Job description

Description:
*
Position: *Tinkering Educator – part-time
Department: Programming and Experience Development
Reports to: Director of Art and Tinkering Studios
About Chicago Children’s Museum: Chicago Children’s Museum is committed to improving children’s lives by creating a community where play and learning connect. We embrace creativity and collaboration, we never stop learning, and we remember to stop and play along the way. Chicago Children’s Museum staff is a dedicated group of curious individuals who embrace the playful spirit of childhood. Every employee is empowered to reach their potential and be recognized for the impact they have on our organization, visitors, and the community we serve.
Through our Tinkering Lab exhibit, CCM believes we can foster an excitement for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) by providing visitors a place of freedom that inspires them to design, build and test with real tools and materials.
Position Overview:
The Tinkering Educator supports the visitor experience within the Tinkering Lab (TL), by facilitating programs, modeling proper tool usage and maintaining a clean and safe exhibit. This person is essential in the creation of a welcoming, safe, and accessible atmosphere for all Chicago Children’s Museum (CCM) visitors. This year, Tinkering Lab is part of a research project to develop programming that can support families in creating their own stories while tinkering to drive engagement in engineering and spatial thinking, Tinkering Educators support this research by facilitating programming, interacting with research staff, documenting activities and reflecting on experiences and their own practice.

*
Principal Job Duties and Responsibilities:*

• Provides high quality facilitation of CCM developed Tinkering programs, adapting activities to meet the needs of a wide-range of visitors (ages, abilities, interests, backgrounds and perspectives) while considering overall program goals. Program goals can include exploring tools, materials, phenomena such as electricity and lift, and the engineering process.
• Connects with visitors in positive, educational, creative and respectful ways. Is ready to engage with visitors and coworkers at the start of shift.
• Contributes to organization and maintenance of the Tinkering Lab room, storage and materials. Changes day-of program set-up as needed.
• Conducts all established health and safety protocols to ensure that the TL space, materials and tools remain safe, clean, and healthy for visitors. Assists in all Tinkering Lab first aid cases.
• Manages Tinkering Lab capacity, including managing timed visitor check-in to the space.
• Collects attendance numbers, surveys, and documentation of programs.
• Communicates regularly with fellow educators to share feedback and observations. For example, contributes to written reflection notebook in program spaces to document reflections on visitor experience and tips for fellow educators.
• Fields general museum questions from the public and acts as a museum representative.
• Contributes to supporting, training and mentoring new TL educators and volunteers.
• Assists Tinkering Lab Team with collection and preparation of materials for programs.
• Supports the museum’s work in diversity, equity, access and inclusion and actively ensures that DEAI principles are upheld in all work with fellow staff, visitors, community and other external partners.
• Enthusiasm for learning and mastering new skills on an ongoing basis; Participates in required trainings and meetings regularly. Willingness to be informed/certified/trained through institution-offered courses and to work within Diversity, Equity, Access, Inclusion (DEAI) frameworks and actively engage in learning about these frameworks.
• Contributes to other functions of the TL and Education Team in a variety of ways such as the assistance in development of a variety of programs, engaging in meetings with staff, and facilitating special events, help with other programs and occasional offsite programs.

Requirements: Qualifications:

• Experience in education, engineering, science, tinkering, making, art, museum education or comparable experience. (this includes relevant paid and unpaid work/volunteer/community work).
• Educational and/or customer-service related experience with children, caregivers, and families from a variety of backgrounds, abilities, experiences, perspectives.
• Engaging, responsive facilitation skills and a creative and passionate approach to the educational needs of children.
• Experience and/or desire to work with a variety of authentic tools and materials (including but not limited to power drills, hand saws, basic electronics, sewing).
• Ability to rely on written lesson plans and instructions to facilitate dynamic, responsive programming.
• Ability to work in team-oriented environment, ability to accept feedback graciously and integrate it and work independently without supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, effective verbal communication with staff, children and caregivers, in groups or one-on-one. Written communication includes daily reflections of individual’s practice in TL, tips for next day’s educators, and connecting with supervisors and research staff.
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor in a variety of situations; demonstrated problem-solving, reliability and flexibility.
• Possess an equity mindset and cultural humility.
• Ability to attend monthly staff meetings and trainings (combination of in person and virtual).
• Tinkering, art and making skills encouraged.
• Course work in science, engineering, or education a plus.
• Bilingual skills a plus.

Physical Requirements of the Position

• Stamina and physical endurance to stand and walk in TL space, maintaining quality interaction with museum staff and visitors. Bending, lifting, and reaching is required to access supplies. Push, pull and lift up to 40 pounds. Ability to crouch down/ sit on the floor/interact at the level of the child.
• Repetitive friendly and courteous communication while engaging with visitors and staff and speaking to groups.
• Ability to work-in and withstand loud/crowded spaces, including power drills and hammering.
• Dress code required. Uniform polo shirt(s) provided.
• Ability to engage in virtual meetings via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.

Hours: This is a part-time position. $17.85/hour. Museum operating hours are Thursday-Monday. Some school holidays will be added. Typical schedule is 2-3 days a week, 4-7.5 hours per shift. Some shifts will be added for our Summer Break hours, Memorial Day to Labor Day, where we are open 7 days a week.
Benefits: The museum offers the option for our part-time staff to participate in our dental and vision insurance plans and 401k plan after 6 mos of employment and meeting age/hours requirements.

*
Location:* This position will work on-site at Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier.
Proof of COVID 19 vaccine required*

• Subject to reasonable accommodations for individuals with medical conditions or religious beliefs that prevent vaccinations

To apply please submit resume our on-line portal. Cover letters are welcome!
Chicago Children’s Museum aims to recruit and advance qualified BIPOC/ALAANA, women, LGBTQ, persons with disabilities, and veterans—we welcome and encourage all applicants. Our goal is for our team and culture to reflect the Chicagoland community.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $17.85 per hour

johnandkristie.com is the go-to platform for job seekers looking for the best job postings from around the web. With a focus on quality, the platform guarantees that all job postings are from reliable sources and are up-to-date. It also offers a variety of tools to help users find the perfect job for them, such as searching by location and filtering by industry. Furthermore, johnandkristie.com provides helpful resources like resume tips and career advice to give job seekers an edge in their search. With its commitment to quality and user-friendliness, johnandkristie.com is the ideal place to find your next job.