Early Childhood Gallery Specialist

Description

The Early Childhood Gallery Specialist will join the Adult and Family Programs team to support fun and interactive play-based learning in the Discovery Zone and other early childhood programs and spaces. This position will actively engage with our youngest learners through informal engagement, facilitation, and educational programming, and will contribute to the growth of early childhood programs at the Museum. A portion of this role will include upkeep and coordination of the day to day operations of the Discovery Zone which includes supply management, basic facility upkeep, program audits and maintenance, and collaboration with internal partners on the overall maintenance of the space. This role will primarily be based in a high energy space and require a large amount of guest interaction in public facing spaces. The Early Childhood Gallery Specialist will work closely with our Educators, Operations Specialists and Program Coordinators to ignite a passion for nature and science for kids and their grownups!

Job Class: Three Quarter-Time - Seasonal

Hiring Range: $23/hr

Work Schedule: Wednesday - Sunday (negotiable)

Direct Reports: 0

Essential Duties

• Program Operations and Logistics
• Prepares the Discovery Zone for daily operations by ensuring program supplies, props and materials are clean, fully stocked, and set up for guests to use.
• Monitors the Discovery Zone to ensure each element is working as intended and collaborates with coordinators and managers to address gaps.
• Demonstrates professional autonomy through in-the-moment decision making, adaptation and ongoing assessment of audience needs and interests.
• Actively engages with guests in the gallery and helps create a welcoming and inclusive environment.
• Audience Engagement
• Facilitates and delivers programming for early childhood and family audiences
• Hosts/coordinates events and programs by acting as team lead, ensuring internal teams and partners have needed materials and information through collaborating, supporting, seeing frontline experience, being present point of contact for problem-solving, checking-in with team, and/or leading event.
• Program Development
• Works with coordinators and educators on the development of new Museum experiences and remediation of existing experiences, with a focus on early childhood audiences and their caregivers.
• Participation may include; ideation/research; prototyping; creative input; curriculum/script writing; experience development; evaluation; remediation/refinement.
• Ensures content is audience centered, accurate and age appropriate, aligned with Museum mission, community themes and values, and DEAI practice. Stays fluent in ongoing community research and engagement strategies.
• Responds to audience input, prototype outcomes and professional input, including the ability to abandon preconceptions and pivot when needed.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications/Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent work experience
• 1 year experience in program coordination
• Ability to work weekends and evenings for programs and events
  
  
  

Ideal Candidate Will Be/Have

• Experience working or volunteering with early childhood audiences
• Experience supporting or managing program logistics
• Experience facilitating in an informal education space
• Excitement and passion for working with young learners
  
  
  

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume, cover letter, and answers to application questions by 6:00 p.m. MT on 9/7/25. Applications will not be accepted after this time. DMNS reserves the right to close the position prior to this date. Applications may only be accepted electronically via the Museum's website .