Museum Educator I

Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh•Pittsburgh, PA

21h

About The Position

Carnegie Museum of Art creates experiences that connect people to art, ideas, and one another. Founded in 1895, Carnegie Museum of Art is arguably the first museum of contemporary art in the United States and the Pittsburgh region’s preeminent venue for presenting, collecting, preserving, and interpreting visual art. For 129 years, the museum has been committed to showcasing the art and artists of the current moment, while also building a vital archive of art from the past. Its collection of more than 110,000 objects encompasses a broad spectrum of visual arts with an emphasis on art, architecture, photography, and design from the 19th century to the present. From its ambitious execution of the Carnegie International—the museum’s signature recurring exhibition of global contemporary art established in 1896—to compelling special exhibitions, programs, and publications, to the daily work of the entire organization, the museum seeks to build on its legacy of thought leadership through rigorous research, adventurous and artist-centered programming and partnerships, and forward-thinking contributions to museum discourse and practice. Through its artistic program, Carnegie Museum of Art frequently explores the role of art and artists in confronting key social issues of our time, combining and juxtaposing local and global perspectives. With its unique history and resources, Carnegie Museum of Art strives to be a leader in defining the role of art museums for the 21st century. This Part-Time position is eligible for many of the Carnegie Museums' Benefits. This is a union position. The Museum Educator I will work collaboratively with Education and Programs staff to design and implement creative learning opportunities connecting art, artists and the museum to children, youth, and families. Museum educators co-lead instruction for educational programs throughout the museum and offsite, such as summer camps, school programs, tours, art classes, school programs, adult and family programs and community workshops. This position emphasizes relationship-building, connecting various publics to artwork, artists, exhibition, and museum programming. The position requires responsive and action-oriented communication with multiple age groups, people with various cultural experiences, and learning styles. Museum Educators are responsible for building relationships with students, families, and educators while working with a team of museum staff to deliver creative, multi-form, observation based, effective, engaging, and safe learning experiences. Museum Educators will give and receive constructive criticism with the goal of developing their pedagogy skills and creative practice, continuously improving program quality and enhancing the visitor experience. This will be facilitated by participation in professional development structured by Carnegie Museum of Art (CMOA).

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent is required.
Demonstrated knowledge of age-appropriate content and pedagogy for a variety of audiences.
Demonstrated aptitude for creativity, curiosity, passion, enthusiasm, integrity, and a strong professional ethic.
Documented ability to contribute in team settings.
Willingness to be open and respectful of all backgrounds.
Cultural competency and experience working with diverse communities.
Passion for/interest in Art, Design and Architecture.
Museum Educators are patient, caring individuals who have the knowledge and skills to foster welcoming, safe, creative learning social settings that facilitate exploration of art, design architecture its relationship to ideas, everyday experiences, contemporary questions and self-expression.
Museum Educators must be comfortable with multiple learning styles and teaching methods, adapting their approaches in a dynamic setting to meet the needs of visitors and program participants.
This position requires mobility around the program space and through museum exhibit halls for several hours at a time.
If the person is not able to bend or lift items of 20 – 50 lbs, they must be willing to ask for assistance performing tasks that require these actions.
Museum Educators are scheduled by program, availability, skill sets and teaching focus. Weekend and/or evening work may be required.
The following PA Act 153 clearances, or proof of application of clearances, are required beginning employment and as a condition of continued employment: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check FBI Fingerprint Criminal Background Check Obtaining the required clearances is completed as part of the new hire process.

Nice To Haves

Educational certification is valued but not required.
Documented experience working directly with stakeholders or parents.
Fluency in language(s) other than English valued.
Experience facilitating informal learning (experiential, community-based, outdoors, in museums, after-school programs, or similar settings) is preferred.

Responsibilities

Leading instruction.
Working collaboratively with a team of educators, assistants, and volunteers to deliver effective, engaging, and safe learning experiences.
Applying knowledge of best practices to create welcoming, age-appropriate spaces where participants feel cared for and are excited to learn about art, creative design and one another.
Designing and defining clear goals and creating opportunities for learners to receive feedback on progress towards goals.
Using a variety of strategies that engage diverse learners, including best practices for accessibility.
Planning educational experiences based on resources provided by CMOA staff.
Supporting lesson plan development and adapts lesson plans from existing resources.
Collaborating with support staff to ensure that learning spaces and materials are prepared and returned before/after each program.
Coordinating with staff and volunteers to ensure that participants are greeted upon arrival and know what to do to get the program started.
For off-site programs, planning and preparation will include transportation of materials to the off-site location.
Supporting efforts to create a safe environment for all people, facilities, and natural resources.
Following established procedures for safety, security, custodial, visitor service, and maintenance procedures. This includes providing clear safety expectations for participants in the context of educational activities.
Using appropriate procedures in emergency situations.
Using appropriate reporting procedures for incidents and unexpected situations.
Ensuring that impact of educational activities on museum collections and exhibitions is minimized.
Ensuring that environmental impact of educational activities is minimized.
Developing pedagogy skills through ongoing practice, reflection, and professional development structured by CMOA.
Attending CMOA Educator professional development meetings.
Observing, analyzing and co-teaching with fellow CMOA educators.
Actively participate in annual review with supervisors.
Additional responsibilities may be assigned on a case-by-case basis.