Jobs
The Shafer Museum is hiring for several positions, full and part-time.
The bookkeeping position is no longer accepting applications.
Museum Educator & Docent Volunteer coordinator
The Museum Educator is a new position for the Shafer Museum, adding to the museum’s capacity to engage residents and visitors about Methow Valley history, provide programs to support learning history for the public, and enhance the docent experience for volunteers. Click to expand the section below for a description.
Responsibilities will include:
The Museum Educator will be a docent at the museum, greeting and talking with museum visitors, supporting volunteer tour guides, and for the weekend opening/closing.
Create, design, coordinate, deliver & evaluate programs, crafts, and interactive learning experiences for children and their families/visitor groups, in a refinement cycle.
Recruit, train, schedule, and manage volunteer docents to cover museum positions and events; support recruiting archives and facilities volunteers. Ensure staffing coverage for the summer season by recruiting, scheduling and filling shift vacancies for volunteer vacations/absences. Cover unfilled shifts if necessary.
Organize continuing education experiences and appreciation events for volunteers.
Support on and off site programming related to exhibits or museum events, including local community organizations, guilds or museum volunteers. This could include coordinating with external partners and setting up and breaking down events.
Develop summer camp, afterschool programs and provide school programs support at the local public and homeschooling groups, with the Museum Director.
Lead or assist in two 1-week long summer camps, depending on experience. Develop & refine curriculum and work to expand summer youth programming.
Plan & coordinate the local elementary school's 4th grade school field trip related to Washington State history and United States western expansion curriculum.
The Educator will report to the Museum Director, and work alongside volunteers in this position. As a very small museum, the Educator will gain a wide range of experience across education, administration, operations and communications.
Position requirements:
Welcoming, reliable, and enjoys working with the public of all backgrounds, orientations, ages, and abilities
High degree of initiative, flexibility, and ability to work both independently and as a member of a team
Highly organized, able to plan and prioritize, with strong attention to detail
Excellent communication skills, whether in-person, in writing, over the phone and via email and social media. Communicating across ages and generational styles is a must, as this position will interact with young children through seniors.
Interest in public history and willingness to learn Methow Valley and Okanogan history.
Some weekends will be required.
Skills including Microsoft Suite & G-Suite, Square, email, Social media platforms, and A/V equipment are required.
Experience & Education:
Desired: Satisfactory completion of at least some college work in history, education, arts, culture, museum studies, teaching, informal science education, humanities or a related field, OR professional experience in those fields. Preferred: Master's degree in museum studies, education, history, public history or related fields.
Creative thinker with fresh ideas about museum or educational programming
Experience with volunteers, as a manager or volunteer
Graphic design & photography skills helpful
Hours & Compensation
Some weekends required (Saturday and/or Sunday, 9:45am-5:15pm) during the summer season (May-Oct), depending on volunteer staffing. Approximately 15 hours during the week on a set schedule agreed upon with the museum director (about 30 hours/week total). Some remote work is possible, although most hours will be on-site. Some evenings or special event support as needed. There will be some seasonal variation to the hours - more hours will be required in the summer, and fewer in the winter.
Salary but with a range of $20-$26/hour depending on experience
Summer Camp Educators: Lead & Assistants
New this year, the museum is offering a youth summer camp August 5-8 and Aug 12-15, 2024 for children ages 8-11. Held at the Shafer Museum with walks to surrounding parks, river, and historic sites, this summer program aims to get kids hands-on learning skills in our workshop complemented by the tools, equipment and machines held in the museum. Wood-working, sewing, soap carving, butter-making and lots of games will take us back to the turn of the 20th century, but are practical skills for making stuff today.
We are hiring one lead teacher and up to two assistant educators. Expand the section below for the descriptions.
Summer Camp Lead Educator
The Camp Lead position works to create a fun, safe and educational experience for the youth participants. The Lead will ensure smooth day-to-day camp activities, development of the program and management of the camp assistants, and a quality informal learning experience for the summer campers.
Key Responsibilities include:
· Lead and execute the two sessions of camp, including direct instruction, the direction and supervision of campers, leading camp staff and volunteers and camp activities.
· Prepare curriculum and write the schedule of daily camper activities.
· Participate in and prepare camp staff training, related to camp educational activities, health, safety, medical, emergency and disciplinary procedures.
· Plan and purchase program activities supplies, within a set budget.
· Plan, direct assistants, and oversee set up and break down in advance and at conclusion of the weeks of camp, and the daily preparation and cleaning for the camp spaces.
· Perform other duties as assigned.
Education & Experience
· High-school diploma or equivalent required; college preferred.
· Minimum of two years of work experience in youth programming. Experience in classroom, experiential, outdoor, museum, or informal education preferred.
Skills & Abilities
· Planning and organizational skills
· Interpersonal and communication skills, in writing, public speaking, with children and adults.
· Ability to work with diverse people of all ages,
· Ability to make decisions quickly under pressure and comfort leading and directing staff and youth participants with professionalism and respect.
· Ability to work in a dynamic environment and be physically active for the duration of the camp day.
· Simple hands-on maker/tinker/building skills, such as construction with hammer & nails for box making, sitching/sewing, or the ability to learn in advance in order to teach the children; or to locate local professionals who could demonstrate at the camp.
Hours & Location
The Lead educator would work the two weeks of the camp, plus one week in advance to develop the curriculum with museum staff, to plan and order the materials, and one day after the camp is complete to pack up and revise the curriculum for future use. The advance curriculum development can be a mix of on-site and remote/at-home work.
Compensation
Hourly rate is $22-$25 depending on experience.
Hiring will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check and first aid/CPR training.
Assistant Camp Educators
The camp assistants will create a fun, safe and educational experience for the participants, under the direction of the Camp Lead Educator.
Key Responsibilities
· Under the direction of the Lead Educator, assist in the successful execution of the two sessions of camp, including providing instruction, set-up and clean- up, guiding camp activities and help for the Lead.
· Follow the schedule of daily camper activities.
· Participate in camp staff training as related to camp educational activities, health, safety, medical, emergency and disciplinary procedures.
· Help in the set up and break down in advance and at conclusion of the two weeks of camp, and the daily preparation and cleaning for the camp spaces.
· Perform other duties as assigned.
Skills & Abilities
· Ability to pleasantly and positively work with children.
· Ability to be physically active for the duration of the camp day.
· Ability to follow instructions, but also to take initiative to ensure a positive experience for the participants.
· Simple hands-on maker/tinker/building skills, such as building with a hammer & nails for box making, stitching or sewing, or similar, or the ability to learn in advance in order to guide the children are helpful.
Compensation
· Hourly rate is $16-19 depending on experience.
TO APPLY
Interested candidates should apply via email by sending a brief cover letter & 1 page resume describing their qualifications to staff@shafermuseum.org with the subject line indicating the position. The positions are open until filled and start immediately.
Final offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check that may include employment history, national criminal background check, and national sex offender registry search.
Okanogan County Historical Society is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.