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 6/22/2022, Updated 1/8/2023

Center for STEAM Advancement (CSA) Program Coordinator

The Program Coordinator (PC) is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the CSA as discussed in the Project Description provided on pages 2-6 of the attached description at the bottom of this listing. It is a hybrid position working at TCM and the partner organizations as well as at the Program Coordinator’s home.

Essential Functions:

• Coordinate communications, timeline, and plan implementation between CSA partner organizations.
• Provide comprehensive written reports documenting the program’s actions and outcomes.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Essential Skills:

This position reports administratively to the Director of Operations of The Children’s Museum and programmatically to the Project Oversite Committee, Chaired by Adam Cloud, Hartford City Treasurer, and with members from each of the partner organizations, The YMCA, the Parent University, the Legacy Foundation, the Hartford Youth Scholars and The Children’s Museum.

An expanded description of the Center for STEAM Advancement (CSA) Program Coordinator position can be found here.

To apply, Send a cover letter and resume 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 1/9/2023

Museum STEAM Educator – Full Time

Museum STEAM Educators are responsible for delivering highly engaging, interactive, and scientifically accurate programs to Pre-K through Middle School students alongside their teachers, parents, and caregivers in a variety of formal classroom and informal community settings. Educators deliver programs both onsite within the museum as well as within schools, libraries, and community centers throughout Connecticut and into neighboring Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.  Programs occur in both small group settings with interactive hands-on instruction and large auditorium-style demonstration programs.  Educators are responsible for aiding in the design and prototyping of new curricula and workshops for the Education Department.

Essential Functions:

• Develops, tests, and trains co-educators in STEAM curricula for Pre-K – Middle School. Curricula is designed as individual programs that are standalone presentations, as a series of programs that build upon each workshop over a series of engagements, as well as festival-style events focused on children and their caregivers, all covering a wide variety of STEAM topics.
• Assists in the writing and documentation of curricula and supplemental educational materials.
• Travels to schools and other community locations to present outreach programs at their site.
• Teaches STEAM programs both at our onsite preschool and as outreach at other preschools.
• Teaches STEAM programs in out-of-school settings including after school, weekends, and summer.
• Engages the general public visiting the museum through both formal programming and informal learning opportunities.
• Maintains, cleans, and inventories equipment and supplies.
• Supports Education Team as well as other Museum Departments such as Visitor Services and Exhibits as needed.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Essential Skills:

• Must be a dynamic educator who can comfortably present effective, age-appropriate, and engaging presentations to diverse audiences.
• Delivers educational experiences in a highly entertaining and engaging manner.
• Must demonstrate the ability to communicate well with both children and adults in small and large groups and festival-style settings.
• Must demonstrate the ability to manage participant behavior and prioritize safety in program settings.
• Must have excellent project management skills and demonstrate the ability to work effectively and efficiently within a team and through the completion of assigned tasks.
• Must be able to handle multiple projects and tasks through to completion.
• Solid working knowledge of science and engineering processes and concepts and willingness to learn.
• Must be a creative, innovative educator with experience developing engaging curricula.
• Must have the knowledge to design and fabricate STEAM demonstration models used to enhance STEAM curriculum during demonstrations.
• Expected to maintain equipment and supplies used in programming including minor maintenance as needed. 
• Must have the willingness to learn how to handle and present with live animals during presentations.
• Must project a positive attitude with both customers and co-workers.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs. of education equipment into and out of vehicles and within assigned teaching spaces. This will require the ability to bring equipment and supplies up and down stairs and be in the out of doors.
• Flexible scheduling is necessary to assist with early morning, evening, and weekend programs, including three weekend days a month.

Qualifications:

• Candidates should have a college degree or equivalent related work experience in education, science, engineering, or technology.
• Preference is given to candidates who can demonstrate a solid understanding of physics, chemistry, and engineering concepts.
• Prior experience in museums or related institutions is preferred.
• Proven experience teaching and working with youth.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and clean driving record. Access to a reliable and insured vehicle is required for offsite travel.

