Program Coordinator

Program Coordinator, Part-Time or Full-Time  

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  

The Program Coordinator is an important member of the education team with three core functions: 

1. Promote, coordinate, and deliver community-based Discovery-to-Go/Outreach programming, primarily during the school year.  
2. Provide critical administrative support for our museum-based programs year-round. And  
3. Facilitate engaging camper activities during Free-to-Be Kids Camps in the summer.  

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.  

Key Responsibilities: 

Community and Museum-Based Education 

• Serve as the program manager for our Discovery-to-Go Outreach Programs.  
• Manage the outreach programming process, including promotion, scheduling, materials preparation, and day-of coordination of logistics.  
• Teach and facilitate outreach workshops at area schools and community organizations throughout the school year.  
• Represent the museum at community events as needed.  
• Work with the Director of Education to update outreach and field trip program offerings and ensure their alignment to museum exhibits and education standards. 
• As needed and scheduled, serve as an Art Studio, Maker’s Space, and/or Field Trip Discovery Guide. This includes supporting the delivery of pop-ups and special programs. 
• In the summer, support camp programming by serving as camp registrar and as a camp counselor. 

Program Administration 

• Serve as a primary point of contact for museum program inquiries such as outreach, field trips, etc. 
• Collaborate with the Director of Museum Experience to coordinate and promote group visit logistics and programming. 
• Serve as the registrar of museum programs. 
• Manage communications for group visits and birthday parties via shared email inboxes. 
• As needed and scheduled, serve as a Guest Services Specialist, which includes managing the admissions process, supporting opening and closing procedures, answering phone inquiries and responding to emails, handling cash and electronic transactions, ensuring accurate record keeping, and managing program registrations and logistics. 
• Other duties as assigned.  

Anticipated Schedule  

This is currently a part-time, hybrid role with variable hours, with an option to become full-time in the summer. You can expect an average of 25 hours per week during the school year and 40 hours per week during the summer and beyond. 

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 about 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:  

• Associate's degree in education or related field; or 
• 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  

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: 

$20-$22 per hour