Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Seward House Museum

The Education and Outreach Coordinator (EOC) oversees museum activities and coordinates events, tours, lectures, and school programs for diverse groups of residents and visitors, thus playing a major role in promoting an understanding of Auburn’s rich diversity, history and culture. Working closely with the incredible museum collection and primary documentation the EOC will assist in designing interpretations and programming. This Programming will tell the museum’s story to a variety of audiences, including our on-line and social media audiences, and raise awareness of the museum regionally and nationally.

The EOC will report to the Director of Education and will work closely with staff and volunteers in implementing the museum’s comprehensive education and interpretive plan. Additionally, the EOC is responsible for guiding tours through the galleries, conducting educational activities for museum visitors, and conducting outreach educational programs at off-site locations.

The EOC position requires excellent project management skills and demonstrated ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines. Also, excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively to diverse groups, departments, partners and stakeholders will be essential.

Job Responsibilities

  • Works with the Director of Education to establish education schedule, direction, priorities, and implementation of the Education Plan and Interpretive Plan.
  • Assists the Director of Education with a variety of research assignments.
  • Collaborates with the Collection and Exhibition Manager to produce exhibits utilizing collection objects to inform interpretation.
  • Conducts tours of the Seward House Museum to multiple audiences.
  • Updates docent training manual and assists with training as instructed by the Director of Education.
  • Works closely with SHM volunteers and interns including training, evaluation and scheduling of volunteers and interns.
  • Implements the Seward House Museum’s communication and marketing plan by expanding awareness of the Seward House Museum across a multitude of social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)
  • Serves as a key liaison with the Auburn Historic Sites Commission’s school education programs, fieldtrips, and the Passport to History program.
  • Manages the SHM’s participation in “Building Capacity, Creating Sustainability, Growing Accessibility”, an IMLS grant project designed to help museums impacted by the pandemic share their collections and reach audiences who cannot physically visit the museum. The focus is on developing programs from stories found in our collections that reveal cultural and racial diversity in our communities. The Museum Association of New York facilitates this statewide project.
  • Seeks and cultivates a diversity of partnerships with regional school districts, teachers, and peer educational sites for collaboration opportunities.
  • Stays abreast of NYS curricular standards and creates grade-appropriate resource kits for on-site visits, virtual field trips, and as independent classroom activities.
  • Assists the Director of Education with teacher workshops, NYS National History Day, and the annual Central New York Council for the Social Studies conference.
  • Organizes group tours and field trips.
  • Attends Education Committee meetings and Volunteer Council meetings at the discretion of the Director of Education.
  • Utilizes social media and other technologies to market and inform the public of educational programming and events at the museum.
  • Researches and identifies potential grant opportunities and supports the Director of Education, and other team members, in grant writing opportunities as directed.
  • Represents the organization to educational partner agencies, organizations, and the general public.
  • Performs general administrative and other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Demonstrated ability to design and implement engaging educational programs for diverse audiences and to work effectively with colleagues in a team environment, accomplish multiple tasks, solve problems and set priorities. Highly effective written, verbal, and listening communication skills and a demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and professionally. Excellent computer and mobile devise literacy. This position requires a positive attitude, a high level of energy and motivation, and the ability to work both independently and as an effective team member.

Bachelor’s degree in museum studies, public history, education, communications or related field required. Minimum of one year experience with educational programming in museums or historic sites preferred. Evening and weekend hours required. This full time position includes a generous benefit package.

To apply, please send cover letter, resume, a 1-3 page writing sample, and 3 references to: director@sewardhouse.org  by July 9, 2021. No phone calls please. EOE/D/V/M/F