The starting salary is $65,767 to $77,375, depending upon qualifications. The full salary range for this position is up to $104,594.

The mission of the Children’s Discovery Museum is to inspire the love of learning through the power of play. Our mission is accomplished by providing hands-on exhibits, classes, and programs that actively engage the visitor in experiences that stimulate imagination, curiosity, and wonder. The Children’s Discovery Museum is part of the broader Cultural Arts Department of the Town of Normal. The Museum team seeks applicants with enthusiasm and passion for public service to join the organization.

This is a visible and active position responsible for developing, implementing, delivering, and coordinating all classes, programs, and educational activities at events that serve Museum patrons and community partners. Additionally, this role provides support and direction for educational enrichment through the whole of the Cultural Arts Department. This position is responsible for the educational impact of Museum exhibits, keeping up with state learning standards for classes/camp curricula, and helping the Development team secure outside funding for outreach and collaborative programs to further the Museum’s mission to “inspire the love of learning through the power of play”. This position hires and supervises all full-time educators, part-time educators, as well as managing and mentoring interns and volunteers assisting the education staff. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Executive Director of the Cultural Arts Department.

• Responsible for maintaining the educational mission of the Museum by overseeing the development of fun, innovative, informal, and hands-on classes, programs, and exhibits at the Museum. Works with the Executive Director to develop budgets for multiple education lines.
• Manages Museum Educators and approves programming offered through all onsite and offsite programs, including management of programming within assigned Museum exhibits.
• Leads regular individual and team meetings to review programing goals and objectives.
• Coordinates with the Development Director to research, write, and manage grant funding for education programming to further the Museum’s mission.
• Supervises, coordinates and/or conducts educational classes, programs, and events both inside and outside the Museum. Fills-in as a substitute for all Education programs when necessary.
• Serves as the Museum’s liaison with the surrounding public and private school systems, home school systems, preschools, and community organizations.
• Manages educational impact of hands-on exhibits during design phase and collaborates with the Exhibit Manager and the Guest Services and Support Coordinator in the creation of training materials for part-time floor staff.
• Supports and facilitates educational components of fundraising events for the Museum’s foundation board.
• Develops university intern & course connected volunteer opportunities, markets such opportunities, selects and supervises university interns.
• Develops community partners to facilitate educational programs at the Museum; researches and applies to national partnerships & initiatives.
• Maintains statistical records of all educational activities offered by the Museum for preparing reports and presentations, grant applications, and donor tools.
• Manages the Education Department supply, staffing, and contract budgets including grants, scholarships, and sponsorships.
• Oversees evaluation and assessment tools for Education programs and events.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Graduation from college or university with a degree or classroom hours in an Education field or Museum Studies; an emphasis on children or youth informal education is preferred, or any other experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.