Education Program Assistant Supporting USCG Museum

Ruchman and Associates, Inc.; New London (CT); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Ruchman and Associates, Inc. (RAI) seeks an Education Program Assistant to support Government-approved maritime, STEM, and history programs at the National Coast Guard Museum.

The assistant will deliver engaging experiences in the Innovation Lab, STEM/Mission Center, galleries, and other spaces while assisting students, teachers, families, and museum visitors. Responsibilities include delivering interactive workshops and history lessons for K–12 groups, operating educational carts and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education, museum studies, STEM, or history.
• 1–3 years of teaching or outreach experience in classrooms, museums, camps, after-school programs, or STEM outreach.
• Ability to explain STEM concepts clearly to varied audiences.

Responsibilities

• Deliver interactive workshops and history lessons for elementary through high school groups.
• Operate educational carts and hands‑on activities in galleries.
• Lead early childhood discovery play, story times, and sensory programs in the Innovation Lab.
• Adapt explanations and activities to different ages, group sizes, and learning needs.
• Engage and manage school groups with public speaking, classroom‑management, and group‑control techniques.
• Complete setup, cleanup, and inventory of educational kits and lab materials.
• Assist with setup, registration, seating, and support for museum events and programs.
• Serve as an educational ambassador for visiting students, teachers, families, and guests.
• Operate digital tools, 3D printers, crafting equipment, and maker‑space tech per safety procedures.
• Maintain compliance with background checks, safety, training, and access requirements for duties involving minors.

Skills

Public speaking

facilitation

Classroom management

Group control

Education

Bachelor’s degree in education/Museum Studies/STEM/History

Tools

3D printers

Digital learning tools

Maker-space technologies

Crafting equipment

Job description

Description

Ruchman and Associates, Inc. (RAI) is seeking an Education Program Assistant to facilitate Government-approved maritime, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and history programs at the National Coast Guard Museum. The assistant will deliver engaging educational experiences in the Innovation Lab, STEM/Mission Center, galleries, and other designated spaces while supporting students, teachers, families, and museum visitors.

Responsibilities:

• Deliver interactive science workshops, guided rescue simulations, and history lessons for elementary through high school groups in the STEM/Mission Center and other designated spaces.
• Operate mobile educational carts in museum galleries and facilitate hands‑on activities involving knot‑tying, navigation, maritime crafts, and Coast Guard missions.
• Lead age‑appropriate early childhood discovery play, story times, and sensory programs in the Innovation Lab.
• Adapt explanations and instructional activities to different ages, learning needs, group sizes, and levels of STEM knowledge.
• Engage and manage energetic school groups using effective public speaking, classroom‑management, and group‑control techniques.
• Complete daily setup, cleanup, routine maintenance, and inventory of educational kits, lab materials, technology, and approved chemicals.
• Assist with setup, registration, seating, and participant support for museum‑wide educational events, assemblies, and evening school programs.
• Serve as a friendly and knowledgeable educational ambassador for visiting students, teachers, families, and other museum guests.
• Operate approved digital tools, 3D printers, crafting equipment, and maker‑space technologies in accordance with established safety procedures.
• Maintain compliance with Government‑designated background‑investigation, child‑safety, training, access, and program‑delivery requirements for duties involving minors.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in education, Museum Studies, a STEM discipline, History, or equivalent military or professional experience.
• One to three years of experience teaching in classrooms, museums, camps, after‑school programs, or STEM outreach settings.
• Knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts, with the ability to explain technical subjects clearly to varied audiences.
• Excellent public‑speaking, facilitation, classroom‑management, and group‑control skills.
• Knowledge of instructional techniques and developmental milestones for early childhood visitors, including preschool and toddler audiences.
• Ability to set up and move educational materials weighing up to 30 pounds and stand for extended periods during classes and programs.
• Ability to meet all Government‑designated fitness, background‑investigation, child‑safety, training, and access requirements.
• General knowledge of Coast Guard or maritime subjects, including navigation, knot‑tying, lighthouse operations, marine safety, or aviation, is highly desirable.
• Experience using 3D printers, digital learning tools, crafting equipment, or other maker‑space technologies is highly desirable.

RAI is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and will not discriminate against any application for employment based on age, race, color, gender, national origin, religion, creed, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, disability, or sex including pregnancy and childbirth or related medical condition or on any other basis prohibited by law. RAI participates in the E-Verify program to confirm the employment eligibility of all persons hired. This means that we will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. RAI. will not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants.