Job Description:

Position Summary

The Museum Educator is a position within Public Programs, in the Learning and Engagement division, responsible for leading the planning, development, and delivery of programming that is engaging and meaningful for adult and multigenerational audiences. The position develops and delivers a variety of programs inspired by the museum’s collection, exhibitions, architecture, and grounds, prioritizing access, diversity, inclusion, and innovation. This position will focus on creating and sustaining guide-led programs, training, and gallery engagements. Programs include (but are not limited to): guide-led tours (content development, training, and coordination), gallery programs, and evening social programs inspired by the collection. Additionally, the Museum Educator will provide support and facilitation as needed for public programs in general, and the innovation and development of new, future public programs that grow our adult and multigenerational audiences. The position requires strong planning and organizational skills, innovative and strategic thinking, and an interest in facilitating a wide range of museum experiences.

This position reports to the Manager of Adult Programs and works in close collaboration with the Public Programs team, in addition to Learning & Engagement division colleagues, artists, performers, presenters, volunteer services, guest services, curatorial, and trails and grounds, and community partners. Most programs are delivered in the evenings and on weekends, so the ability to work at those times is essential.

Principal Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Act as lead-educator for guide-led programs and gallery engagements, as assigned by the Adult Program Manager. This includes but is not limited to: Guide tour training and development, gallery engagements, and cocktail tours.
• Assisting in developing an educational training plan for selected projects by determining topics for trainings, contracting guest speakers, collaborating with the Learning and Engagement team and curatorial staff, and facilitating trainings to enhance the continued education of the guides.
• Creating educational content to align with trainings and tours for selected projects.
• Developing new tour routes to benefit selected projects where needed.
• Plan and facilitate off-site training experiences for guides that offer additional learning opportunities in differing subject areas.
• Work closely with the Adult Program Manager with informal and formal assessment for all guides.
• In collaboration with our Community Engagement team, engage with the local community to build a diverse presenter network, inclusive collaborations, program access and audience interest. Cultivate effective collaborative relationships with area artists, institutions, communities, and organizations to develop quality public programming.
• Provide written program content as needed, and collaborate with the communications department for successful marketing, and creation of collateral materials.
• Serve on cross-departmental teams to collaboratively plan multigenerational public programs, represent education on exhibition teams, and contribute to other initiatives.
• Work with the division’s administration and operations team to coordinate facility needs, resources, supplies and registration for programs
• Assist in the creation of the public programs budget; manage program expenditures.
• Consistently monitor/evaluate programs for effectiveness, impact, and improvement. Meaningfully reflect on past programs to help push museum program offerings forward.
• Research new development on trends in audience engagement for adults and share knowledge with groups to inform programs.
• Maintain the program’s online learning management system to ensure that content and resources are available to the volunteer guides.
• Serve as first staff back-up for tours when a guide is unavailable.
• Serve as first point of contact for all volunteer guide inquiries and events, both from internal and external partners.
• Monitor volunteer software and communicate with volunteer services to ensure all tours are loaded and filled.
• Keep up to date records of tour attendance.
• Cultivate professional, friendly relationships with our dedicated volunteers and museum staff.

Minimum Qualifications

Traits, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent planning and organizational skills
• Ability to lead gallery conversation and create meaningful connections between artwork and audience
• Knowledge of the visual arts and museum pedagogy; knowledge of or willingness to learn about nature, education, and architecture.
• Highest ethics as they relate to all aspects of museum practices and confidentiality

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Outstanding customer service skills
• Ability to work independently, as well as within a team
• Ability and willingness to work weekends, evenings and holidays as required
• A good sense of humor and a calm demeanor under pressure
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to use or willingness to learn specialized museum applications including The Museum System, Event Management Solutions, Tessitura and Tableau.
• Bilingual (Spanish language) is a plus.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in art education, art history, museum studies or studio art or related field required.

• Two years’ experience in planning and presenting educational programs in an art museum setting, leading tours, public speaking or equivalent experience required.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid Arkansas driver’s license with clean driving record; willing and able to travel for program development and facilitation.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: Regularly, while performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to travel independently regionally and in communities served. In the work environment described below, position requires working at a desk and utilizing a computer and a telephone, good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching, standing and sitting in the ability to move around galleries, the classrooms, and throughout the museum, including travel on the outdoor trails. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job.
• Work environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, museum galleries, art studios, outdoors on the trails, and in communities served. Some evening and weekend hours are required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. Crystal Bridges requires all employees to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment, or meet Arkansas state requirements, subject to accommodations. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States on your first day of work.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.