Position Summary:

Become part of Port Discovery's new initiative, the At Play Learning Institute (APLI). Our mission is to engage caregivers and children innovative, play-based educational experiences and programs. This position includes informal interactions, as well as structured activities and workshops within the museum and offsite.

Our part-time At Play Learning Specialist position is primarily responsible for performing an essential role in Port Discovery’s community outreach. You will work closely with the APLI Assistant Director and receive training about the importance of play for families and community partners.

In general, your schedule will consist of 4-6 hour shifts Monday to Friday. However, there will be occasional evening and weekend work, which will be communicated in advance. The position offers a total of about 24 weekly hours.

Starting pay for this position is $20.00 per hour.

Port Discovery is seeking individuals who are:

• Energetic, enthusiastic, creative, dependable and flexible.
• Passionate about play and making a difference in the lives of families and the community.
• Engaging with children and adults individually and in large groups.
• Comfortable co-facilitating workshops with children and adults of multiple age groups.
• Calm under pressure and has excellent communication skills.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Co-facilitate Partners At Play Sessions, including:
  • Pack-up and transport materials between the museum and offsite locations;
  • Greet community partners upon arrival and communicate about today’s set-up and plans.
  • Set-up materials in preparation for workshop sessions.
  • Greet participants and take attendance.
  • Co-facilitate circle times, caregiver discussions, exploration activities, reflection discussions with a designated workshop theme.
  • Circulate and engage participants in discussions during workshops.
  • Provide take-home materials related to the session theme.to each participant.
• Work with the APLI Assistant Director to share ideas, feedback and develop suggestions for our next workshop.
• Assist in maintenance and preparation of all materials.
• Foster long-term relationships with community partners and participants.
• Support other APLI program development and implementation as needed.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma required; Early Childhood Education credentials and certifications are a plus.
• A college degree in Early Childhood Education, or other related fields, is a plus.
• Multi-lingual (especially Spanish) communicators are preferred.
• 2 – 4 years of previous experience working or volunteering with children and/or adults in an educational setting.
• Public programming and/or group facilitation experience is a strong plus.
• Warm and welcoming interpersonal communication skills.
• Express ideas clearly and present information effectively.
• Ability to work a flexible, varying schedule.
• Access to personal transportation is required.
• Must be 18 years of age and able to pass a criminal background check.

Benefits:

Port Discovery provides you with the opportunity to make a difference in the community and in the lives of children. Additional benefits include:

• Convenient location next to a subway stop, or we offer free parking.
• Free admission to the Museum for family.
• Earned time off for sick leave.
• Retirement savings with Museum match after 6 months.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

Must be able to meet physical demands of job to include walking, standing, climbing, bending, kneeling and lifting / moving objects up to 50 pounds. Will be required to stand for long periods of time while performing educational programming. Will also frequently sit for administrative / materials prep work. This position involves some travel and the need to traverse uneven terrain with bins and outreach supplies.

This position operates predominantly directly with front-line guests (children and families) and partially in a back-office environment (for materials prep). Work is performed indoors, and the noise level is usually moderate to high. Must be comfortable working amongst small groups of children and caregivers.

At Play Program Background:

Port Discovery (PD) serves as a critical community resource that offers families a safe, engaging, and welcoming place to play, learn and explore together. In enacting this mission, the museum serves as a key community resource for providing opportunities that can help strengthen positive growth and developmental outcomes for young children and their families, particularly in the area of school readiness. Under the leadership of our Learning and Visitor Experience Department, PD is in the initial stages of developing, implementing, and scaling our new At Play Learning Institute (APLI). APLI represents the museum’s new delivery arm for providing research-based and rigorously evaluated approaches to improving early developmental and learning experiences for young children, improving school readiness outcomes, and strengthening our state’s early childhood professional pipeline.

Port Discovery is designing APLI as a resource that will:

• Provide opportunities to model play and learning strategies in multi-generational community
• partnership programs.
• Offer training and professional learning opportunities in an immersive museum setting.
• Serve as a teaching museum to students across various academic tracks.
• Expand our research partnerships with universities.
• Convene thought leaders for seminars on the science of play and grow a cohort of At Play Fellows.

All of APLI’s goals and objectives are grounded in our museum’s commitment to strengthening the use of play-based approaches and strategies among caregivers and early childhood professionals. The anagram of APLI is purposefully chosen: We strive to see play-based learning applied throughout our museum, across early learning settings, and among families at home.

Port Discovery’s Learning and Visitor Experience Department’s mission is to engage all our visitors and community partners in innovative, play-based learning experiences and programs. All of the Department’s work centers the lived experience of children and families in developing research- and evidence-based approaches to learning and visitor experiences, while promoting diversity, equity, access and inclusion. The work of the Department is also aligned with Port Discovery’s Strategic Plan, PLAY Framework, as well as an ongoing cycle of inquiry that guides staff growth and performance management.

We will also provide you with the memorable experience of being part of a world-class institution, the ability for you to be a key ingredient in our creative and informal programming, and the opportunity to experience our unique job-related training. Bring us your enthusiasm and passion!

To learn more about Port Discovery Children’s Museum, visit https://www.portdiscovery.org/. Port Discovery is an Equal Opportunity Employer.