STRATEGIC JOB DESCRIPTION

Every employee at the Louisiana Children’s Museum has the same Strategic Job Description. It includes three elements, listed in order of priority.

1. Your first priority – Is to achieve the museum’s purpose. In other words, you in particular are responsible for everything.

2. Your second priority – Is to help others achieve the museum’s purpose.

3. Your third priority – Is to carry out your job function.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position is a key administration position, working closely with the CEO to implement the museum’s mission and aspire to the vision of the re-imagined LCM.  “Mission delivery” includes planning and overseeing all exhibit experiences, programmatic impact (both onsite for families and field trips and offsite for programs intending to impact behavioral changes). Guiding and coaching staff as we weave together developmentally appropriate experiences for young children, authentic content from the four primary focus areas (environmental education, health & wellness, early literacy, arts & culture), and create family learning experiences in a manner influenced by the Reggio Emilia approach to learning. Working in partnership with strategic partners is an important element of this position.    

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Master’s degree in Education or related experience

2. Informal education / museum experience preferred

3. Skills and ability to create, lead, follow, coach, supervise, model, evaluate, implement, and direct the museum’s education programs, experiences and activities – team player a must!

4. Deep knowledge of child development and Reggio Emilia approach 

5. Proven knowledge of local and regional community needs, issues and opportunities in regard to education experiences – leaders and emerging players in early education, health and wellness and environmental education  

6. Creative, strategic, big picture and resourceful thinker

7. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written

8. Strong organization and computer skills

9. Stewardship of relationships and ability to represent the Museum to the community when necessary

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Experience and work responsibilities include:

• Integrated institutional planning – working in concert with CEO and leadership from the marketing, development and finance departments, advance annual planning designed to ensure quality experiences, attract designated / targeted audiences, accomplish institutional goals, and drive earned revenue will guide work on 12 – 48 month basis, working towards continual improvement.  Qualifications include administrative leadership experience.
• Early childhood development (particularly as it relates to the play-based experiences in the field of children’s museums and informal learning or interactive exhibits). Understanding stages of child development to plan activities, experiences, curriculum development when appropriate for maximum success and fun. Qualifications include knowledge of early childhood development and experience training and coaching others. 
• Reggio Emilia background – the museum’s facility and exhibits were developed through inspiration of the Reggio Emilia approach to learning, and daily programs and activities will need to advance the delivery of that inspiration. Documentation stations are in various places of the museum, designed to share the Reggio-inspired learning that will happen each week. Included in this approach is the use of natural materials. This position will provide leadership towards accomplishing that lofty goal. Qualifications include a working knowledge of the Reggio approach and the role of documentation in learning about learning.
• Professional Development and Parenting Education – ability to effectively communicate with parents from all backgrounds and of different age children, to ensure a strong family learning and play experience. Knowledge of local professionals who can collectively share knowledge of holistic development. Qualifications include working with parents of young children, early childhood professionals on local, state or national basis.
• Supervisory experience – directly overseeing 4-8 FT staff members in the Education Department, indirectly overseeing part-time staff members, in addition to volunteers in appropriate roles. These responsibilities include recruiting, hiring, onboarding, supervising, evaluating, in coordination with key staff members on leadership team. Qualifications include supervision of full time and part time staff members.
• Grant compliance – grant-funded programs vary at LCM, but there will likely be several programs each year that will require management of planning, scheduling, quality delivery, evaluation and reporting on anticipated impacts or behavioral changes.  Qualifications include project management (time, money, staff, deliverables, evaluation and report).
• Partnership management – prioritizing, levering and maximizing strategic partnerships in the areas of environmental education, health and wellness, early literacy, early childhood development (including parent education), and arts and culture.  Qualifications include experience in collaborations. 
• Familiarity of education reform movement – understanding the shifting dynamics of Louisiana’s education reform movement.  Qualifications include working knowledge of the history and players in the city’s and state’s education reform movement.
• Financial management – working within a designated annual budget to maximize resources for mission delivery and community gains. Qualifications include being responsible for budget (development, tracking, analyzing, reporting)

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Department: Education 

Reports to:  CEO

Supervises: Education Department members - Early Learning Manager, In Dialogue Manager (Community Engagement), Play Coach (oversees exhibit galleries operation), Gallery / Impact Area Managers 

Coordinates with: CEO, COO, Chief Advancement Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Marketing & Sales Director 

Interacts with: Community Partners, Museum Members, Museum Visitors, Teachers, Vendors, Museum Colleagues, Donors, Sponsors

Tools 

1. LCM Learning Framework

2. ELV Planning Framework

3. Gallery Training Manuals - History and details of each exhibit gallery, as well as outdoor learning experiences 

4. Educational Programs Calendar

5.      Departmental Budgets (exhibits, programs, staff, etc.)

TO APPLY

To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter to Julia Bland at jbland@lcm.org.  Please also submit a separate document addressing how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and qualifications listed in the position.