Learning Spaces Coordinator IS-1016-09

Smithsonian Institution•Washington, DC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located organizationally in Content and Interpretation, National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL), Under Secretary for Museums and Culture, Smithsonian Institution (SI). The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. NMAL deepens our understanding of the United States and what it means to be American – it is SI’s cornerstone for visitors to learn how Latinos have contributed and continue to contribute to U.S. art, history, culture and science. This position manages programming for a dedicated learning space – The General Motors Learning Lounge – within NMAL’s exhibition space. This education space is designed as a separate and flexible learning space for different types of visitors and activities: for family and school groups, for immersive and hands-on activities that activate the five senses, and for adult public programs.

Requirements

Extensive knowledge of NMAL mission requirements and procedures, and of American and Latino, art, history, and culture sufficient to speak and write in those areas of specialization.
Knowledge and demonstratable capabilities in informal learning techniques, activity development, and program delivery.
Possesses excellent administrative and organizational skills, accuracy, consistency and attention to detail.
Thorough knowledge of computer database systems (CRM’s and CMS’s) and other computer software.
Knowledge of museum/cultural organization practices, procedures and methods related to public education, curation, research and audience engagement for a diverse breadth of visitors and learning environments.
Knowledge of best practices in informal learning and customer service.
Thorough knowledge of learning activity/curriculum design including on-site and online learning techniques.
Requires fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish.
Requires demonstratable capabilities in public speaking to a variety of audiences and age ranges.
Requires a valid driver’s license.
Requires availability for regular and reoccurring evening and weekend hours.
Requires availability for occasional holiday hours.
Requires ability to stand for long periods of time.
Requires ability to lift objects up to 50 pounds, unassisted.
Requires ability to work with young children and minors.

Nice To Haves

College degree is preferred

Responsibilities

Facilitates interpretive education programs in-person and online for family, children, youth, and adult audiences.
Prepares low tech to high tech activities and written materials for general public and K-12 audiences that are inquiry and museum object-based, conducting research on museum and Smithsonian collections, exhibitions, as well as external archives and other primary source outlets.
Manages the lifecycle of digital learning resources, including the development of the learning resources, and the uploading and updating through the database management on the Smithsonian Learning Lab, SIDECAR systems, and the NMAL website content management system.
Provides on-going customer relationship management through ticketing, program reservation requests.
Provides customer service support by serving as the primary point of contact for groups and educators seeking activities or programs in gallery and learning spaces. This includes coordination of email or mail-in requests.
Manages daily operations of the General Motors Learning Lounge, including contributing to the development of budgets, procurement requests, program plans, and on-going maintenance and care of physical learning space and equipment, as well as in the updating of SOP’s.
Collaborates with other members of the NMAL team including other members of Office of Audience Engagement, Curatorial Affairs, Communications, Collections and Digital staff to help the team to create new concepts for activities, programs and learning spaces.
Works with graphic design templates for learning handouts, flyers, signage, etc.
Manages audience engagement data reporting on program attendance, evaluation, and visitor feedback tracking and response.
Manages the NMAL teaching collection, determining teaching collection type, category, priority, and on-going maintenance and tracking in The Museum System (TMS) and based on SI and NMAL guidelines.