Museum Educator
Van Cortlandt House Museum
Organization Description:
Van Cortlandt House Museum (VCHM) is owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, operated by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of New York (NSCDNY), and is a member of the Historic House Trust of New York City (HHT). The museum has been stewarded by the NSCDNY for 129 years and was the first public-private collaboration in New York.
VCHM is a 1748 Georgian house that sits on a beautiful one-acre lot within Van Cortlandt Park in the northwest Bronx. It is a National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and both its exterior and interior are designated New York City Landmarks.
As a historic site with many layers of history, we bring our mission to life through a full calendar of educational, experiential, and culturally responsive programs while offering visitors a compelling curatorial experience centered on early American history and decorative arts.
Position Description:
The Museum Educator leads tours and facilitates educational programs and activities that connect visitors with the historic house, its collections, and exhibitions. Through thoughtful interpretation and audience engagement, the educator helps visitors explore the many histories represented at the site.
Reports to:
Museum Director; Interpretive Oversight: Site Historian
Job Requirements & Responsibilities:
Responsibilities:
– Tours:
Giving regular tours of the historic house museum and its grounds
– Delivering Educational Programs:
Coordinating and delivering various educational programs tailored to different age groups and audience types, including K-12 school groups, college classes, families, adults, and community organizations.
– Visitor Engagement:
Engaging with visitors to facilitate learning and communicate the museum’s educational mission. This includes processing admissions, museum shop sales, and answering questions about the museum’s programs, collections, and exhibitions in person and on the phone.
– Public programs and events support: participating in the implementation, setup, and breakdown of public programs and events.
– Research and Interpretation support:
supporting the Museum Director and Site Historian with research and interpretation projects and initiatives.
– Opening and closing the museum as needed.
– Other duties as assigned.
Physical Requirements
This role requires the ability to move throughout a historic building, including climbing stairs, and to lift and carry materials weighing up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations will be considered in accordance with applicable law.
Candidate Qualifications:
Required
– At least one year of experience teaching or delivering educational programs in a museum, classroom, or other learning environment.
– Basic familiarity with American history and/or an understanding of how history is interpreted and presented in museums or other public settings.
– Excellent communication and presentation skills.
– Adaptability to a wide range of audiences, age ranges and learning styles
– Ability to work both collaboratively and independently
– Commitment to inclusive, accessible, and community-centered engagement practices
– Availability to work consistent weekends and occasional evenings preferred
– Fluency in Spanish or other languages commonly spoken in New York City is preferred
– Familiarity with the historical period interpreted by the museum, particularly 1748–1823, and the wider historical context spanning the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries.
– A degree or current study in education, museum studies, African American studies, public history, history, art history, or a related field
Position Type:
Part-Time, Hourly
Union Status:
Non-Union
FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt
Salary or Compensation:
$20-$22 per hour
Organization or Project Website:
Part-time position with a consistent weekly schedule that includes one weekday morning (9:00 AM–1:00 PM) and Saturdays (10:30 AM–4:00 PM), plus every other Sunday (10:30 AM–4:00 PM). Additional availability is required for occasional evening or weekend programs.
Application Info:
Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter in a single combined PDF to: careers@vchm.org.