Part-Time Forge Facilitator

Virginia Information Technologies Agency•Richmond, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Science Museum of Virginia is seeking a Part-Time Forge Facilitator to join their Maker Team. This role is responsible for staffing and facilitating programming in the Forge, the museum's public maker space. Forge facilitators are vital in program development, materials preparation and organization, and the daily delivery of key Forge experiences, including drop-in design challenges, structured maker workshops, and specialized activities supporting museum-wide events. The Forge is an interactive learning environment offering creative and maker-centric opportunities for a diverse, multigenerational community. Through Forge experiences, guests explore STEM concepts in the creative process, develop skills with various tools, connect skills to potential career interests, and engage in the design process. This position is part of the Education Team and works primarily within the Forge, facilitating hands-on activities for individuals, families, school groups, and other audiences during regular museum hours and special events. This is a part-time position with variable hours, averaging no more than 29 hours per week, with a maximum of 1500 hours in a 12-month period. No state benefits are provided.

Requirements

Energetic, outgoing, and enthusiastic about working with diverse audiences of all ages.
Strong organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Experience in informal education settings such as museums, makerspaces, camps, libraries, or community programs.
Experience developing and facilitating maker-centered projects independently and collaboratively.
Experience with interdisciplinary creative and technical projects involving skills such as sewing, woodworking, robotics, electronics assembly, weaving, embroidery, model fabrication, cardboard construction, ceramics, 3D modeling, and vector and raster graphics.
A combination of educational, technical, creative, and facilitation experience is highly valued.
Must be available to regularly work evenings, weekends and holidays.
Experience working with groups of children.
Ability to collaborate effectively as part of a team in a dynamic, cooperative environment.
Demonstrated familiarity with maker, fabrication, or shop environments.
Commitment to learning and following safe operating procedures.
Must successfully pass a criminal history background check.

Nice To Haves

Experience operating and maintaining equipment such as sewing machines, laser cutters, table saws, band saws, CNC machines, 3D printers, Cricut machines, ceramic wheels and kilns, drills, rotary tools, and other hand and power tools.
ASL or Spanish language competencies.

Responsibilities

Staffing and facilitating programming in the Forge.
Program development.
Materials preparation and organization.
Daily delivery of key Forge experiences, including drop-in design challenges, structured maker workshops, and specialized activities.
Facilitating hands-on activities and learning experiences for individual guests, families, school groups, and other audiences.
Working during regular museum hours as well as special events.