This position is full-time at 40 hours per week and is non-exempt. Insurance and PTO benefits are available.

Salary range: $16/hr to $20/hr dependent on experience and prior demonstrated successes

This position reports to the Education Coordinator 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)

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Posted 1/24/2023

Visitor Services Coordinator – Full Time

The Visitor Services Coordinator is responsible for the success of the Visitor Services team’s customer service and museum attendance goals. The Visitor Services Coordinator will provide leadership for; frontline staff, exhibit gallery interactions, gift shop operations, frontend sales of memberships, and the supporting marketing tasks necessary to meet these goals. The Coordinator will work closely with colleagues throughout the organization to identify and measure museum visitors needs and wants and the performance indicators that drive visitor satisfaction.

Essential Functions:

Visitor Engagement

• Greet visitors and provide an introduction to the exhibit experience.
• Answer general inquiries via in-person, phone, e-mail, and through social media channels.
• Promote return visitation, and encourage membership enrollment and merchandise sales to meet attendance and budget goals.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and astatically pleasing environment at the entrance and within exhibits.
• Must maintain a calm and collected composure and will identify when other team members are not at the same composure.
• Train and mentor front-line staff to successfully deliver positive visitor service.
• Promptly respond, document, and mediate visitor concerns and injuries.
• Anticipate peak visitation times and coordinate plans for supplemental programming to support General Admission visitation.
• Train, schedule, and guide frontline staff in facilitating Children’s Birthday Parties at the museum.

Daily Operations

• Maintain a clean, safe, and astatically pleasing environment at the entrance and within exhibit areas.
• Reorder/restock merchandise for the gift shop kiosk located in the museum’s lobby.
• Researches and responds to inquiries from and for new vendors.
• Ensure ample supporting forms, flyers, and signage are available for museum visitors.
• Along with other front-line staff, actively participate in routine cleaning and sanitation of areas accessible to museum visitors.
• Design and maintain frontline staff shift schedules to stay within budget parameters.
• Open and close cash drawers and accurately document daily financial receipts and secure funds.
• Along with other front-line staff, process General Admission and Merchandise transactions to the general public.
• Support the Visitor Service team by answering customer service, safety, and exhibit-related issues.

Community Engagement and Marketing

• Coordinate the promotion of daily museum programming and visitor information through the design and display of signage inside the museum.
• Maintain a schedule for the design and posting of marketing and educational information through the museum’s social media sites (Facebook/Instagram/TikTok) and for online marketing emails (Constant Contact). Works with the Development/Membership Associate to maintain a schedule of email communications.
• Manage timely responses to general inquiry messages left via phone, e-mail, and through social media outlets.

Other Organizational Support

• Assist in the collection and entry of visitor data through surveys and database reporting.
• Support exhibit installation, routine maintenance, and daily cleaning of exhibits.
• Provide support and schedule staffing for special events both onsite and offsite.
• Perform clerical and administrative functions to support the administrative department as needed.
• Routinely communicate with colleagues in supporting departments to identify and assist with time-sensitive projects.
• Assist and eventually oversee the Gift Shop Inventory process, which occurs annually in the first week of December.

Qualifications/Essential Skills:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Comfortable interacting with both children and adults.
• Must demonstrate successful customer service skills and mediation techniques.
• Cash handling skills with attention to accuracy and cash management protocols.
• Consistency in using successful organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Must have strong computer, point of sale, and database skills.
• Working knowledge of graphic design programs. Experience with Canva preferred.
• Dependable and punctual.
• Proven success with organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Must maintain a clean driving record and be willing to undergo an annual driver background check.
• Full COVID-19 vaccination record

This position is full-time/exempt. Insurance and PTO benefits avail. Base hours are 9 am – 5:30 pm Sunday thru Thursday. Flexibility to cover alternate shifts at holiday and during busy season is required.

Salary range: $42,000 to $46,000/ year, 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)

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Posted 1/24/2023

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 meets 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 (Black baud 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)

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