2024 Recruitment
Managing Educator
The Managing Educator has primary responsibility for the design, coordination, and implementation of education and family programs for the Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary and Victorian Garden in Flushing, Queens. The Museum occupies an 1890s immigrant family's home. It offers a variety of educational programs that integrate house and garden and take an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating history, environmental science, and art.
The Managing Educator works with the Director to advance learning and interpretive strategies and marshal resources to meet museum goals. This is a permanent part-time position, 4 days/ 28 hours a week, at $25. per hour, with benefits.
Responsibilities
- Oversee VOMuseum’s existing educational and family programs: quality, budget, participation, audience interest, relevance
- Improve and expand programs to support the mission of the museum and better meet the needs of New York City students
- Teach a portion of weekly visiting classes
- Manage administrative systems for class bookings, tracking contacts, instructors, supplies, volunteers, and facilities
- Work with staff to develop marketing strategies and materials to publicize programs
- Schedule and orient instructors, teaching artists, consultants, interns, and volunteers to support educational programming
- 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 and exhibitions
- Serve on the VOMuseum’s Education Planning Committee, documenting its activities and progress
- Represent the Museum in professional networks
Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience developing and delivering programs for school and family audiences
- Experience in museum education, history, art history, museum studies, or a humanities-related 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 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
To apply
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. Position remains open until filled.
Candidates will be asked to provide two references and a sample of a curriculum or lesson plan that they developed or adapted.
The Voelker Orth Museum (VOM) recruits and hires employees without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or sexual preference, and treats all employees equally with respect to compensation and opportunities for advancement, including upgrading, or promotion. VOM supports the Americans with Disabilities Act and will take such measures insofar as possible to assist employees who need accommodation. VOM is a drug-free workplace and has a strict policy against sexual harassment. Reference checks are conducted for all positions. Equal Opportunity Employer.
Board Members (voluntary position)
The Voelker Orth Museum is seeking individuals willing and capable of contributing to the Museum’s governance and growth through Board service. Based in an 1890s Landmarked house in Flushing, Queens, the Museum serves a diverse community with programs in the arts; horticulture & nature science; and local history in a welcoming, inventive, and multi-disciplinary manner.
To achieve its goals and realize its vision, the Board needs individuals with perspectives drawn from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, skill sets, areas of expertise, and lived experiences to help it strengthen the impact of its work. The Museum operates with a small professional staff working in tandem with the Board.
Board members serve on a voluntary basis for 3-year renewable terms. They are expected to participate in six annual meetings, serve on a Board Committee, advocate for the Museum’s needs in the community and among colleagues and peers; and support selected programs.
Prospective Board members should send a letter of interest and resume. Candidates for Board service are asked to complete a short written application and attend a Board meeting prior to nomination. For inquiries about Board service or to apply, please call, email info@vomuseum.org or write to Patricia B. Sherwood, Voelker Orth Museum, 149-19 38th Avenue, Flushing NY 11354