Employment

The Children’s Museum Group with its main offices in West Hartford, Connecticut, with a recent move to 180 Mohegan Drive, offers hands-on fun with science and nature for younger children and families, school and community groups, and homeschooled children. At the Museum and Nature Center, in our preschool, and in classrooms throughout Connecticut, we encourage children to become creative thinkers and lifelong learners. Children engage in our interactive labs, workshops, multi-sensory exhibits, and demonstrations, a live wildlife sanctuary, scout activities, and special events. Our unique Children’s Museum Preschool, co-located on our West Hartford campus, integrates science experiences into early childhood learning. Nearby Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton offers environmental exhibits, nature programs, concerts, and acres of outdoor hiking, bird watching, and winter outdoor activities.

The Children’s Museum Group will inspire life-long learning among children and their caregivers by providing experiential learning programs covering STEAM/STEM, health, nature, and the environment. Entertaining, stimulating, and unique to the area, our programs will assist the development of curious, confident, and innovative children creating the basis for successful adults. In so doing, The Children’s Museum will continue to be a valued asset and partner in the community.

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Posted 9/26/2023

Grants Development Coordinator – Full Time

The Children’s Museum Group in West Hartford CT seeks to fill a full-time Grants Coordinator position. This position works with the Development Team as a key team member working alongside lead staff and museum management to engage in fund development functions with an emphasis on providing research, grant writing, and reporting for programs and projects that are funded or sponsored, by Federal, State, corporate and private individual grants.

Essential Functions:

• Write and submit grant proposals in a timely manner.
• Research and find new funding opportunities.
• Maintain a current database of active, future, and possible funding opportunities; keep them in good standing, reporting and monitoring any changes.
• Provide stewardship to existing funders. Develop and manage relationships with leaders within funding sources as well as arrange for meetings, tours, and introductions to staff, trustees, and museum leadership as needed.
• Work with museum staff and leadership to develop budgets, reports, and ancillary materials needed to create and support grant proposals and the grant reporting process.
• Provide detailed reports to funders, museum leadership, and trustees with respect to progress toward funding goals and implementation.
• Communicate effectively with museum leaders and staff to identify and prioritize programs and projects that need funded support.
• Take photos of museum programs or events to help with marketing and grants.
• Assist with other related projects as requested.

Essential Skills:

• Demonstrates effective and productive writing, communication, and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of basic fundraising models and strategies.
• Must possess strong networking skills and be comfortable with reaching out to prospective funders and supporters via e-mail, phone, written correspondence, and through attendance at community events and in-person meetings.
• Ability to prioritize projects, meet deadlines, and produce quality results within appropriate timeframe.
• Must show excellent computer skills with all Microsoft Office programs including Word and Excel.
• Must have efficient and strong time and record-keeping management skills.
• The ability to quickly immerse oneself in the organization’s culture and mission and demonstrate an understanding of the overall business and organizational objectives.
• Ability to foster a team approach and work collaboratively to move agenda.
• Experience with database tracking and management.

Qualifications:

• Multi-year experience in grant writing with a record of accomplishment for successfully raising money from contributed sources.
• Prior experience with not-for-profit fundraising.
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Salary range: $22 to $26 per hour, dependent on experience and prior demonstrated funding successes

This position is full-time and is non-exempt, associates report to the Development Director and the Director of Operations.

Interested candidates should forward a cover letter, resume, writing sample, references, and salary expectations to:

Email: HR@thechildrensmuseumct.org

Mail:
Human Resources Coordinator
The Children’s Museum
180 Mohegan Drive
West Hartford, CT 06117

(No phone calls please)

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Posted 9/08/2023

Weekend Visitor Services Associate/Museum Experience Facilitator

As a customer support team member, you will have the opportunity to welcome and educate children and their caregivers through exploratory opportunities. You will admit our guests and guide diverse learners through exhibit exploration and engaging experiences. As a friendly and supportive Customer Service representative, you provide the first contact with our guests both in person and by phone. As a dynamic and energetic facilitator, you will make each child and family experience one that is informative, rewarding, and fun.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Facilitate the process of admitting children and their caregivers into the museum and successfully address customer service needs as they arise.
• Proactively identify opportunities for membership, program registration, and event ticketing, in in-person, by phone, and through electronic communications.
• Facilitate hands-on learning episodes for families and children in the Museum’s exhibits and programming spaces.
• Facilitate family activities and birthday celebrations in the Museum’s exhibits and programming spaces.
• Prepare and maintain exhibit manipulatives and materials for museum exploration and program delivery.
• Assist in disinfecting, cleaning, and maintaining general public and exhibit spaces.
• Other duties as needed. Duties may be altered as the museum navigates its reopening at our new location.

