Play Facilitator

Kidspace Children's Museum; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Kidspace Children's Museum is hiring a part-time Play Facilitator to welcome guests, run hands-on activities, and support learning experiences across campus. You will lead short demonstrations, answer questions, and ensure safety during play.

The role emphasizes friendly, clear communication, strong teamwork, and dependable attendance. Outdoor setting, weekend days required, with opportunities to contribute to programs and events.

Qualifications

• Availability for at least three full days (24 hours/week), including one weekend day.
• Ability to work in outdoor environments and tolerate variable weather conditions.
• Experience delivering engaging, age-appropriate activities is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Engage guests and lead age-appropriate activities while modeling positive guest interactions.
• Prepare materials and deliver programming; adapt to group size and age range.
• Maintain safe, organized play environments and manage exhibit materials.
• Collaborate with team; provide and receive constructive feedback.
• Provide flexible support across departments during events and peak periods.

Skills

Attention to detail

Written Communication

Teamwork

Time Management

Customer Service

Job description

For 45 years, Kidspace Children’s Museum has been a welcoming place for exploration and discovery, serving millions of children and their families. Join a team that creates hands-on play and learning experiences that are relevant, joyful, inspiring, and that involve guests in their own process of discovery. Kidspace is an equal opportunity employer and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to building a culture of play on a foundation of anti-racist policies and practices.

Position Overview:

Play Facilitators are responsible for engaging guests and supporting age-appropriate learning experiences. They are creative, patient and customer-service oriented. On a day-to-day basis, Play Facilitators lead short educational activities, answer guest inquiries and provide museum information, facilitate exhibit experiences and engage guests. The Play Facilitator position delivers play experiences on a daily basis through creating safe and welcoming spaces across campus and practicing guest engagement techniques that inspire and invite play.This is a part-time non-exempt position reporting to the Floor Leadership team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Guest Engagement

• Create a welcoming, inclusive environment by greeting families warmly, proactively initiating interactions, and ensuring guests feel supported in accessing exhibits, amenities, and programming opportunities.
• Facilitate meaningful play experiences by integrating child-led facilitation techniques, encouraging caregiver participation, and adapting communication styles to meet diverse developmental needs and learning styles.
• Serve as a knowledgeable resource by answering guest questions accurately, interpreting exhibit content in an engaging way, anticipating guest needs, and modeling exceptional guest service at all times.

Daily Programming

• Lead engaging, age-appropriate interactive activities and short-form demonstrations that spark curiosity and encourage hands-on participation.
• Prepare materials in advance and deliver programming confidently, adapting facilitation style based on group size, age range, and engagement level.
• Ensure all programming aligns with educational goals, safety protocols, and the museum’s play-based learning philosophy.

Material Management

• Maintain organized, safe, and fully stocked play environments by managing exhibit materials and station logistics according to established procedures and safety standards.
• Identify supply shortages, maintenance concerns, or safety issues proactively and communicate them promptly to leadership to protect both guest experience and museum resources.

Collaboration and Feedback

• Contribute to a collaborative team culture by engaging in reflective discussions, workshopping opportunities, and solution-focused conversations that strengthen team performance.
• Provide clear, constructive, and actionable feedback to peers and leadership, while receiving feedback with professionalism, accountability, and a growth mindset.
• Maintain a positive, resilient attitude during high-volume days or challenging interactions, modeling emotional intelligence, and reinforcing a culture of trust and respect.

Cross-Team Support

• Provide flexible operational support across departments, assisting with exhibit coverage, special events, and high-traffic periods as needed.
• Approach brainstorming and problem-solving with a collaborative “yes, and” mindset that builds on ideas and encourages creative innovation.
• Communicate proactively with supervisors and teammates to ensure alignment, smooth transitions, and a cohesive guest experience across the organization.

Additional duties as assigned.

Additional Skills:

• Attention to detail and highly organized for maximum efficiency
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with a wide variety of clientele and internal personnel
• Written Communication – writes clearly and informatively
• Model positive guest interactions using excellent verbal and nonverbal communication (i.e. body language)
• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; keeps emotions under control
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities
• Judgment - Exhibits sound and accurate judgment
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Professionalism – Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner; approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; follows through on commitments
• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; able to deal with frequent changes, delays, or unexpected events
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; develops realistic action plans. Strong multi-tasking and coordination abilities to meet tight deadlines
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness
• Quantity - Meets work standards; completes work in timely manner
• Action - Exceptional follow-through/follow-up abilities
• Attendance/Punctuality - is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
• Time Management - Demonstrates good personal time management. Assigned tasks are accomplished each day, and communicates with their Supervisor when this is a challenge.
• Workplace Procedures and Systems - Practices using systems and platforms such as Rippling, Ticketure, and other internal procedures and protocols.
• Workplace Communication – Practices using When Rippling, Feedback Board, and time with Supervisors as a professional communication system.
• Resource Management- Tracks use of supplies each day, shows familiarity with what supplies belong where.
• Flexibility, a willingness to learn and grow and can-do attitude.
• A background in customer service is preferred.
• Available at least three full days (24 hours/week), including one weekend day required, occasional holidays and evenings.
• Competent and comfortable using digital devices and programs that include email, Internet, Windows, Microsoft Office and other computer systems.
• Proficiency in oral and written English language communication, bilingual in Spanish or Mandarin a plus.
• Regularly meets and exceeds our Baseline Expectations of friendly, safe, and professional, and demonstrates great judgment and the ability to work well with others on the team.
• Ability to model museum best practices and uphold policies and procedures.
• Ability to work while standing and walking (with reasonable accommodation) in an outdoor environment that includes inclement or sunny weather. Kidspace is largely an outdoor facility, regular exposure to outdoor elements is required.