The Museum of the City of New York fosters understanding of the distinctive nature of urban life in the world’s most influential metropolis. It engages visitors by celebrating, documenting, and interpreting the city’s past, present, and future. Founded in 1923, the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) showcases the city’s unique stories and cultural treasures. The country’s first and largest city museum, MCNY presents immersive exhibitions and programs at the intersection of history, popular culture, and art to 200,000 people annually, including 30,000 students and educators, fostering shared identity, civic pride and engagement, and social cohesion for New Yorkers. MCNY has been recognized as one of the leading museums in New York City by publications such as Condé Nast Traveler and the New York Times, with Time Out New York awarding MCNY “Best Museum” in New York in 2021.

 

Reporting to the Vice President of Education and Engagement, the Assistant Director, K-12 Learning develops and oversees K-12 student and teacher experiences and programs at the Museum of the City of New York. This position supervises the Manager of Field Trip Experiences and the Manager of Professional Learning. This position supports the supervision of the Education Operations Coordinator, Postgraduate fellows, and Museum Educators by the Manager of Field Trip Experiences and Manager of Professional Learning.

 

A key member of the Museum’s Education and Engagement team, the Assistant Director (AD) is responsible for the oversight and development of student and teacher programs that creatively engage PK-12 students with the stories of New York City through a variety of lenses, including history, the arts, activism, social justice, STEAM (STEM + Arts), and civic engagement. The AD is responsible for the creation of field trips, workshops, and teacher programs, growing student and teacher audiences for both on-site, digital, and off-site experiences and generating revenue through those programs. The AD strives to ensure that experiences and content are in alignment with NYS Education Frameworks including the Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CRSE) framework, ensuring that the Museum provide learning environments that affirm racial, linguistic, and cultural identities; prepare students for rigor and independent learning; develop students' abilities to connect across lines of difference; elevate historically marginalized voices; and empower young people as agents of change. They collaborate with colleagues, outside partners, and schools to create learning experiences that foster meaning-making and critical thinking skills.

 

Roles and Responsibilities: 

 

Student and Teacher Experiences

 

  • Develop, research, and design field trips, student and teacher workshops, in-school programs, and education content for the Museum’s K-12 audiences.
  • Strategize with the VP of Education and Engagement and colleagues to grow K-12 audiences through onsite, offsite, and virtual engagement.
  • Conduct evaluation for student programs and adapt programs in response to feedback.
  • Grow and maintain relationships with local schools and partner organizations, including the New York City Department of Education.
  • Teach field trips, student and teacher workshops, and in-school programs as needed.

 

Leadership

 

  • Mentor and supervise Manager of Field Trip Experiences and Manager of Professional Learning.
  • Observe educators and provide substantive feedback to improve job performance and cultivate strong facilitation and teaching skills.
  • Coordinate with colleagues in all departments to ensure program success, including Curatorial, Public Programs, Development, Marketing, Collections, and Building Services.
  • Oversee and manage program budgets effectively.
  • Participate in regular department leadership strategy meetings to review income and expenses, attendance metrics, evaluation feedback, and ongoing alignment to goals.
  • Collaborate with the VP of Education and Engagement and Development on fundraising initiatives, including supporting funding proposals, contributing to grant writing, and providing data for reporting and analysis.
  • Conduct performance reviews for direct reports
  • Present at conferences and network with museum education and non-profit education professionals.

 

  • Perform other duties as needed

A successful candidate will have: 

  • A minimum of 5-7 years in a supervisory role and the ability and desire to supervise teaching staff and provide constructive, supportive feedback
  • A master’s degree in museum studies, education, history, anthropology, or similar
  • Demonstrated success in working directly with K-12 students and teachers in a museum, educational non-profit, and/or school setting
  • Experience developing curriculum or educational materials for student audiences.
  • Knowledge of formal and informal learning experiences particularly in a museum context.
  • Understanding of educational frameworks including CRSE framework (or similar)
  • Excellent communication skills in person and via phone and email
  • Excellent editing and writing skills and attention to detail
  • The ability to manage multiple projects and concurrent deadlines
  • The desire to work in and contribute to a collaborative, supportive environment
  • Ability to work with a diverse suite of software including Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, and more

 

Physical Requirements & Work Environment: 

While performing the essential functions of the job, the Assistant Director primarily works a Monday-Friday with occasional weekend or evening work required. Work is primarily onsite at the Museum, in an open office plan setting. The Museum environment is fast-paced and workspaces include the Museum’s galleries and classroom spaces. Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time and able to traverse through office and museum gallery environment. Requires the ability to operate standard office equipment including computers and keyboards for extended periods of time. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. On occasion, the employee may be required to work outside events with weather conditions including heat and cold.

 

Benefits: 

The annual salary for this position is $70,000. The position offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, life insurance, 401K and a defined benefit pension plan, short and long-term disability, and an Employee Assistance Program, with options for critical illness insurance, accident insurance, legal services, and pet insurance. The Museum provides a paid time off policy that includes 10 days of annual leave, rising to 15 days in year 2, and to 20 days in year 3, plus 12 sick days per year and 12 holidays. Your employment relationship with the Museum qualifies you for free or discounted admissions to other participating cultural institutions.

 

The Museum of the City of New York is committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as New York City and the audiences who are curious about learning more about its history and engaging in contemporary urban issues. Our staff members are dedicated to working towards a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring city museum in the world. 

 

The Museum of the City of New York is an equal opportunity employer. As such, the museum provides equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants without unlawful discrimination with respect to age, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender identification or expression, marital status, military status or veteran, national origin, political association, political/personal convictions, predisposing genetic characteristics, race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and style), religion (including attire, clothing or facial hair worn in accordance with religious requirements), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions and transgender status), sexual orientation, socio-economic status, geographic location, philosophies, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws, in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, demotion, transfer, lay-off, and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment. The Museum complies with applicable state and local law governing nondiscrimination in employment which prohibits discrimination and harassment against any employees, applicants for employment or interns, as well as contractors, subcontractors, vendors, consultants, other individuals providing services in the workplace or their employees in every location in which the Museum has facilities.