Play & Learning Coordinator

Thinkery • Austin, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Thinkery is where Austin’s children and their families come to enjoy play-based, inquiry-rich, hands-on learning experiences. We believe that innovative, play-based, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) learning experiences are a powerful way for children to develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and curiosity about the world around them. Our exhibits and programs encourage children—alongside their caregivers—to solve creative challenges, explore a variety of materials, and to develop new ways to complete unfamiliar projects. Through these activities, children gain the tools and confidence to develop and grow into enthusiastic, creative, lifelong STEAM learners and thinkers.

The Play & Learning Coordinator is a key part of the Play & Learning Team, providing logistical and operational excellence for year-round programming and events in the museum and out in the community. This position’s primary responsibility is program operations, including museum and program resource management and coordination of Thinkery’s presence at offsite events and engagement.

This role's weekly schedule is Sunday-Thursday, while flexible for events and offsites.

Requirements

• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Values Differences: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization and Thinkery's work.
• Creates Connection: Builds engagement and belonging in relationships across teams and with guests, promoting a welcome environment for all.
• Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Organization and time/project management skills.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration.
• Flexible thinking and ability to practice in-the-moment problem solving.
• Ability to create, formulate and successfully implement playful, engaging, and innovative experiences for a variety of learning styles and ages.
• Ability to quickly adapt existing activities and programs to serve changing audience needs.
• MS Office Suite and MS Teams proficiency required, specific skills in Excel required.
• Bachelor’s degree in science, education, or relevant field. In lieu of degree, additional work experience may be acceptable.
• Interest and passion in arts and science.
• Experience providing direction for staff and/or volunteers in a professional setting.
• Experience working or volunteering in a busy, loud, public-facing environment, i.e. museums, food service, retail, etc.
• Thorough knowledge of working with children and families.
• 1+ years of relevant experience developing educational content for informal settings and/or developing and delivering educational programming.
• 1+ years of resource or program coordination experience.

Nice To Haves

• Spanish language skills an asset.
• Experience in a children’s museum or other informal environment preferred.
• Experience of working in events or summer camps preferred.
• Budget tracking experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supports Thinkery’s learning resource management and inventory for the Play & Learning team and Thinkery’s Camps offerings.
• Develops, maintains, and trains teammates in use of shared resource catalogs, calendars, and checkout systems with support from Play & Learning Specialists.
• Coordinates the reservation of programming spaces in the museum for Play & Learning Programs. Manages the gallery resources and resource calendar.
• Generates resource lists for programming, coordinates sourcing of new materials, packing/unpacking of materials, resource organization, and return of existing experience resources with support from the Play & Learning Specialists.
• Purchases materials and props, submits expense reports, and supports tracking of team expenses & spending.
• Supervises storage and inventory of props, tools, books, and consumable resources, ensuring that the proper inventory is in place and not duplicated unnecessarily.
• Ensures that all props in the museum are in working order, clean, in back stock, and out in the galleries with direct support from Play & Learning Specialist and Facilitators.
• Supports logistics for Events, Workshops, Offsite Engagements, and Camps. Collaborates cross-departmentally to deliver high quality, engaging experiences that promote Thinkery’s mission, programs, and values. Acts as program supervisor as needed for offsite engagements.
• Supports workshops and events as a facilitator.
• Collaborate with SLI and Play & Learning teams to develop and implement curriculum that reflects Thinkery’s learning framework & philosophy and core values.
• Exemplify Thinkery’s approach to play-based STEAM learning by engaging with museum guests—both children and adults—from diverse backgrounds with a playful, energetic, friendly, positive, and professional demeanor.
• Serve as a role model for seasonal Play and Learning Facilitators and Thinkery Youth Development (TYD) participants by demonstrating effective facilitation techniques and playful learning approaches. Encourage and support staff during pre/post shift meetings and offer in-the-moment guidance, while collaborating with Specialists and managers to help staff reach their full potential.
• Actively interact with caregivers of young guests, discussing their child’s learning experiences and sharing relevant resources to support continued learning at home.
• Helps maintain a safe, welcoming environment by upholding museum policies and procedures.
• Act as a direct link between administrative and floor team, effectively sharing programming details, policy updates, changes, upcoming events, and opportunities to ensure seamless operations.
• Represent Thinkery’s key values of inclusivity, excellence, respect, innovation, playfulness, cooperation and creativity.
• Support culture of cross organization communication, collaboration and information sharing.
• Lead onboarding and ongoing trainings for multiple teams (Camps, new hires, etc.) across the organization as needed.
• Actively practice Thinkery’s health and safety protocols.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical insurance options including HSA, PPO Gold, and PPO Platinum plans
• Affordable dental and vision
• 100% employer sponsored EAP, STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
• 2 weeks of paid vacation, 12 days of paid sick leave, and 13 paid holidays each year
• Paid Family Leave
• Pet and child friendly offices
• Membership to the museum and discount rates to Thinkery Camps

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees