Museum Educator/Learning Coordinator

About Hands-On House Children’s Museum of Lancaster 

Since opening its doors in 1987, the Hands-On House Children’s Museum of Lancaster has been fostering the intellectual, social, and emotional development of young children for nearly 40 years. Through professionally curated exhibits and educational programs, Hands-On House strives to empower young children and families to connect, create, and learn through immersive, independent, and purposeful play. 

The museum offers educator-curated experiences, including exhibits, classes, camps, and outreach programs for young children and their families. 

Position Overview  

Reporting to the Director of Education, the Learning Coordinator is an important member of the education team using their professional experience and knowledge of child development, PA early Learning Standards, two-generational approaches, and school readiness to plan and deliver museum-based educational programming to both children and adults. This includes planning and delivering the following: 

• School Readiness Programs -- like Ready, Set, Success! Nights for families; Pop-Up Playschool groups, and Pre-K Immersion Camps. 
• Ongoing “Special Interest” Programs -- like infant and toddler playgroups, sensory-friendly and other family meetups, and weekly/monthly enrichment classes aligned to PA Early Learning Standards. 
• Play Lab – Curate and manage monthly Play Lab themes and activities, including pop-up demos and staff-led activities.  
• Exhibit Engagement – together with the discovery guides and leadership, support family engagement with museum exhibits, providing feedback to address challenges and improve the museum experience. 
• Free-to-Be Kids Camp – Assist the Director of Education with camp planning and serve as the lead educator of our summer day camp, ensuring a positive experience for both campers and staff. 
• School & Community Programs – As needed, assist with the development and delivery of school and community programs such as field trips, Discovery-to-Go workshops, and special events. 

This role combines administrative responsibilities with engaging delivery of programming both in and outside of the museum, supporting the museum’s mission to foster learning through play.  

Qualifications 

The ideal candidate is an experienced early childhood, elementary, and/or special educator with a passion for play-based, embodied learning. They will be relationship-driven, creative, tactful, service-oriented, and at ease interacting with individuals or groups of children and adults alike.  

They will also possess strong organizational and self-management skills and are comfortable learning new technology. A personable self-starter, the ideal candidate works well as part of a team and independently, eager to step in and use their experience supporting children and families in service of our nonprofit mission and purpose.  

Minimum Qualifications:  

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 18 credits in education, special education, child development, and/or related field; or  
• Combined equivalent education and work experience.  

Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in early childhood education (ECE) with PA Teaching Certificate and 3-5 years of teaching experience.  

Other Qualifications:  

• Teaching, student support, or summer camp work experience  
• Experience working in a pre-K or early elementary school setting preferred 
• Special education/early intervention education and experience is highly desirable  
• Program and curricula development experience highly desirable. 

PLEASE NOTE: We encourage candidates to apply even if they do not meet all the qualifications criteria. 

Salary: 

$21-24/hour plus commensurate benefits 

*This is a full-time position, with some weekend and evening availability required. For the right candidate(s), however, the hours and scope of responsibilities could be scaled back to part-time.