Education Associate

James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art; Saint Petersburg (FL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in Saint Petersburg, FL, is seeking an Education Associate to coordinate and deliver programs that connect adults with art and culture. This role blends careful planning with direct engagement and cross-department collaboration to strengthen learning experiences across the museum.

You will build community relationships, organize events, and support accessibility initiatives while ensuring programs stay within established budgets and timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Museum Studies, Education, History, Art History, Arts Administration, Communications, or related field.
• 1–3 years of museum, arts/culture or community program experience preferred (internships/volunteer included).

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and implement engaging educational programs for adult audiences.
• Develop and deliver outreach programs for community organizations and schools.
• Assist in evaluating programs through participant feedback and attendance data.
• Collaborate with the Education team to expand museum outreach and accessibility.
• Help train docents and support events, tours, and school initiatives.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Communication

Writing & editing

Public speaking

Team collaboration

Digital literacy

Education

Bachelor's degree in Museum Studies, Education, History, Art History, Arts Administration, Communications, Event Planning/Management, Hospitality or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Join our Education & Public Programs team and help create meaningful learning experiences that connect people with art, culture, and one another. The Education Associate position is ideal for someone who is both detail-oriented and people-focused, balancing program coordination and planning with direct engagement with adult audiences and community partners.

In this role, you'll organize and implement educational programs, cultivate community relationships, and help deliver dynamic learning experiences inspired by the museum's collection and special exhibitions. You'll also collaborate across the department to support a wide range of educational offerings, making a lasting impact on visitors of all ages.

Essential Duties

• Coordinate and implement engaging educational programs for adult audiences, including lectures, workshops, gallery talks, book club, film nights, and special events.
• Develop, coordinate, and deliver educational outreach programs for community organizations, senior living communities, libraries, schools, and other off-site audiences.
• Assist in evaluating adult and outreach programs through participant feedback and attendance data.
• Collaborate with the Director of Education and Education team to research, develop, and prepare for the implementation of education outreach initiatives that expand the museum’s reach into the community.
• Support educational programming across the department by assisting with docent training, workshops, tours, youth and family programs, school initiatives, and special events as needed.
• Assist with planning and facilitating accessibility initiatives and inclusive educational programming.
• Help establish and maintain relationships with community organizations and educational partners to expand museum outreach.
• Coordinate program logistics, including presenter communication, supplies, scheduling, registrations, and event setup.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to provide program information and promotional content.
• Coordinate evaluation process and program records across department.
• Assist Education team with project progress tracking. Collaborate with team to ensure projects are on track.
• Participate in departmental meetings, museum-wide initiatives, and professional development opportunities.
• Coordinate adult programs within established budgets by tracking program expenses, assisting with purchasing, and ensuring programs remain within budget.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Museum Studies, Education, History, Art History, Arts Administration, Communications, Event Planning/Management, Hospitality or related field preferred.
• One to three years of experience (including internships, graduate assistantships, or volunteer experience) in museums, arts and culture, education, nonprofit organizations, or community programming preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Interest in museum operations, education and lifelong learning.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage schedules and deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers, artists, and community partners.
• Comfortable speaking with diverse audiences of varying ages and backgrounds.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and common digital tools.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.
• Employment is contingent upon successfully completing a Level II background screening.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working or volunteering in a museum, gallery, cultural institution, or educational setting.
• Experience facilitating educational programs, public events and presentations.
• Knowledge of or interest in the art, history, and cultures represented in the museum's collections, particularly Indigenous, Native American, and Western art and history.
• Experience coordinating educational or community programs.
• Demonstrated appreciation for working with diverse communities and audiences.
• Familiarity with accessibility and inclusive learning practices.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during events, often up to 8 hours.
• Ability to move throughout museum galleries and off-site locations.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and/or pull materials and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and perform repetitive motions.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone and through electronic communications.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.