Museum Education Specialist
Overview
Maine Maritime Museum (MMM) is an independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to connecting people to the past, present, and future of Maine’s waterways and their global reach. The stories we share includes different backgrounds, perspectives, and voices—and because our museum welcomes visitors from around the world—our institution is firmly committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.
If you believe in museums’ important role to reveal the past, to inform the present, and to shape the future, we invite you to join our team. You will join us on the beautiful banks of the Kennebec River, on a twenty-acre campus where collaboration and creativity are encouraged.
Position Summary
The Museum Education Specialist enacts the mission and goals of Maine Maritime Museum as an essential member of the Education team that together develops, implements, and evaluates interpretive and holistic learning strategies that build community and connect diverse audiences with the museum’s collection and exhibits. The Museum Education Specialist will advocate for diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion through community partnerships, program design and implementation, and collaboration across museum departments.
Specific Duties
Interpretation Volunteer Training and Management
The Museum Education Specialist oversees the recruitment, training, and scheduling of the museum’s Interpretation Volunteers. These volunteers serve in interpretation roles such as giving museum tours, shipyard demonstrations, or assisting with K12 programs.
- Oversee the recruitment strategies and onboarding of new interpretation volunteers, as needed
- Oversee the annual training and certification of Interpretation Volunteers by designing and implementing effective training strategies that support visitor-centric learning and compelling object-based storytelling
- Coordinate the Interpretation Volunteer daily schedule to ensure coverage for the museum’s interpretive experiences, including: Percy and Small Shipyard Tours, Donnell House Tours, Bath Iron Works Tour, Gallery Tours, and Ship Launching Demonstrations
- Coordinate across museum departments to ensure clear and efficient communications with volunteers on museum operational, programmatic, or other museum updates
- Work collaboratively across museum departments to cultivate a sense of volunteer community by implementing volunteer life-long learning or social opportunities
- Evaluate museum tour experiences and learning strategies and work collaboratively with the Education team to implement creative and audience-centric storytelling
K12 and Family Learning
The Museum Education Specialist oversees the scheduling of school field trips and assists with the design and implementation of innovative youth and family programming.
- Oversee the scheduling of K12 field trips and maintaining of the Education Calendar
- Track and record school and family program visitation data
- Assist in teaching of K12, homeschool, and other group field trips, on-site and in-school
- Assist in facilitating family and youth programs, such as Green Teens, STEAMbox, Story Time, and Toddler Time
- Assist Education Team in evaluating existing K12 curricula and school programs
- Assist Education Team in creating or updating existing K12 curricula and programs
- Assist with Spring/Summer youth camps as needed
Museum Interpretation
The Museum Education Specialist collaborates with Education and Curatorial teams to design and implement creative interpretive strategies for museum visitors.
- Assist in the research and development of exhibit interactives and engagement strategies
- Assist in the development of online and digital engagement strategies, including integrating Bloomberg Connects into exhibit design
- Assist in research of the museum collection to support new interpretation avenues and programs
Education Department Coordination
- Maintain Education Department supplies inventory
- Attend department and interdepartmental meetings
Job Requirements and Skills
- BA or MA in museum education, history, art history, education, early childhood education, marine sciences, or environmental sciences, or related field
- 1-3 years of experience teaching in a museum, K12 classroom, or experiential learning setting
- Knowledge and passion for fostering inclusive learning environments
- Comfort and proven ability to teach multi-generational, K12, college, and adult audiences
- Comfort in interacting and working with volunteers that include a broad range of ages, experiences, and backgrounds
- Excellent communication skills that can clearly articulate information to a wide range of stakeholders: visitors, volunteers, students, staff, trustees
- Strong organizational, multi-tasking, problem solving, and interpersonal skills
- Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
- Proven ability to establish positive working relationships based on respect, kindness, and attentiveness
- Collaborative working style that feels comfortable contributing ideas, brainstorming, and the iterative design process
- Comfort in working in fast-paced environments
- Dedication to promoting diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion within museum education
- Comfort and ability to teach aboard motor vessels and sailing vessels (experience in operating motor or sailing vessels is not required)
- Comfort working in possible loud and fluctuating noise-levels
- Some weekend and after-hours work will be required
- Experience managing and working with volunteers, preferred but not required
Terms and How to Apply
The Museum Education Specialist position is a full-time, salaried, exempt position with full benefits in Bath, Maine. Starting salary is $44,000 - $48,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Please submit a cover letter and resume to: hr@maritimeme.org
This position is subject to sex offender and criminal background checks.
Maine Maritime Museum is an equal opportunity employer and does not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, protected genetic information, status as a parent, marital status, political affiliation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.