Qualifications:

• Previous experience with young children (ages 3-12) in either formal education settings, informal education settings, museums, childcare, or recreational settings.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to the use of new technology and programs.
• Understanding of inquiry-based teaching and learning.
• Proficiency with inquiry, object observation, and dynamic storytelling.
• Ability to engage children, families, and caregivers in a welcoming, energetic, friendly, and professional manner.
• Ability to be flexible and assimilate feedback from colleagues and participants.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully work independently as well as collaborating with others.
• Background checks must demonstrate that employees are appropriately qualified to engage with children and families in a public setting.
• Programs require the movement and transportation of equipment and supplies. Must be physically able to safely bend, stretch, and lift up to 30lbs. Programs with children often require the need to work while sitting on the floor or bending to their level.

Additional Preferred Experience:

• Undergraduate degree (acquired or in the process) preferred.
• Visual or performing arts experience is helpful.
• Customer service and cash handling experience.
• Experience working with a diverse group of learners, including children who have special needs.

Availability:

• Required hours Saturday’s 12:30-5:30 pm and Sunday’s 9:00 am-4:30 pm

Opportunities available for proactive and highly conscientious Associates to take on expanded leadership and supervisory responsibilities with additional compensation in the role of Weekend/Shift Supervisor.

Rate of Pay: Associates $15/ hour, Shift/Weekend Supervisor $16-$16.50/hour

This position is part-time and is non-exempt, associates report to the Visitor Service Manager On Duty, Supervisors report to the Director of Operations.

Interested candidates should apply in-person: Wednesday-Friday  9:30am-4pm at The Children’s Museum, 180 Mohegan Drive West Hartford CT. 06117.

(No phone calls please)

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Posted 9/05/2023

Child Care Assistant Teacher – Part Time

We are hiring qualified part-time Child Care Assistant Teachers to support the Lead Teachers in the classroom. All Preschool staff must have great love and patience for children. Qualifications needed to teach them effectively include knowledge of best practices and preschool educational methods as well as the ability to engage them and earn their trust and attention. The goal is to contribute to the healthy mental and emotional development of the child so they can more easily acclimate to the next level of education.

Responsibilities:

• Deliver engaging and creative activities suitable for preschool children.
• Employ a variety of educational techniques (storytelling, educational play, media, etc.) to teach children.
• Observe each child and help them improve their social competencies and build self-esteem.
• Encourage children to interact with each other and resolve occasional arguments.
• Guide children to develop their artistic and practical capabilities through a carefully constructed curriculum (identify shapes, numbers, or colors, do crafts, etc.).
• Organize nap and snack hours and supervise children to ensure they are safe at all times.
• Track children’s progress and report to lead teachers.
• Communicate with parents regularly to understand the children’s background and psyche.
• Collaborate with other educators.
• Maintain a clean and tidy classroom consistent with health and safety standards.

Skills Required:

• Proven experience in a childcare setting.
• Basic Understanding of the principles of child development and preschool educational methods.
• Familiarity with safety and sanitation guidelines for classrooms.
• Excellent communication and instructional skills.
• Ability to act as a mediator between children.
• Cool-tempered, friendly, and reliable.
• A balance between a creative mind and a practical acumen.
• Certification in child CPR and first aid.

Qualifications:

• Associate Degree (Preferred)
• Teaching Experience: 1 year (Preferred)
• Early childhood education: 1 year (Preferred)
• Teaching Certification (Preferred)
• First Aid Certification
• Child CPR Certification

This position is part-time and is non-exempt.

Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:30am- 5:00pm

Salary: $15/ hour

This position reports to the Preschool Director.

