Museum Enrichment Program Specialist

Museum Enrichment Program Specialist

The Schiele Museum Enrichment Program Specialist helps to fulfill the museum’s mission to interpret the natural world and serve the community by providing educational programs for children during out-of-school periods that feature institutional expertise, collections and resources.

General Description of Work:

• Performs difficult work in the development, evaluation, and the presentation of innovative out-of-school programs for children in grades K – 6.
• Facilitates daily afterschool and summer day camp programs.
• Functions as a member of the museum education team; participates in museum activities, public programs and events.
• Leads a team of staff that provides care, supervision and a high-quality of experience for program participants.
• Collaborates with others to facilitate dynamic out-of-school enrichment programs.
• Works with advancement resources to promote the program, encourage participation, and pursue avenues for additional support through grants and sponsorships.
• Work is performed under the supervision of the Museum Head of Interpretation.

Essential Functions:

• Develops and presents daily programs to children participating in afterschool and summer enrichment programs.
• Acquires and maintains supplies and materials for the operation of enrichment programs.
• Provides occasional offsite programs that promote enrichment programs and the museum.
• Develops program content to facilitate grant or sponsor funding.
• Recruits, trains, manages and supervises part-time staff and interns to assist with enrichment program services.
• Collaborates with education staff to successfully incorporate mission-based activities into enrichment experiences.
• Positively interacts with sales and marketing staff to promote enrichment programs and successfully secure participation.
• Positively interacts with parents to deliver critical information about the program schedule, enrichment activities, billing, behavior and other special circumstances.
• Supports classroom learning by providing assistance for homework completion during afterschool programs.
• Engages with school personnel to connect museum services with families seeking enrichment programs.
• Uses evaluation strategies to measure the effectiveness of programs. 
• Prepares reports, manages a program budget and monitors attendance and revenue goals.
• Participates in other educational events for museum audiences.
• Perform related tasks as required. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Highly motivated individual that enjoys working with elementary-aged children. 
• Excellent classroom management and program structuring skills.
• Knowledge of science and natural history concepts with an eagerness to learn new information and creatively apply it through programs. 
• Strong teaching ability – including effective public speaking skills, ability to provide effective instruction for all ages and thorough knowledge of elementary curriculum.
• Ability to develop engaging programs that take advantage of the museum’s collections and resources through creativity and collaboration.
• Great leadership skills with the ability to effectively manage staff, interns and volunteers.
• Superb logistics, scheduling and time-management skills.
•  Ability to work effectively under general direction and minimal supervision.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with parents, schools, community resources, other employees and the general public. 
• Well-organized, creative, flexible, dependable, self-motivated, and goal-driven.
• Personable and possessing strong customer service skills.
• Physically able to lead children’s activities, conduct outdoor programs, lift 50 lbs and spend a large portion of the work day standing or moving.
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record.

Education and Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in education, with a concentration or significant coursework in science or mathematics.
• Experience in public speaking, educational program design and implementation, and evaluation strategies.
• Experience in developing and delivering enrichment programs and teaching in an informal education or classroom setting.
• Experience in seeking grant funding and implementing sponsored programs is desired.
• North Carolina or South Carolina teacher certification is preferred.

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Schiele Museum of Natural History, 1500 E. Garrison Boulevard, Gastonia, NC 28054