Coordinator of Early Childhood Programs and Museum Educator

We Are Committed to an Inclusive Workplace
At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.

How You Will Contribute

Reporting to the Manager of Family Programs, this person is dedicated to making the museum welcoming, accessible, age-appropriate, and exciting through a range of activities and opportunities designed for kids and their families. The Coordinator of Early Childhood School Programs develops and coordinates all aspects of the Museum Looks and Picture Books program and will lead age-appropriate tours that emphasize participatory and hands-on experiences that make meaningful connections to the PMA collection and temporary exhibitions. This work includes but is not limited to planning and facilitating gallery, virtual, and in-school experiences for preschool groups, nourishing relationships with pre-K teachers and administrators, and collaborating on Art Kids, a year-round series of drop-in family programs and tours. Along with the Family Programs team, this person will contribute to the planning and implementation of large monthly Family Festivals.

Specifically, you will:

• Administer the Museum Looks & Picture Books programs by creating a suite of themes and curriculum, including selection of picture books, gallery lesson content and art projects, and pre- and post- visit materials for teachers and students
• Regularly teach and create engaging gallery and virtual lessons in collaboration with the Family Programs team
• Develop written resources for kids, families, and educators inspired by the museum’s collection; including but not limited to: art activities, writing prompts, and thematic lessons
• Order and prepare all program supplies
• Send out confirmation and other correspondence with participating teachers
• Work with the Manager of Family programs to manage the Early Childhood budget
• Support Art Kids drop-in programs, including weekend drop-in programs as well as seasonal holiday programs for families
• Collaborate with other School & Teacher Program Educators to develop and lead an annual early childhood professional development workshop for teachers.
• Attend weekly Public Programs team meeting and Division of Learning and Engagement meetings
• Work closely with staff in School and Teacher Programs, Public Programs, and Community Engagement and Access Programs
• Be a resource for Philadelphia region educators and administrators, especially those in early childhood, to help support learning through the visual arts and the museum’s collections.
• Provide training and support to interns who may assist with programs
• Perform other duties as assigned

Your background and experience include:

• Familiarity with art making materials and/or interest in art history and museums
• Experience working with children (in formal and informal settings) and the general public
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Current knowledge around early childhood learning and process- art curriculum
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills including public speaking
• Excellent customer service skills, we welcome a background in retail, hospitality, and dining
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting, contributing to, and supporting an equitable and inclusive culture (DEAI)
• Demonstrated planning and organizational skills
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in audience engagement and creating and maintaining authentic relationships with Early Childhood administrators
• Understanding of object-based and inquiry- based teaching methodologies preferred

Position and Compensation Details:

• The salary for this position is $48,000
• This position is full-time, exempt, and 35 hours per week
• This position requires weekend availability
• This position is part of the AFSCME Local 397 bargaining unit
• This position reports to the Manager of Family Programs
• This is a grant funded position scheduled through June 30, 2025
• Physical requirements:
• Able to remain stationary for extended periods of time, to utilize computers and other office equipment required of this job, to perform physically administrative duties in a typical interior office environment, gallery, or exhibit space, and to access most public and staff areas of the museum campus
• Able to move through crowded public spaces easily for hours at a time to direct family and student groups throughout the building
• Able to position self to be able to engage in interactive programs with children
• Able to move items weighing up to 50 pounds
• COVID-19 vaccination required.
• Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
• PA Child Abuse Clearance and FBI Fingerprinting required.

Institutional Requirements

• Upholds the professional standards of the field, always acts in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the museum, and protects and enhances its reputation and standing within the community of museums.
• Adheres to the museum’s code of ethics and Employee Handbook and avoids any real or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Shows respect for co-workers and visitors and an understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of the museum’s staff, volunteers, and audiences.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Adheres to all museum protocols, procedures, rules, and policies.

Application Timeline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage candidates to apply early as the position will close once we have a robust applicant pool or a candidate has been selected.

What We Offer

Our employees are at the center of the museum. As an employee, you will have access to numerous museum perks including, but not limited to:

• Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family
• Discounted guest tickets for admission
• Discounts on gift memberships
• Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teams
• Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores

We offer a comprehensive benefits package for employees* including:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Fully paid short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance
• Health savings or flexible spending account program
• Retirement savings program with museum match
• Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays
• *Eligibility for certain benefits is based on a variety of factors including the employee’s regular schedule and tenure.