MUSEUM EXPERIENCE & ADMINISTRATION SPECIALIST

Organization: CAYTON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer
Working closely with: All Members of the Cayton Team
Job Type: Part-Time & Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Hourly
Schedule: 7.5-37.5 hours per week/ weeknights and weekend 
availability required, based on Wed-Sun operating hours 

About the Cayton Children’s Museum

We are on a mission to serve the many communities that make up the greater Los Angeles area through engaging exhibits and playful learning opportunities as well as relevant and responsive programming. The Cayton Children’s Museum is a nonprofit organization that activates the power of PLAY to enrich the lives of children and their families, build stronger, more connected communities, and create a better world. We strive to nurture children of all backgrounds and abilities to become engaged citizens of the world by facilitating collaborative, experiential learning and creative expression, both in our Museum space and through our community programs.

The Cayton Children’s Museum is at an inflection point and charting a course for the future. It’s an exciting time in the evolution of the organization, marked by rapid change and opportunity. The Museum Experience & Administration Specialist is a critical contributor to the Museum’s future.

About the Role

The Museum Experience & Administration Specialist (ME&AS) is a professional who enjoys helping children and families grow and thrive, and is captivated by the idea of building a strong organization that serves Santa Monica, and the broader surrounding Los Angeles area communities.

The ME&AS is a versatile team member, multi-faceted contributor, cross-functional “utility layer”, and “jack-of-all-trades" professional. Our team members are the heartbeat of our organization. It’s everyone’s job to provide a professional environment, conditions, and 
experience that are rewarding, joyful, and fulfilling. The ME&AS will serve on teams and at times lead teams as projects dictate. 

Responsibilities

The ME&AS will fulfill job roles as assigned based on skills and expertise, and in alignment with the needs of the organization. Roles and assignments can change as the goals of the organization change. The ME&AS is needed to do whatever needs to be done to ensure service to our guests, collaboration within our team and with our partners, and the growth of the organization. Moreover, the ME&AS is expected to go above and beyond assigned tasks to seek out how they can be helpful and fulfill the needs of the organization.


Examples of Project Areas and Key Responsibilities:

Program Support: Lead/Assist in the development, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs.
Visitor Engagement: Provide exceptional customer service to visitors, answering questions, and facilitating interactive experiences.
Administrative Duties: Lead/Support administrative tasks such as scheduling, data entry, and maintaining records.
Event Coordination: Lead/Assist in planning and executing Museum events, including setup, coordination, facilitation, and teardown.
Maintenance and Safety: Ensure exhibits and public areas are clean, safe, and well-maintained. 
Collaboration: Work closely with various team members including those specializing in education, development, marketing, and operations, to support Museum initiatives.
Training and Supervision: Train and supervise volunteers and part-time staff as needed.
Exhibit Stewardship: Lead/Assist in the set-up, maintenance, and on-going care of exhibits, ensuring they are engaging, safe, and educational.
Community Outreach: Lead/Support community outreach programs to promote the Museum and its offerings.
Feedback Collection: Gather and analyze member/visitor feedback to improve Museum experience.
Inventory Management: Monitor and manage inventory of educational materials, supplies, and equipment.
Marketing Support: Lead/Assist marketing efforts with promotional activities, including social media updates and program/event promotions.
Grant Writing: Lead/Support the development, submission, and reporting requirements of grant proposals/projects to secure funding for Museum programs and initiatives.
Emergency Response: Act as a point of contact during emergencies, ensuring the safety and well-being of members/visitors and staff.
Educational Program Development: Engage and collaborate with educators and teaching artists to design and implement innovative, hands-on learning experiences for children and families.
Volunteer Coordination: Recruit, train, and manage volunteers to support Museum activities and programs.
Data Analysis: Analyze attendance and participation data to inform Museum experience improvements and strategic planning.
Partnership Development: Establish and maintain partnerships with schools, community organizations, foundations, and other cultural institutions.
Curriculum Alignment: Ensure Museum programs align with educational standards and curricula to enhance school partnerships.
Visitor Experience Enhancement: Continuously seek ways to improve the overall visitor experience through feedback and innovative practices.
Fundraising Support: Lead/Assist in organizing fundraising materials, communications, events, and campaigns to support Children’s Museum initiatives.
Policy Development: Contribute to the development and implementation of Museum policies and procedures to ensure operational efficiency.
-- Other duties as assigned. --

Characteristics

The ME&AS will exhibit personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to the vision and purpose of the Cayton Children’s Museum, as well as embody these attributes:

  •  Positive attitude and a true interest in serving people inside and outside the organization
  • Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and achieving goals
  • Team player willing to work together to advance the organization
  • Unflappable, committed to creative problem-solving, even under pressure.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, Education, Nonprofit/Arts Administration, or a related 
field preferred.

Experience

Minimum of 2 years of experience in a museum, educational, nonprofit, or customer service 
setting.

Physical Requirements

The person in this position must be able to:

  • Sit, stand and/or move about for sustained periods of time
  • Lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.

Skills

  • Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Thrive in a fast-paced environment. Ability to multitask and adapt to changing priorities.
  • Bilingual English/Spanish, both written and oral, a plus
  • Ability to both lead and join/support a team as necessary
  • Excellent project management and documentation skill set required. Experience with Asana a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

  •  $28-$43 Hourly, commensurate with experience
  • Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
  • Retirement plan
  • Health and childcare flexible accounts
  • Vacation and sick days; paid holidays
  • Commuter benefits

The Cayton Children’s Museum is an equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, which includes providing equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

This position complies with California wage and hour laws, including overtime pay, meal and rest breaks, and minimum wage requirements.

Adherence to California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) standards to ensure a safe working environment