Maker Educator

About the Museum

The Childrens Museum of Pittsburgh provides innovative and inclusive museum experiences that inspire kindness joy creativity and curiosity for all learners. We forge connections with artists community partners and neighbors to work on behalf of children youth and families. We have a vision to transform education. We believe people of all ages can benefit from different types of learning experiences.

Benefits:

We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees that includes: Medical Dental Vision Flexible Spending Account. Paid Time Off (Vacation Sick Holidays and Floating Holidays). 403(b) Savings Retirement Plan. Life Insurance Short Term and Long Term Disability. Free Museum membership. Parking at a discounted rate.

Position Summary:

This is a Union position.

Maker Educators develop and facilitate hands-on creative authentic and process-based experiences with youth teens families and groups using the real stuff (tools processes materials) across the Childrens Museum of Pittsburgh campus. These youth- and family-oriented culturally-relevant projects associated with a variety of processes will respond to the communitys needs and interests by supporting kindness joy creativity and curiosity.

Essential Job Duties:

• Works as a part of a high-functioning and learner-centered Maker Education focused team.
• Plans and implements experiences for a variety of audiences including school field trips summer camps workshops drop-in programs and other special events
• Brings enthusiasm and ideas to the ongoing development of programs and events in Maker Education
• Maintaining a welcoming work area including creating and upholding a high standard of safety and cleanliness for both visitors and staff monitoring and anticipating supply consumption
• Collaboratively and independently develops interactive learning experiences for Museum visitors including working with Education Department to combine varying expertise and disciplines
• Follows museum-identified best practices for creating and delivering exploratory hands-on and learner-driven experiences in an informal learning environment
• Acts as a visible and accessible caring adult for youth and families visiting the Childrens Museum campus exemplifying culturally-relevant practices with youth
• Generates potential programs based on the interests input and observations of visitors and program participants as well as potential audiences
• Monitors and assists visitors ensuring safe interactive experiences that involve tools and physical movement throughout exhibit spaces
• Participates in reflective practice including research-oriented discussions with partners artists and youth
• Actively shares with and learns from a variety of peers professionals visitors and others.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Represents the Childrens Museum of Pittsburgh and MuseumLab in a positive manner to the public funders and other stakeholders
• Participates in education ideation sessions
• Fosters a community valuing social justice and amplifying youth voice
• Works with the public across other exhibit spaces within the Museum campus

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time based on business needs and in support of the mission of Childrens Museum of Pittsburgh.

Job Qualifications:

Education:

• Documentable experience working with children and youth in some manner of creative arts required. A background in traditional arts craftwork or technology preferred.
• Bachelors degree preferred. Substitution of years of experience may be considered equivalent to formal educational training.

Experience:

• Working with youth teens and families in formal and/or informal learning environments
• Personal experience with tool-based Making processes (e.g. metalworking woodworking rug tufting sewing etc.)
• Personal interest and background in facilitating experiences around making design and/or art.
• Consistently engages in personal growth of process technique fluency with materials etc.
• Proven experience working with or collaborating with other creatives.

Skills:

• Proficiency in safely handling tools and equipment (e.g. saws sewing machines chemical baths or other sharp hot or otherwise potentially hazardous equipment)
• Excellent communication time management and organization
• Willingness to grow learn and adapt
• Analytical skill
• Collaboration and teamwork including incorporating feedback and adjusting approaches based on experience

Physical Requirements & Equipment Usage:

• Walking Standing and Sitting: The duties and responsibilities associated with this position will be performed in a stationary position (standing or sitting) for approximately 25% of the workday and will require movement throughout museum spaces to interact with visitors and activate museum experiences.
• Verbal Communication: This position frequently communicates with visitors while facilitating museum experiences. The Museum Educator will be expected to exchange accurate and helpful information and communicate issues to team members and/or supervisors.
• Lifting: Occasional lifting and moving of furniture equipment and supplies weighing up to approximately 50 lbs.
• Manual Dexterity: The Maker Educator will operate various equipment including but not limited to kilns power tools torches saws etc.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must be able to demonstrate safe operation and facilitation of equipment related to metalworking and makerspace experiences.

Work Environment Hours of Work and Travel Requirements:

• Weekend availability is required and evening availability is occasionally required. Expected schedule will be 9:15am-5:15pm for five consecutive days including one weekend day.
• Occasional travel may be required.
• Essential duties of this position are performed in a museum environment with regular interaction with the public children and families.

Clearances:

• FBI fingerprints results PA Child Abuse History Certificate (Act 33) and PA State Criminal Record Check (Act 34) are required.

Childrens Museum of Pittsburgh provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race color ancestry national origin gender sex (including pregnancy) sexual orientation marital status religion age disability gender identity results of genetic testing veteran or military status or any other characteristic or trait protected by local state or federal law.

If you are interested in applying for this position please complete our online application found at

you for your interest.