Managing Educator
Voelker Orth Museum
Organization Description:
The Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary and Victorian Garden (VOMuseum’s) offers programs in the arts, horticulture and local history, often in a multi-disciplinary manner. It occupies the former home of a 19th century German immigrant family involved in publishing newspapers for families to keep in touch with Germany while creating community in their new home. The granddaughter, Elisabetha Orth, left her family estate asking several local cultural organizations to help establish the Museum.
The house and grounds were restored to their 1900-1930s appearance, with the period rooms doubling as exhibition and event space, including a multi-use room used for workshops. Now a NYC Landmark and listed on the National Register, programs and period rooms offer a glimpse into the domestic space and lifestyle of a middle-class family.
We explore connections to our community today from middle class immigrant aspiration to the complicated identities of today’s immigrants, reflecting on the Voelker Orth family story. We aim to offer a space where community can come together, learn, be creative, reflect and relax in the garden and home setting. We strive to offer low barriers to participation, translating some materials, keeping fees low for quality programs. We’ve begun to implement a new interpretive plan that allows for greater hands-on interactivity with visitors.
We are working towards additional humanities-based educational programs and making the garden a more integral part of the experience for visiting school groups and the public. Our efforts to engage diverse audiences are met with increasing success, and we’ve been building our partnerships and collaborative programs with several Queens-based groups.
The Museum operates with a small staff, one full time and 2-3 part-time, and independent contractors. The Educator position is being expanded into a full time position with this search.
Position Description:
The Managing Educator has primary responsibility for the design, coordination, and implementation of education and family/adult programs for the Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary and Victorian Garden in Flushing, Queens. The Managing Educator works with the Director to advance learning and interpretive strategies and marshal resources to meet museum goals. The Museum offers educational workshops, primarily to elementary school classes in science, art and humanities (accommodating one class per morning) weekdays – taught by educator or teaching artists, with additional programming developed for family and mixed age audiences year-round. The Museum has several successful workshops and is seeking to revise and develop more of its humanities-related educational workshops for elementary (and eventually teen-adult groups). Working on a small staff, the Educator plays a role in development of overall programming and interpretation for the public and the developing dimensions of virtual programming of the Museum.
Reports to:
Executive Director
Job Requirements & Responsibilities:
– Oversee the Museum’s existing educational and family programs
– Teach visiting classes
– Improve and expand programs to support the mission of the museum and better meet the needs of the Museum’s audiences
– Manage administrative systems for class bookings, tracking contacts, instructors, supplies, volunteers, and facilities
– Schedule and orient instructors, teaching artists, consultants, interns, and volunteers to support educational programming
– Work with staff to develop marketing strategies and materials to publicize programs
– Maintain a relationship with area schools and engage them in Museum’s programming
– Develop grant prospects and proposals with the Director
– Provide educational perspective in the interpretation of period rooms, exhibitions and garden
– Serve on the Museum’s Education Planning Committee, composed of Board, staff and advisors, documenting its activities and progress
– Represent the Museum in professional networks
Candidate Qualifications:
– Demonstrated experience developing and delivering programs for school and/or museum audiences
– Experience in museum education or a related museum position, or comparable field
– Supervisory or team-leadership experience in managing programs and projects
– Understanding of current NYS educational standards and learning skills
– Knowledge of visual learning strategies and query-based interpretation and current trends in Museum education
– Strong organizational and communications skills: attention to detail, deadlines & goals
– Ability to work effectively with diverse audiences
– Ability to research and learn about unfamiliar subjects
– Ability to attend some programs and meetings during non-business hours.
– Capacity and flexibility to work with a small but dedicated staff with respect and collegiality
– BA/BS with relevant professional experience is minimum. Candidates working towards advanced degrees are welcome
– Comfort with technology and social media, and fluency in a Microsoft Office computer environment
Position Type:
Full-Time
Union Status:
Non-Union
FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt
Salary or Compensation:
$47,320 starting salary plus benefits
Organization or Project Website:
http://www.vomuseum.org
Application Info:
Submit a letter of interest and resume in Word or PDF. Send to the Museum’s Director, Deborah Silverfine, director@vomuseum.org and reference “Managing Educator” in the subject heading. We aim to fill the position early in 2025.
Candidates will be asked to provide two references and a sample of a curriculum or lesson plan that they developed or adapted.