Interested candidates should send all of the following materials for consideration:

Resume, cover letter, and three references to:

Email: jbostrom@thechildrensmuseumct.org

Mail:
Human Resources Coordinator
The Children’s Museum
180 Mohegan Drive
West Hartford, CT 06117

Or apply in-person: Mon-Fri 9:30am-4pm at The Children’s Museum and Preschool 180 Mohegan Drive West Hartford CT. 06117.

(No phone calls please)

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Updated 07/05/2023

Museum Development/Membership Associate – Full Time

The Museum Development/Membership Associate is responsible for coordinating and documenting the timely communications between The Children’s Museum Group and its donors, prospective donors, members, and patrons. This role supports the delivery of organizational mailings, via hardcopy and electronically, to cultivate members, donors, and supporters and tracks interactions and responses through the organization’s constituent/sales database. This role will serve as the event coordinator for special functions including donor events, museum Gala, and various Staff/Board events. Additional administrative and customer service tasks will be assigned to support other departments as time allows.

Essential Functions:

Development

• Run database queries and prepare mailing lists.
• Support the cultivation of donors and meet budgetary goals by designing and processing timely mailings and or electronic correspondence.
• Enter and document incoming contributed funds, process receipts and thank you letters, and run queries documenting results.
• Respond to inquiries via phone, e-mail, social media, and in person.
• Coordinate logistics of special event functions. Liaison within the community to secure quotes and bids for services and organize the event timetable for review and implementation. Manage communications with committee planners and event attendees.

Membership

• Coordinate communications with museum members and potential members.
• Answer membership inquiries via phone, e-mail, social media, and in person.
• Prepare internal signage, social media posts, e-mail communications, and marketing membership benefits.
• Receive and enter new and renewal membership data into the constituent database.
• Process membership cards and benefits packages on a timely basis.
• Actively dialogue with front-line staff and the members who visit the museum and nature center to identify members needs and concerns.
• Liaison with staff to plan and implement special member events and benefits.

Administration/Customer Service Support

• Assist in answering main phone lines.
• Prepare outgoing and distribute incoming mail.
• Design and send online communications via Constant Contact.
• Coordinates with the Visitor Services Coordinator for the email marketing schedule.
• Share coverage of the museum admission desk as needed.
• Monitor and maintain inventories of correspondence, marketing, and mailing supplies.
• Assist the Executive Director and the Director of Operations with correspondence to the Board of Trustees and outside colleagues.
• Arrange and set up meeting facilities, including any technology (projector, zoom, etc.).
• Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications/Essential Skills:

• Experience with donor databases, ticketing databases, and membership databases (Blackbaud-supported systems preferred; ALTRU, Raisers Edge, Patron Edge, Financial Edge).
• A desire and willingness to educate oneself on the Blackbaud Altru Software currently used by the organization and will train and oversee frontline staff in the program processes.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products. Must demonstrate efficiency in designing and managing spreadsheets, creating and merging Word documents, and designing simple PowerPoint presentations.
• Working knowledge of graphic design programs. Experience with Canva preferred.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• A self-starter, who is efficient, organized, and remains calm and high functioning to meet deadlines.
• Must demonstrate effective communication skills via phone, in person, and through written communication.
• Must show discretion and the ability to maintain confidentiality when required.
• Solid understanding of routine office technology including basic skills to identify issues, troubleshoot basic fixes, identify, and coordinate outside support quickly and efficiently.
• Must maintain a clean driving record and be willing to undergo an annual driver background check.
• Full COVID-19 vaccination record
• Not-for-profit experience preferred.

This position is full-time/non-exempt. Insurance and PTO benefits are available. Base hours are 9 am – 5:30 pm Monday thru Friday. Flexibility to cover alternate shifts for special events, meetings, and general museum support during busy visitation times is required.

Salary range: $18-$21/hour, dependent on experience and prior demonstrated successes

Worksite location: The Children’s Museum, 180 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford CT 06117
-This position reports to the Director of Operations and works collaboratively with staff at the West Hartford Museum and Preschool and the Canton Nature Center locations.

Interested candidates should send all of the following materials for consideration:

Resume, cover letter, salary expectations, and three references to:

Email: HR@thechildrensmuseumct.org

Mail:
Human Resources Coordinator
The Children’s Museum
180 Mohegan Drive
West Hartford, CT 06117

(No phone calls please)