Overview:    

MHDM is recruiting for an innovative STEAM educator, with a passion for education, that is looking to challenge the traditional boundaries of where formal and informal education meet, to achieve more effective and impactful educational outcomes. Based on your combination of education and practical experience, you will bring a fresh perspective of how to excite and engage young minds, sparking the curiosity required for them to love and pursue learning for a lifetime. You thrive in a museum environment and are ready to inspire future generations of motivated and curious learners.

The Director of STEAM Engagement develops and implements age-appropriate museum activities and programs for families with children ages 2-12. You manage all aspects of the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum's ongoing grant­ funded and fee based educational programs, including onsite field trips and workshops, Starlab planetarium shows, and

traveling science presentations. You work collaboratively with MHDM staff to develop the museum's educational content and interactive floor programs.

Qualifications:    

Required:

• Passionate about MHDM mission and about working with families with children

• 4-year college degree

• Strong computer aptitude (specifically Microsoft Word and Excel, and comfort using databases)

• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills

• Self-directed, proactive and comfortable working independently, yet able to take direction from others; able to take feedback and make adjustments as necessary

• Able to work, prioritize and focus on multiple projects amid frequent interruptions

• Truly enjoys working in a public museum environment where one will interface with many people

Strongly Preferred:

• Master’s degree (or higher) in early childhood or K-5 education

• Museum educator experience at a children's museum or similar setting

• Practical experience with, and an appreciation for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Sci21

• Bilingual (English-Spanish) or fluency in Spanish

Job Responsibilities:    

Program Planning, Development and Delivery (70%)

Planning: 

Works with executive director and grants director to advance the museum's STEAM informed programming by mapping out annual and episodic education initiatives, programs and schedules. Helps identify potential community partners to enhance museum impact. As needed, provides content, planning and support for new exhibit development and special events.

Museum Programming: Develops and delivers activities, programs and workshops for an age range of children and/or their parents and caregivers. Creates curriculum and lesson plans for weekly playgroups, camp, Starlab planetarium shows, family and parent workshops and other new programming initiatives.

School Field Trips, Traveling Science and Group Programming: Develops and delivers programs for incoming school field trips, school outreach and summer camp groups. Field trip programing and content should be aligned with state/national science standards for elementary and middle school education. Then coordinates all related scheduling, bookings and contracts.

Educational Content Development (20%)

School Field Trip and Trip Programs: Reviews, updates and creates new field trip programs for pre-school to early middle-school audiences. Ensures program alignment with museum's strategic initiatives.

Table-top Activities: Responsible for creating and presenting new table-top activities that can easily rotate throughout the museum's galleries. Works collaboratively MHDM staff on evaluating activities.

Museum Science Cart Presentations: Develops and presents wow live science demonstrations intended to capture the interest and delight of children and adults alike. Also trains other science staff and volunteers to present same programming.

Special Event Activities: Works collaboratively with other MHDM staff to plan and implement activities for special events (exhibition openings, seasonal events, member’s only nights, etc.)

Grant Planning: Assists the executive director in conceptualizing new or expanded educational programs for grant applications.

Other (10%)

Cross-department collaboration: Works collaboratively with MHDM staff on museum-wide initiatives such as volunteer training and strategic planning.

Special Events: Attends and provides staffing support to special events (may involve occasional evenings and weekends).

Other Duties: May be called upon to help out in other museum tasks.

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS

Hires, supervises and evaluates seasonal camp staff. May provide supervision to museum volunteers

and/or interns for certain initiatives.