About This Role
This museum educator role involves facilitating engaging experiences for guests of all ages, including educational programs, shows, and activities. The position also includes front-line customer service and ensuring the safety of exhibits and visitors. It suits an individual passionate about science and the natural world, who enjoys interacting with the public in an educational setting.
Responsibilities
- Facilitate programs, presentations, demonstrations, and lead educational activities in a variety of settings
- Facilitate Tier I and II public shows, programs, and activities
- Handle a variety of animals, including types classified by Living Collections as Tier I, II, and III
- Engage museum visitors using informal educational approaches, including pre-designed and impromptu activities
- Adapt content and complexity to ages and interests of children and their families
- Select and assemble materials to be used in daily demonstrations and programming
- Conduct inventory and purchase departmental supplies as requested
- Lead special event days
- Prototype experiences upon request
- Teach Early Childhood and/or Lab classes for visiting schools, as booked
- Display a high level of enthusiasm, energy, and positive behavior to museum guests
- Evaluate success of experiences through feedback provided by guests
- Greet guests as they enter the museum
- Check in guests and sell retail items through the point-of-sale systems at the front desk
- Accurately perform admissions transactions/reporting and follow cash handling procedures
- Conduct group orientations
- Inform guests of daily and special programming, learning opportunities, membership, and special events
- Provide input to management on feedback and information from customers
- Monitor inventory levels of consumables at the front desk and within the museum and notify management of needs when apparent
- Process membership sales
- Perform exhibit checks and either correct problems or report them to management
- Enforce safety and other policies/procedures within the museum
- Assist in emergency response procedures
- Perform daily housekeeping routines for museum activities and exhibits
- Provide detailed cleaning, sanitization, and organization of exhibits and areas during down time
- Maintain a clean and orderly work environment
- Uphold Discovery Place’s Core Service Values of Inclusion, Teamwork, Personal Excellence, and Uncommon Courtesy
- Continually maintain an outwardly positive demeanor toward coworkers and visitors
- Maintain a team-oriented approach and can-do attitude
- Assist other team members and departments in their responsibilities when help is needed
- Display flexibility in an ever-changing environment
- Assist in training and share business-related knowledge with fellow employees
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree-seeking from a four-year college or university in a science or education field
- Two years related museum or teaching experience/training preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Ability to speak and write clearly and persuasively, adapting language to audience
- Ability to listen and get clarification, respond well to questions, and demonstrate group presentation skills
- Cost consciousness
- Adaptability to manage competing demands, change approach to best fit the situation, and deal with change, delays, or unexpected events
- Initiative to volunteer readily and ask for and offer help when needed
- Innovation to display original thinking and creativity, and meet challenges with resourcefulness
- Professionalism in approaching others tactfully, reacting well under pressure, treating others with respect and consideration, accepting responsibility for own actions, and following through on commitments
- Safety and security awareness, observing procedures, reporting unsafe conditions, and using equipment and materials properly
- Ability to regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
- Specific vision abilities including close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
- Ability to stand for long periods of time, walk, use hands to manipulate objects, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
- Ability to talk and hear
Nice to have:
Important Details
- Schedule: 4-days per week
About the Company
Discovery Place is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers exhibits and educational programs to fuel passion for science and the natural world. They provide immersive experiences that captivate, challenge, and empower audiences of all ages, sparking discovery and lifelong learning.
