Education Manager - Peoria PlayHouse Children's Mseum

Peoria Park District•Peoria, IL

2d•$42,000 - $47,000•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general supervision of the Director of the Peoria Children's PlayHouse Museum, the Education Manager will be responsible for supervising the PlayHouse Education Department. This includes administrative tasks such as budgeting, marketing, grant writing, and reporting. The role involves recruiting, training, supervising, and evaluating part-time instructors, fostering a spirit of collaboration and joint learning. The manager will identify new areas of exploration for the department annually and lead productive meetings. A key responsibility is to craft, enable, and revise a continuous education plan that incorporates an education philosophy, structured programming, and cohesive collaboration with partnering Park District facilities. The position also entails developing and leading meaningful field trip experiences and other programs for school groups and teachers, as well as developing professional development/training for floor staff to support play facilitation and educational content delivery. The Education Manager will supervise and support the Education Coordinator in developing, delivering, and evaluating educational programs for toddlers, families, and scouts, and in managing the museum’s Maker Space art, construction, and engineering programs and spaces. Collaboration with PlayHouse staff for monthly Community Collaborations programming events, which showcase the diverse cultures of Central Illinois, is also expected. The role includes creating and managing off-site educational programming with various Park District facilities and programs, and establishing and maintaining relationships with schools, community groups, other Park District facilities, and other PlayHouse stakeholders. Input on gift shop merchandise and participation in exhibition development are also part of the duties. The position requires evaluating and revising programs, collecting data to inform program changes, and performing all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Four-year college degree in education, social sciences, or early childhood development. An exceptional service record in customer service, management, hospitality, or cultural organizations may substitute for part or all of the degree preferences.
A minimum of two years of direct experience in an educational setting, ideally in a museum or other informal education setting.
Expert knowledge and experience in creating and facilitating educational experiences in science and engineering, art, history, early childhood, and/or other related contexts. Must be comfortable working in all these disciplines.
Knowledge of basic personnel supervision practices.
Knowledge of computers as needed for office work, including knowledge of Microsoft Office.
Ability to train, supervise, and evaluate employees and volunteers.
Ability to create an atmosphere of teamwork, collaboration, and positive energy among staff and volunteers.
Ability to communicate clearly with others in person and in writing.
Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously with a minimal degree of supervisory oversight.
Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with co-workers, other park district personnel, vendors, and the general public.
Ability to be professional, respectful, accountable, innovative, to follow safety procedures, and be equitable to both internal and external customers.
Must be people-oriented.
Must continually demonstrate a customer-friendly personality while performing all duties in a manner that demonstrates reliability, initiative, tact, and resourcefulness.
Must be able to work with children of all ages, as well as adults.
Must show interest in children and families.
Must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to learning and innovation.
Must have excellent customer service, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of Adobe Design Suite preferred.

Responsibilities

Supervise the PlayHouse Education Department, including administrative work such as budgeting, marketing, grant writing, and reporting.
Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate the work activities of part-time instructors while creating a spirit of collaboration and joint learning.
Identify new areas of exploration for this group each year and lead productive meetings.
Craft, enable, and revise a continuous education plan that involves and prescribes an education philosophy, structured programming, and cohesive collaboration with partnering Park District facilities.
Develop and lead meaningful field trip experiences and other programs for school groups and teachers.
Develop professional development/training to support floor staff in facilitating play and delivering educational content.
Supervise and support the Education Coordinator in developing, delivering, and evaluating educational programs for toddlers, families, and scouts, as well as in the museum’s Maker Space art, construction, and engineering programs and spaces.
Collaborate with PlayHouse staff to offer monthly Community Collaborations programming events, which showcase the diverse cultures of Central Illinois.
Create and manage off-site educational programming with various Park District facilities and programs.
Establish and maintain relationships with schools, community groups, other Park District facilities, and other PlayHouse stakeholders.
Provide input on merchandise for gift shop ordering.
Participate in exhibition development.
Evaluate and revise programs, collecting data to inform program changes.
Perform all other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Paid sick days
vacation days
holidays
Longevity bonus program
wellness program
Pension and retirement programs
Social Security participating
Exceptional health plan
Paid Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Full-time employees and dependents enjoy discounted recreation classes and free admission to select Park District facilities.