Museum Research Worker jobs in Connecticut

ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM INC.:

The Children’s Museum in West Hartford, Connecticut offers hands-on fun with science and nature for younger children and families, school and community groups, and home schooled children. At the Museum and in classrooms throughout Connecticut, we encourage children to become creative thinkers and lifelong learners. Children engage in our interactive labs, workshops, multi-sensory exhibits and demonstrations, live wildlife sanctuary, Starlab portable planetarium, vacation camps, birthday parties, scout activities, and special events. Our unique Children’s Museum Preschool, co-located on our West Hartford campus, integrates science experiences into early childhood learning. Nearby Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton offers environmental exhibits, nature programs, concerts, and acres of outdoor hiking, bird watching, and winter cross-country skiing.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

Museum STEAM Educators are responsible for delivering highly engaging, interactive and scientifically accurate programs to Pre-K through Middle School students alongside their teachers, parents and caregivers in a variety of formal classroom and informal community settings. Educators deliver programming both onsite within the museum as well as within schools, libraries, and community centers throughout Connecticut and into neighboring Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. Programs occur in both small group settings with interactive hands-on instruction and large auditorium-style demonstration programs. Educators are responsible for aiding in the design and prototyping of new curriculum and workshops for the Education Department.

Essential Functions:

• Develops, tests, and trains co-educators in STEAM curricula for Pre-K –Middle School. Curricula is designed as individual programs that are standalone presentations, as a series of programs that build upon each workshop over a series of engagements, as large festival-style events focused on children and their caregivers, or as engaging activities on the Museum floor, all covering a wide variety of STEAM topics.
• Assists in the writing and documentation of curricula and supplemental educational materials.
• Travels to schools and other community locations to present outreach programs at their site.
• Teaches STEAM programs both at our onsite preschool and as outreach at other preschools.
• Teaches STEAM programs in out-of-school settings including after school, weekends, and summer.
• Engages the general public visiting the museum through both formal programming and informal learning opportunities.
• Maintains, cleans, and inventories equipment and supplies.
• Supports the Museum’s Education, Visitor Services, and Exhibits teams.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Essential Skills:

• A dynamic educator who can comfortably present effective, age-appropriate, and engaging presentations to diverse audiences.
• Delivers educational experiences in a highly entertaining and engaging manner.
• Must demonstrate the ability to communicate well with both children and adults in small and large groups, in festival-style settings, and informally on the Museum floor.
• Must demonstrate the ability to manage participant behavior and prioritize safety in program settings.
• Must have excellent project management skills and demonstrate the ability to work effectively and efficiently within a team and through the completion of assigned tasks.
• Must be able to handle multiple projects and tasks through to completion.
• Solid working knowledge of science and engineering processes and concepts and willingness to learn.
• Must be a creative, innovative educator with experience developing engaging curricula
• Must know how to design and fabricate STEAM demonstration models used to enhance STEAM curriculum during demonstrations.
• Expected to maintain equipment and supplies used in programming including minor maintenance as needed.
• Must have experience or willingness to learn how to handle and present with live animals during presentations.
• Must project a positive attitude with both customers and co-workers.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs. of education equipment into and out of vehicles and within assigned teaching spaces. This will require the ability to bring equipment and supplies up and down stairs and be in the out of doors.
• This position will be on a flexible, full time schedule with the expectation of regular evening and weekend hours based on the outreach program schedule and Museum hours.

Qualifications:

• Candidates should have a college degree or equivalent related work experience in education, science, engineering, or technology.
• Preference is given to candidates who can demonstrate a solid understanding of physics, chemistry, and engineering concepts. Prior experience in museums or related institutions is preferred.
• Proven experience teaching and working with youth.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and clean driving record. Access to a reliable and insured vehicle is required for offsite travel.

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Position is full-time at 40 hours per week and is non-exempt. Insurance and PTO benefits are available.

Salary range: $16/hr to $20/hr dependent on experience and prior demonstrated successes

This position reports to the Director of Education and works collaboratively with staff at the West Hartford Museum and Preschool and the Canton Nature Center locations.

To apply and to be considered, please email a cover letter, resume, references, and salary expectations to HR@thechildrensmuseumct.org. Applications will not be considered without a supporting cover letter and a list of references, pre-authorized for contact.

Or mail to:

The Children’s Museum Group

Attn: Human Resources

The Children’s Museum Inc.

180 Mohegan Drive

West Hartford CT 06117

(No phone calls please)

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $16.00 - $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Holidays
• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• Do you have a reliable and insured vehicle?

Education:

• Associate (Preferred)

Experience:

• Early childhood education: 1 year (Preferred)
• Program development: 1 year (Preferred)
• Children's Museum: 1 year (Preferred)
• Teaching: 2 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Preferred)
• First Aid Certification (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• West Hartford, CT 06117: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person