Museum Educator

Discovery Place; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Discovery Place Science in Charlotte, NC seeks enthusiastic staff to enhance guest experiences across programs and admissions operations. You will assist with admissions, memberships, and front desk responsibilities while delivering engaging educational activities and demonstrations.

The role requires coordinating with education teams, teaching both children and adults, and maintaining safety and customer service standards in a busy museum environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree-seeking in science or education; two years museum/teaching experience preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate programs, presentations, demonstrations, and lead educational activities in a variety of settings.
• Facilitate Tier I and II public shows, programs, and activities.
• Handle a variety of animals, including Tier I, II, and III classifications.
• Engage museum visitors using informal educational approaches and adapt content to ages and interests.
• Select and assemble materials for daily demonstrations and programming.
• Conduct inventory and purchases of departmental supplies as requested.
• Lead special event days and teach Early Childhood/Lab classes when booked.
• Work front-line at admissions desk and retail shop, greet guests, and process transactions.

Skills

Communication

Customer service

Public speaking

Adaptability

Initiative

Professionalism

Safety awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree-seeking in science or education field

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Discovery Place Science - Charlotte, NC, Position Type: Full Time, Education Level: Bachelor's, Salary Range: Undisclosed, Travel Percentage: None, Job Shift: Any, Job Category: Nonprofit - Social Services, At Discovery Place, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we fuel your passion for science and the natural world by delivering awe-inspiring exhibits and educational programs. Our immersive experiences captivate, challenge, and empower audiences of all ages, sparking a spirit of discovery and lifelong learning. We hope to forge a future where science catalyzes, creating boundless opportunities, fostering hope, solving complex problems and driving positive change across the globe.

We're looking for driven, talented individuals who share our passion for making an impact and having fun while doing it.

General Summary

Facilitates guest and customer experiences, including paid programs such as camps and classes, Tier I and II shows, other educational activities, and performs admissions-related operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Facilitate programs, presentations, demonstrations, and lead educational activities in a variety of settings
• Facilitate Tier I and II public shows, programs, and activities
• Handle a variety of animals, including types classified by Living Collections as Tier I, II, and III
• Engage museum visitors using informal educational approaches, including pre-designed and impromptu activities
• Adapt content and complexity to ages and interests of children and their families
• Select and assemble materials to be used in daily demonstrations and programming
• Conduct inventory and purchases departmental supplies as requested
• Lead special event days
• Prototype experiences upon request
• Teach Early Childhood and/or Lab classes for visiting schools, as booked
• Display a high level of enthusiasm, energy, and positive behavior to museum guests
• Evaluate success of experiences through feedback provided by guests

Work as a front-line customer service representative at the admissions desk and retail shop

• Greet guests as they enter the museum
• Check in guests and sell retail items through the point-of-sale systems at the front desk
• Accurately perform admissions transactions/reporting and follow cash handling procedures
• Conduct group orientations
• Inform guests of daily and special programming, learning opportunities, membership, and special events
• Provide input to management on feedback and information from customers
• Monitor inventory levels of consumables at the front desk and within the museum and notify management of needs when apparent
• Process membership sales

Monitor the museum exhibits, activities, and environment to ensure safety

• Perform exhibit checks and either correct problems or report them to management
• Enforce safety and other policies/procedures within the museum
• Assist in emergency response procedures
• Perform daily housekeeping routines for museum activities and exhibits
• Provide detailed cleaning, sanitization, and organization of exhibits and areas during down time
• Maintain a clean and orderly work environment

Demonstrate behavior consistent with the organizational culture

• Uphold Discovery Place's Core Service Values of Inclusion, Teamwork, Personal Excellence, and Uncommon Courtesy
• Continually maintain an outwardly positive demeanor toward coworkers and visitors
• Maintain a team-oriented approach and can-do attitude
• Assist other team members and departments in their responsibilities when help is needed
• Display flexibility in an ever-changing environment
• Assist in training and share business-related knowledge with fellow employees

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree-seeking from four-year college or university in science or education field, two years related museum or teaching experience/training preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Fluency in Spanish preferred.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed herein are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Competency

• Communication - Speaks and writes clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Adapts language to audience (e.g. children, adults, etc.); Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills.
• Cost Consciousness - Conserves organizational resources.
• Adaptability - Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Initiative - Volunteers readily; Asks for and offers help when needed.
• Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.

Working Conditions

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

• Noise Level - The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.
• Climate - Must be able to work outdoors for moderate amounts of time.
• Highly Occupied Space - Must be able to work in extremely crowded spaces with a large number of people.

Physical Demands

The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand for long periods of time; walk; use hands to manipulate objects, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must be able to talk and hear.

Employees of Discovery Place should uphold the mission, vision and values of the organization. We strive to provide exceptional service through four core values: uncommon courtesy, the pursuit of personal excellence, teamwork and inclusion. We value the diversity of opinions and intellectual thought and encourage an environment where employees can share ideas openly.

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities of this job. Other duties may be assigned. This job description may be changed to include new responsibilities and tasks or change existing ones as management deems necessary.