on established benchmarks, including program attendance, participant feedback, observational notes on curriculum, and program structures; evaluate the success of programs against stated objectives; make recommendations for future growth and change.
• Administrative Duties
  • Participate in the selection and training of volunteers and interns.
  • Collaborate with other staff members in long-range strategic planning.
  • Assist with the development and execution of grant applications specific to programming for schools, youth, and community learning.
  • Participate in professional development meetings and conferences locally and nationally.
  • Manage the Education collection of over 1,000 objects.

Qualifications

• Minimum
  • A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 1 year of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired.
• Preferred
  • Experience teaching in school or community settings.
  • Experience in leading tours, facilitating programs and/or public speaking.
  • Exceptional written and communication skills.
  • Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work independently, as well as within a team.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects to successful completion on time and on budget in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

• Passion for art, history, and museums as educational institutions.
• A creative thinker who can generate new ideas and problem solve proactively.
• High level of demonstrated personal accountability.
• Stellar rapport with diverse audiences and a high degree of emotional intelligence.

Schedule

This is a full-time staff position working 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday, with occasional evenings or weekends.

Pay

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $19.25 - $21.63/hourly. Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including the individual’s particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements.

Benefits

This position is eligible for University benefits, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Retirement contributions.
• Paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, and paid caregiver leave.
• Educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses.