Play & Learning Specialist

Thinkery; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 38,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance options (including H

Dental and vision coverage

Employer-sponsored EAP, STD, LTD, AD&D

Paid vacation

Paid sick leave

13 paid holidays

Pet-friendly offices

Job summary

Thinkery is hiring a Play & Learning Specialist to champion playful STEAM learning on the museum floor, in the makerspace, and during programs. You will model engaging demonstrations for children and families while guiding staff and caregivers to extend learning at home.

The role requires 3+ years of facilitation experience with children, a joyful, energetic presence, and strong communication. This full-time position offers a highly collaborative, inclusive museum environment.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED, a STEAM-related associate or bachelor's degree preferred.
• Considerable personal or professional experience with making or tinkering.
• Experience working or volunteering in a busy, loud, public-facing environment (museums, food service, retail).
• 3+ years of experience facilitating learning experiences with children and/or families.
• Spanish fluency preferred; knowledge of ASL a plus.

Responsibilities

• Model Play-Based STEAM Learning on the museum floor, makerspace, and programs.
• Mentor and inspire Museum Experience staff through facilitation techniques.
• Engage with caregivers to discuss children’s learning experiences and provide resources.
• Proactively enhance joyful learning experiences and provide excellent customer service.
• Maintain a safe, welcoming environment by upholding policies and procedures.
• Facilitate clear communication between administration and floor staff.
• Resolve guest issues and collaborate with teams for effective solutions.
• Collaborate across Thinkery Experience teams to meet goals.
• Model Thinkery's core values of playfulness and belonging.

Skills

Playful demeanor

Public speaking

Problem solving

Fast-paced environment

Group facilitation

Independent work

Active listening

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Initiative

Education

High School Diploma or GED; STEAM-related degree preferred

Job description

Description

Classification: Hourly (Tuesday-Saturday, (9:30AM - 5:30PM)
Status: Full-Time

Salary: $18.50-$19.50/Hour

Thinkery is where Austin’s children and their families come to enjoy play-based, inquiry-rich, hands‑on learning experiences. We believe that innovative, play‑based, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) learning experiences are a powerful way for children to develop problem‑solving skills, critical thinking, and curiosity about the world around them. Our exhibits and programs encourage children—alongside their caregivers—to solve creative challenges, explore a variety of materials, and to develop new ways to complete unfamiliar projects. Through these activities, children gain the tools and confidence to develop and grow into enthusiastic, creative, lifelong STEAM learners and thinkers.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Play & Learning Specialist (PLS) is Thinkery’s champion of playful STEAM learning! This customer‑facing role actively models and promotes play-based STEAM learning on the museum floor, in the makerspace, and during programs. As a model facilitator and mentor, the PLS ensures every guest enjoys a high‑quality, engaging, and welcoming experience. Must have strong alignment with Thinkery's core values of playfulness, collaboration, innovation, and belonging.By fostering positive, joyful interactions, the PLS contributes to a culturally fluent environment that inspires curiosity, creativity, and exploration for all guests.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Model Play-Based STEAM Learning: Exemplify Thinkery’s approach to play-based STEAM learning by engaging with museum guests—both children and adults—from diverse backgrounds with a playful, energetic, friendly, positive, and professional demeanor.
• Mentor and Inspire Staff: Serve as a role model for Museum Experience staff by demonstrating effective facilitation techniques and playful learning approaches. Encourage and support staff during pre/post shift meetings and offer in‑the‑moment guidance and redirection, while collaborating with coordinators and managers to help staff reach their full potential.
• Engage with Caregivers: Actively interact with caregivers of young guests, discussing their child’s learning experiences and sharing relevant resources to support continued learning at home.
• Proactively Enhance Joyful Learning Experiences: Assess daily guest needs and make immediate decisions about programming and materials to create joyful and engaging learning experiences for all Thinkery guests. Provide the highest level of customer service and model exemplary service behaviors for all staff.
• Ensure Safety and Welcome: Maintain a safe, welcoming environment by upholding museum policies and procedures.
• Facilitate Clear Communication: Act as a direct link between administrative and floor staff, effectively sharing programming details, policy updates, changes, upcoming events, and opportunities to ensure seamless operations.
• Resolve Guest Issues Promptly: Address and resolve guest issues, collaborating with relevant teams to ensure effective solutions to reduce customer effort.
• Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with all Thinkery Experience teammates to meet the organization’s daily, weekly, and quarterly goals, ensuring a cohesive and successful museum experience.
• Model Core Values: Model and promote the museum’s core values, emphasizing playfulness and belonging.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Schedule and availability reflects that the organization is a 7-day-a-week operation. Staff are expected to work weekends and holidays. Occasional duties outside of/in excess of regular work week schedule during seasonal high‑volume times.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Must be playful, with a sense of humor desired.
• Comfortable speaking and singing in public.
• Able to problem‑solve and react positively to rapidly changing circumstances.
• Thrive in a fast‑paced, varied, and demanding work environment.
• Confident in facilitating activities with small or large groups of guests of different ages.
• Able to work independently, identifying needs and executing solutions.
• Excellent communication skills, including active listening and comprehension.
• Must be hands‑on, team‑oriented, and attentive to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage confidently with others, including providing constructive feedback.
• Comfortable taking initiative and offering guidance to colleagues and leadership when necessary.

COMPETENCIES

• Community Focus: Building strong community relationships and delivering community‑centric solutions.
• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Values Differences: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization and Thinkery’s work.
• Creates Connection: Building engagement and belonging in relationships across teams and with guests promoting a welcoming environment for all.
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION

• High School Diploma or GED, a STEAM‑related associate or bachelor's degree preferred
• Considerable personal or professional experience with making or tinkering
• Experience working or volunteering in a busy, loud, public‑facing environment, i.e. museums, food service, retail, etc.
• 3+ Years of experience facilitating learning experiences with children and/or families
• Spanish fluency preferred, knowledge of ASL a plus

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This position is very active. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:

• Observe and respond to the needs of guests, staff, and community partners.
• Move throughout the museum
• Manipulate and move exhibit components weighing up to 45 pounds, including those that may be low to the ground or above eye level
• Clean and disinfect a variety of surfaces and props of various sizes at various heights
• Communicate and exchange accurate information with guests, staff, and community partners in a variety of formats including in‑person, electronically, and over the phone
• Identify and respond to safety hazards
• Work in outdoor environments

BENEFITS

Thinkery offers competitive and affordable benefits for our full‑time staff including options for 100% employer sponsored medical coverage. Our benefits package includes:

• Medical insurance options, including HSA, PPO Gold, and PPO Platinum plans
• Affordable dental and vision coverage
• 100% employer-sponsored EAP, STD, LTD, AD&D, and life insurance
• Two weeks of paid vacation, four weeks of paid sick leave, and 13 paid holidays each year
• Pet‑friendly offices

This job description should not be construed to imply these requirements are the only duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job. Incumbents may be required to follow any additional related instructions, acquire related job skills, and perform other related work as required. This job description may be updated as needed.

Thinkery is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices on the basis of race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Hiring, transferring and promotion practices are performed without regard to the above listed items. All candidates offered a position will be required to submit to a background and reference checks.