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Learning Experience Specialist

Thinkery
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ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION 

Thinkery is where children and their families come to enjoy play-based, inquiry-rich, hands-on learning experiences. As a trusted children’s museum, community and learning hub, and educational leader, we believe that innovative, play-based, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) learning experiences are a powerful way for all children, regardless of means, to develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and curiosity about the world around them. 

 At the Thinkery Meredith Learning Lab located in Mueller, we proudly offer innovative, interactive museum exhibits and activities and early childhood education through our Little Thinkers Preschool, and led by our STEAM Learning Institute, we provide research-backed, community-based professional development programs and trainings for educators- all cultivating a love of learning and encouraging exploration and understanding of the many facets of STEAM and its ability to inspire confident, creative thinkers.

POSITION SUMMARY  

 The Learning Experience Specialists are responsible for ensuring a quality learning experience for museum guests, visitors, and constituents. This role is primarily customer facing and facilitation focused. Learning Experience Specialists serve as models in playful learning facilitation on the museum floor, in Thinkery’s maker space, and at special events and programs. Learning Experience Specialists support the Learning Experience team in prepping materials for daily programming and by serving as a substitute in our camp classrooms during the summer as needed. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS   

  • Interact with museum guests, both children and adults, from diverse backgrounds with an energetic, friendly, positive, and professional demeanor. 
  • Ensure a joyful learning experience for all Thinkery guests on a daily basis by assessing the needs of the day and making in the moment decisions about programming and materials. Examples include, but are not limited to: adding activities as needed to relieve pressure from crowded galleries or pulling out themed activities to respond to what’s happening in the world (such as, using measuring cups/beakers to catch rain on a rainy day). 
  • Support camp team by being a collaborative partner, facilitating occasion specialty activities in camp classrooms, and serving as substitute as needed. 
  • Support museum operations including: 
  • Opening and Closing procedures museum floor & maker space. 
  • Monitor and maintain a safe and clean environment including cleaning and sanitizing frequently touched surfaces and gallery spaces, props and exhibits 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

  • Schedules and availability reflects that the organization is a 7-day-a-week operation. Staff are expected to work weekends and holidays. Periodic duties outside of/in excess of regular work week schedule during seasonal high-volume times. 

COMPETENCIES  

  • Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.  
  • Community Focus: Building strong community relationships and delivering community-centric solutions.          
  • Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.   
  • Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.  
  • Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.  
  • Nimble Learning: Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.   
  • Values Differences: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES   

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following:

  • Must be playful, sense of humor desired. 
  • Comfortable speaking and singing in public. 
  • Problem solve and react positively to rapidly changing circumstances. 
  • Thrive in a fast-paced, varied and demanding work environment. 
  • Confident in facilitating activities with small or large groups of guests. 
  • Able to work independently, seeing needs and executing solutions.  
  • Excellent communication skills including listening and comprehension skills. 
  • Must be hands-on, team-oriented, and attentive to detail.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP 

It’s reports to Learning Experience Manager, collaborates with Museum Experience, peers with Camps Program Specialists

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION:   

  • High School Diploma or GED, a STEAM related, or Art degree preferred. 
  • Considerable personal or professional experience with making or tinkering, including any single or combination of: 
  • Sewing, quilting, weaving, crochet, knitting, or other textile work, papercraft, jewelry making, pottery, leatherwork, needlework, or other types of crafting, woodworking 
  • Experience working or volunteering in a busy, loud, public-facing environment, i.e. museums, food service, retail, etc. 
  • 3+ Years of experience facilitating learning experiences with children and/or families. 
  • Spanish fluency preferred, knowledge of ASL a plus 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS (SELECT ONE)

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job 

This position is very active. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to: 

  • Observe and respond to the needs of guests, staff, and community partners. 
  • Move throughout the museum 
  • Able to be flexible to work in camp classroom based on need. 
  • Manipulate and move exhibit components weighing up to 25 pounds, including those that may be low to the ground or above eye level 
  • Clean and disinfect a variety of surfaces and props of various sizes at various heights. 
  • Communicate and exchange accurate information with guests, staff, and community partners in a variety of formats including in-person, electronically, and over the phone.  
  • Identify and respond to safety hazards 
  • Work in outdoor environments 

BENEFITS  

  • Thinkery offers competitive and affordable benefits for our full-time staff including options for 100% employer sponsored medical coverage. Our benefits package includes:  
  • 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 discounted rates to Little Thinker’s Preschool and Camps  

This job description should not be construed to imply these requirements are the only duties, responsibilities, and qualifications for this job. Incumbents may be required to follow any additional related instructions, acquire related job skills, and perform other related work as required. This job description may be updated as needed.  

Thinkery is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices on the basis of race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Hiring, transferring and promotion practices are performed without regard to the above-listed items. All candidates offered a position will be required to submit to background and reference checks.