Museum Educator (Part-Time, Onsite)

Mass-Moca-1; North Adams (MA); On-site; USD 26,000 - 29,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement plan

Roth 401(k) option

Paid Time Off

Sick time (Massachusetts Earned Sick

Emergency Assistance Fund (LemonAid)

Retirement planning support

Professional development reimbursement

Educational leave

ROAM membership

Student loan repayment assistance

Gift shop discounts

Staff appreciation events

Job summary

MASS MoCA in North Adams seeks a Museum Educator for a part-time role (~10–15 hours/week, not exceeding 29 hours) with a weekend shift requirement. You will lead tours, engage visitors of all ages, and support Kidspace, ArtBar, and public programming.

Ideal candidates hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with 1 year of experience preferred and a strong emphasis on communication, collaboration, and DEAI. On-site with a comprehensive benefits package and weekend availability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience in education, art administration, art history, or performing arts.
• Entry-level position.
• At least 1 year work experience preferred.
• Commitment of at least one year preferred.
• Experience teaching in museum settings and/or fluency in Spanish is a plus.
• Able to work independently and as a team player.
• Commitment to DEAI in museum environments.
• Outgoing personality and ability to connect with diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead museum-wide tours for visitors of all ages with interactive discussions and hands-on activities.
• Engage visitors in Kidspace, ArtBar, and public programming.
• Assist with art supply inventory and upkeep of Kidspace and ArtBar.
• Coordinate schedules for group visits and school tours with department teams.
• Assist in developing tour outlines, curricula, and art projects with leadership.
• Complete initial training.
• Commit to a minimum of 8 shifts per month.
• Attend monthly meetings and training sessions.

Skills

Effective communicator

Strong writing skills

Team player

Independent worker

Spanish language (plus)

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience

Job description

Description

This part-time position is expected to work approximately 10–15 hours per week (not to exceed 29 hours), including at least one weekend shift.

The Museum Educator facilitates museum experiences for visitors of all ages with the goals of building confidence in looking at contemporary art, providing tools for engaging with a wide range of visual and performing arts practices, and forging connections between visitors, the works of art on view, the history of art, and related contemporary topics.

This position requires the ability to work a flexible schedule, with availability on weekends and holidays, and for events, programs, and festivals, including those after museum hours.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Museum Educators lead a variety of museum-wide tours for visitors of all ages which include interactive discussions and hands-on art-making activities.
• Engages visitors in Kidspace through conversations around the artwork, providing art-making activities at the ArtBar, and assisting with in-person public programming.
• Assists with art supply inventory, organization, and upkeep of Kidspace and the ArtBar.
• Schedules and group guided visits and school partnership tours will be coordinated collaboratively with the Public Programs and Visitor Experience Department.
• In collaboration with the Director of Public Programs, Senior Manager of Education and Family Programs, and the Visitor Experience Department, the Museum Educator assists with developing tour outlines and related curricula activities and art projects.
• Completion of initial training.
• Commitment of a minimum of 8 shifts per month.
• Participation in ongoing monthly meetings and training sessions.
• This job description is intended to describe the general nature of the role and the work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. The Museum Educator may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities, as needed.

Requirements

• The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience in education, art administration, art history, or the performing arts.
• This is an entry-level position.
• At least 1 year work experience is preferred.
• Preference will be given to candidates that can make a commitment to the job for a minimum of one year.
• Experience teaching within museum settings and/or fluency in Spanish is a plus. The candidate should be skilled as an effective communicator and have strong writing skills.
• Able to work independently and as a team player
• Committed to DEAI (diversity, equity, accessibility, inclusion) work and fostering a sense of belonging, dignity, and justice for all visitors.
• Enthusiasm for and experience working with people in an educational or customer service environment.
• Ideally, has an outgoing, positive personality with a knack for connecting with people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
• Willing and able to adjust tours and programming based on attendees’ needs.

Work Conditions:

• The majority of the workday is spent indoors, but occasional special events, exhibitions, and/or festivals may require working outdoors and in inclement weather.
• This position may require extended hours, including occasional nights and weekends. The schedule will be determined by the manager.
• Museum Educators are expected to work at least one weekend shift per week, though schedules vary and time-off requests are accommodated when possible.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to sit, stand, and move for distances across the museum. This role is able to accommodate a wheelchair.
• Must be able to wear PPE as necessary.
• People of all abilities are encouraged to apply.
• This position is based on site at MASS MoCA’s North Adams campus; regular in-person attendance is required.

As defined by the National Labor Relations Act, this position is part of the bargaining unit for UAW Local 2110

Compensation and Benefits:

• This is a non-exempt position with an hourly rate of $19.50
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Roth 401(k) option
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Massachusetts Earned Sick Time
• Emergency Assistance Fund (LemonAid)
• Retirement planning support
• Professional development reimbursement
• Educational leave
• Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums (ROAM)
• Student loan repayment assistance
• Discounts at Gift Shop and R&D Store
• Staff appreciation social events year-round

About MASS MoCA:

MASS MoCA is a vibrant non-collecting art museum with approximately 300,000 square feet of exhibition space dedicated to visual art and projects by contemporary artists. Formerly a 19th century factory, these exhibition spaces are unconventional, vast, soaring galleries spanning multiple buildings. Half of that space is dedicated to rotating 10–16 month exhibitions of which we present 4 to 6 large-scale exhibitions per year, along with smaller projects and commissions. The additional space is dedicated to long-term exhibitions in conjunction with artists, estates, and collections that run from 10 months to 25 years. MASS MoCA frequently works directly with artists on the fabrication of new commissions and large-scale site-specific installations.

MASS MoCA was founded in 1999, not only as a contemporary art museum and performing arts venue, but also as a creative campus with a regional, national and global impact. MASS MoCA is one of the world's liveliest centers for making and enjoying today's most evocative art. With vast galleries and a stunning collection of indoor and outdoor performing arts venues, MASS MoCA is able to embrace all forms of art: music, sculpture, dance, film, painting, photography, theater, and new, boundary-crossing works of art that defy easy classification. From its beginnings as the major textile mill Arnold Print Works in the mid-19th century, to its days as the Sprague Electric Company in the mid-20th century, to its current iteration as a globally renowned contemporary art museum and fabrication center, the 24-acre MASS MoCA campus has a rich history of serving as the economic engine of the city of North Adams and the surrounding region.