Museum Educator

Van Cortlandt House Museum; New York (NY); On-site; USD 28,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Van Cortlandt House Museum is seeking a part-time Museum Educator to lead tours, deliver educational programs, and engage visitors with the site’s collections and exhibits. Reporting to the Museum Director, the role emphasizes inclusive, accessible engagement and collaboration with diverse audiences.

The position requires at least one year of teaching experience in educational settings, strong communication and presentation skills, and weekend/evening availability.

Qualifications

• At least one year of experience teaching or delivering educational programs in a museum, classroom, or other learning environment.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Adaptability to a wide range of audiences, age ranges and learning styles.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
• Commitment to inclusive, accessible, and community-centered engagement practices.
• Availability to work consistent weekends and occasional evenings.

Responsibilities

• Tours: Giving regular tours of the historic house museum and its grounds.
• Delivering Educational Programs: Coordinating and delivering educational programs tailored to different age groups and audience types.
• Visitor Engagement: Interacting with visitors to facilitate learning and answer questions in person and by phone.
• Public programs and events support: Assisting with setup and breakdown of public programs and events.
• Research and Interpretation support: Helping with research and interpretation projects as needed.
• Opening and closing the museum as needed.

Skills

Teaching experience

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Adaptability

Collaboration

Availability weekends/evenings

Education

Education-related degree or study

Job description

Van Cortlandt House Museum (VCHM) is owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, operated by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of New York (NSCDNY), and is a member of the Historic House Trust of New York City (HHT). The museum has been stewarded by the NSCDNY for 129 years and was the first public-private collaboration in New York.

VCHM is a 1748 Georgian house that sits on a beautiful one-acre lot within Van Cortlandt Park in the northwest Bronx. It is a National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and both its exterior and interior are designated New York City Landmarks.

As a historic site with many layers of history, we bring our mission to life through a full calendar of educational, experiential, and culturally responsive programs while offering visitors a compelling curatorial experience centered on early American history and decorative arts.

Job Description

Position : Museum Educator Reports To: Museum Director Interpretive Oversight: Site Historian Format: Fully onsite

The Museum Educator leads tours and facilitates educational programs and activities that connect visitors with the historic house, its collections, and exhibitions. Through thoughtful interpretation and audience engagement, the educator helps visitors explore the many histories represented at the site.

Responsibilities:

• Tours: Giving regular tours of the historic house museum and its grounds
• Delivering Educational Programs: Coordinating and delivering various educational programs tailored to different age groups and audience types, including K-12 school groups, college classes, families, adults, and community organizations.
• Visitor Engagement: Engaging with visitors to facilitate learning and communicate the museum’s educational mission. This includes processing admissions, museum shop sales, and answering questions about the museum’s programs, collections, and exhibitions in person and on the phone.
• Public programs and events support: participating in the implementation, setup, and breakdown of public programs and events.
• Research and Interpretation support: supporting the Museum Director and Site Historian with research and interpretation projects and initiatives.
• Opening and closing the museum as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements

This role requires the ability to move throughout a historic building, including climbing stairs, and to lift and carry materials weighing up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations will be considered in accordance with applicable law.

Qualifications:

Required

• At least one year of experience teaching or delivering educational programs in a museum, classroom, or other learning environment.
• Basic familiarity with American history and/or an understanding of how history is interpreted and presented in museums or other public settings.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Adaptability to a wide range of audiences, age ranges and learning styles
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently
• Commitment to inclusive, accessible, and community-centered engagement practices
• Availability to work consistent weekends and occasional evenings

Preferred

• Fluency in Spanish, ASL, and/or or other languages commonly spoken in New York City is preferred.
• Familiarity with the historical period interpreted by the museum, particularly 1748–1823, and the wider historical context spanning the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries.
• A degree or current study in education, museum studies, African American studies, public history, history, art history, or a related field

Hours and Compensation

This is a part-time, hourly, non-exempt position at $20–$22/ per hour depending on experience.

Schedule: Hiring for two (2) part-time positions:

1- Every Wednesday 9 AM - 1 PM or 11 AM - 4 PM and every Sunday 11 AM - 4 PM

2- Every Tuesday 9 AM - 1 PM and every other Sunday 10:30 AM - 4 PM Additional availability is required for occasional evening or weekend programs.

Van Cortlandt House Museum is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law. If you require accommodations as part of the interview process, please contact [e-mail] .