Education Specialist - Museum jobs in Phoenix, AZ

MIM’s Mission: The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) enriches our world by collecting, preserving, and making accessible an astonishing variety of musical instruments and performance videos from every country in the world. MIM offers guests a welcoming and fun experience, incomparable interactive technology, dynamic programming, and exceptional musical performances. MIM fosters appreciation of the world’s diverse cultures by showing how we innovate, adapt, and learn from each other to create music—the language of the soul.

Position Summary: MIM seeks a dynamic and energetic thought-partner to guide the development and implementation of engaging, inquiry-based, educational experiences. The curator of education will lead the Education Department’s efforts to interpret musical and cultural content for educational programs serving audiences of all ages. Current educational offerings include MIMkids sequential programming (classes for early childhood through grade 12), a robust student and youth field trip program (including educational Artist Residency concerts and STEM options), and a burgeoning mix of offerings for older adults, including those living with memory loss. The curator of education will bring additional understanding of and experience in best practices in museum education and world music pedagogy to the MIM team. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment. This position reports to the Director of Education and Public Programs. 

Primary Responsibilities: 

• In collaboration with the Director of Education and Public Programs, identify both short- and long-term projects and priorities for MIM’s Education Department, in alignment with MIM’s mission, institutional priorities, and departmental goals
  1. Identify the needs of the communities served by MIM, and develop specific strategies and educational programs in response 
  2. Develop, monitor, and manage the Education Department budget, with particular focus on expenses and revenues related to non-field trip initiatives 
  3. Maintain accurate tracking records for grant reporting, board reports, and strategic plans
• In collaboration with the Education Specialist, Museum Educator, and others, lead/co-lead and manage a variety of educational workshops, trainings, and sessions throughout the year such as: volunteer Museum Guide (docent) trainings, teacher professional development sessions, senior wellness activities, MIMkids classes, and more. 
• In collaboration with the Volunteer Department and other members of the Education Department, recruit, train, and mentor Museum Guides; oversee aspects of Museum Guide administrative management 
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships in a variety of areas (early childhood, creative aging, etc.) to advance MIM’s educational impact within local, regional, and national audiences
• Maintain a visible presence in the professional community by presenting information about the work of the MIM Education Department, as appropriate
• Evaluate current educational programs and initiatives
• Provide guidance and expertise in arts-integrated object- and inquiry-based pedagogy and programming
• Develop tour content and train Museum Guides on the delivery of public tours aligned with special exhibitions in the Target Gallery
• Contribute to grants, publications, social media, etc. as a subject-matter expert 
• Curate MIM’s Experience and Encore Galleries, identifying opportunities for enhancement/improvement 
• Manage a team that includes up to two direct reports and an intern 

Qualifications:

The following list represents the qualifications and experience of the ideal candidate. We recognize this position is highly specialized and it is unlikely a single candidate will possess every desired qualification. We encourage anyone with a passion for educational programming rooted in world music and culture to apply. Please describe your qualifications in more detail in a cover letter.

• Post-secondary education in music, music education, ethnomusicology, or related field; terminal degree highly preferred
• Demonstrated research skills and knowledge of ethnomusicology sources; ability to synthesize complex information into age-appropriate materials
• 5 years of experience in formal and/or informal educational settings, working with diverse ages (early childhood, elementary, middle- and high-school, adults, seniors)
• Understanding of preK-12^th grade arts-integrated curriculum, lesson plans, and activities
• Experience and comfort leading a variety of educational activities (music-making, lecture-style classes, small-group coaching sessions, interactive workshops, and guided gallery tours)
• Comfort with leading diverse music making experiences
• Advanced knowledge of music and familiarity with a range of musical styles, genres, and practices
• Love of world music and cultures
• Understanding of strong organizational brand and commitment to brand standards 
• Exceptional presentation and teaching skills—both in-person and via Zoom 
• Excellent written and oral communication
• Ability to manage people—experience coaching and cultivating skills, providing guidance, and mentoring 
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to function and excel as part of a team, working collaboratively with various departments, team members, and external partner
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Windows-based computer applications; ability to learn new software programs
• Occasional weekend and evening hours may be required
• Bilingual a plus

Other:

• This is a full-time position working on-site at MIM
• Anticipated starting salary up to $65K annually, DOE, plus a comprehensive benefits package