Maker Educator

Children's Museum of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 18,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh is seeking a Maker Educator to join our Maker Education team on a casual part-time basis. This union position offers hourly compensation of $16.25 and reports to the Maker Education Manager.

You will design and facilitate hands-on experiences for youth, teens, families, and groups using real tools and materials across the museum campus. Responsibilities include planning, implementing, and reflecting on programs, maintaining a safe and welcoming space, and

Qualifications

• Documentable experience working with children and youth in creative arts.
• Bachelor's degree preferred; substitution of years of experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement experiences for school field trips, camps, workshops, drop-in programs, and other events.
• Develop interactive learning experiences with youth and families across Maker Education.
• Maintain a welcoming, safe, and clean program space and monitor supply usage.
• Collaborate with Education Department to create learner-centered experiences.
• Deliver hands-on experiences using real tools and materials."

Skills

Tool safety

Communication

Teamwork

Learning orientation

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Power tools

Sewing machines

Kilns/chemicals handling

Job description

Job Title: Maker Educator

Reports to: Maker Education Manager

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt/Hourly

Classification: Casual Part Time

Compensation: $16.25 per hour

About the Museum

The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh provides innovative and inclusive museum experiences that inspire kindness, joy, creativity, and curiosity for all learners. We forge connections with artists, community partners, and neighbors to work on behalf of children, youth, and families. We have a vision to transform education. We believe people of all ages can benefit from different types of learning experiences.

Position Summary

This is a Union position.

Maker Educators develop and facilitate hands-on creative, authentic, and process-based experiences with youth, teens, families and groups, using the \"real stuff\" (tools, processes, materials) across the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh campus. These youth- and family-oriented, culturally-relevant projects associated with a variety of processes will respond to the community's needs and interests by supporting kindness, joy, creativity, and curiosity.

Essential Job Duties

• Works as a part of a high-functioning and learner-centered Maker Education focused team.


• Plans and implements experiences for a variety of audiences including school field trips, summer camps, workshops, drop-in programs, and other special events.


• Brings enthusiasm and ideas to the ongoing development of programs and events in Maker Education.


• Maintains a welcoming work area, including creating and upholding a high standard of safety and cleanliness for both visitors and staff, and monitoring and anticipating supply consumption.


• Collaboratively and independently develops interactive learning experiences for Museum visitors, including working with the Education Department to combine varying expertise and disciplines.


• Follows museum-identified best practices for creating and delivering exploratory, hands-on, and learner-driven experiences in an informal learning environment.


• Acts as a visible and accessible caring adult for youth and families visiting the Children's Museum campus, exemplifying culturally-relevant practices with youth.


• Generates potential programs based on the interests, input, and observations of visitors and program participants, as well as potential audiences.


• Monitors and assists visitors, ensuring safe interactive experiences that involve tools and physical movement throughout exhibit spaces.


• Participates in reflective practice, including research-oriented discussions with partners, artists, and youth.


• Actively shares with, and learns from, a variety of peers, professionals, visitors, and others.

Additional Responsibilities

• Represents the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh and MuseumLab in a positive manner to the public, funders, and other stakeholders.


• Participates in education ideation sessions.


• Fosters a community valuing social justice and amplifying youth voice.


• Works with the public across other exhibit spaces within the Museum campus.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time based on business needs and in support of the mission of Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

Job Qualifications

Education

• Documentable experience working with children and youth in some manner of creative arts required. A background in traditional arts, craftwork, or technology preferred.


• Bachelor's degree preferred. Substitution of years of experience may be considered equivalent to formal educational training.

Experience

• Working with youth, teens, and families in formal and/or informal learning environments.


• Personal experience with tool-based Making processes (e.g., metalworking, woodworking, rug tufting, sewing etc.).


• Personal interest and background in facilitating experiences around making, design, and/or art.


• Consistently engages in personal growth of process, technique, fluency with materials, etc.


• Proven experience working with or collaborating with other creatives.

Skills

• Proficiency in safely handling tools and equipment (e.g., saws, sewing machines, chemical baths, or other sharp, hot or otherwise potentially hazardous equipment).


• Excellent communication, time management, and organization.


• Willingness to grow, learn and adapt.


• Analytical skill.


• Collaboration and teamwork, including incorporating feedback and adjusting approaches based on experience.

Physical Requirements & Equipment Usage

• This position requires a combination of stationary work as well as frequent movement throughout museum spaces. Must be able to regularly position self to properly interact with visitors and activate museum experiences.


• This position requires moderate physical effort including physical and mental stamina necessary in interacting with people for long periods of time.


• Person in this position frequently communicates with visitors, team members, and supervisors. Must be able to exchange accurate and helpful information when facilitating museum experiences with visitors and when communicating issues to team members and supervisors.


• Ability to use and maintain various equipment in compliance with the company's operating safety policies and procedures, such as kilns, power tools, torches, saws, etc.


• Must be able to move objects, and use abdominal and lower back muscles to provide support over time without fatigue. Must be able to lift or move up to 15 lbs regularly. Must be able to lift or move furniture, equipment, supplies, and other items weighing up to 50 lbs occasionally with assistance.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment, Hours of Work, and Travel Requirements

• Weekend availability is required (at least 1 day), and evening availability is occasionally required. Scheduled shift lengths range from 3-8 hours per day, based on programming needs.


• Reliable travel capabilities to arrive on-site and on time for scheduled work shifts is required. Occasional travel may be required.


• Essential duties of this position will be performed in a museum environment, which includes interaction with the public and exposure to children and families.

Clearances

• FBI fingerprints (Department of Human Services), PA Child Abuse History Certification (Act 33), and PA State Criminal History Record Check (Act 34) clearances are required.

Children's Museum of Pittsburgh provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic or trait protected by local, state, or federal law.