Educator Jobs in Connecticut (NOW HIRING)

Role: Educator

Reports To: Director of Education

FSLA Status: Salaried, Exempt, Part-time (24 hours, Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday)

Location: Onsite, New Canaan, Connecticut

About Grace Farms

Grace Farms is a cultural and humanitarian center in New Canaan, Connecticut, that brings people together across sectors to explore nature, arts, justice, community, and faith at the SANAA-designed River building and Barns on 80 acres of publicly accessible natural landscape. Since opening in 2015, it has garnered numerous prestigious awards for contributions to architecture, environmental sustainability, and social good and has become a destination for arts, culture, and community. Grace Farms has welcomed 1 million visitors from around the world to experience innovative programming in music, visual and performing arts, while fostering contemplation and connection through architecture and nature.

Grace Farms' humanitarian work includes leading the Design for Freedom movement to eliminate forced labor in the building materials supply chain and advancing initiatives to foster more grace and peace locally and globally. This commitment extends to Grace Farms Tea and Coffee, a certified B Corp that models ethical and sustainable sourcing while supporting Design for Freedom.

The integration of cultural programming and humanitarian action reflects Grace Farms' collaborative approach to generating new outcomes and meaningful change.

The Role:

The Educator interacts daily with the visitors at Grace Farms Foundation to facilitate visitor education & engagement programming which includes but is not limited to: daily engagement programs for intergenerational audiences, school-based field trip programs, adult & student tours, and early childhood programming. These programs, tours and engagements take place on site throughout each day as the means to interpret, share, and invite the visiting public into the work of Grace Farms Foundation.

Through meaningful interactions, the Educator inspires casual visitors to become allies, advocates, partners and supporters of Grace Farms Foundation and the work that it does advancing good in the world. Educators create welcoming, engaging, and inclusive learning experiences while demonstrating exceptional hospitality and a passion for lifelong learning. This role will continually expand their knowledge of the Foundation's work and contribute

Responsibilities:

• Delivers and facilitates daily programming on site. Creatively and graciously invites visitor/student participation and interaction with questions prompts, physical props and activities that make programming accessible and inviting to all. Utilizes appropriate positive reinforcement, humor and kindness to encourage visitor/student participation and build relationships.
• Present and facilitate engaging, live demonstrations and experiences such as pop-up talks, hands-on activities, brief mini-programs, school-based field trip programs, adult & student tours, and early childhood programming pertaining to the Work and ethos of Grace Farms Foundation on a daily basis to the general public which includes adults, children, intergenerational families, individuals and groups.
• Observe visitors' ability to follow along and their reactions to content and then adjust properly when needed to ensure the most effective delivery of content tailored to each audience of varying age, background, and familiarity levels with each topic.
• Constantly learn and seek new knowledge about Grace Farms, and the Design for Freedom Movement, and Grace Farms Tea & Coffee. Stays up-to-date on all new and upcoming events, exhibitions and programming available to the public, the benefits of Membership and all other aspects about the Foundation, in order to effectively and efficiently communicate it to the visiting public on a regular basis.
• Assist in the development and delivery of programs and experiences themed to support the dissemination of information about new and existing work of the Foundation. Constantly offer insight and suggestions to improve existing programming based on audience response and feedback.
• Responsible for the set up and clean-up of the live daily programming each day, starting and ending each program on time in the proper location, and communicating any necessary changes in schedule to the supervisor on duty in a timely manner. Organize and maintain the live demonstration materials.
• Serve as part of the larger Operations team in various visitor experience capacities to extend hospitality to guests at public and private events at Grace Farms including, but not limited to greeting, registration check-in, wayfinding, and providing necessary information to guests to ensure a welcoming and meaningful event and experience for all.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of instructional strategies and best practices in education and informal learning environments.
• Experience teaching or facilitating learning for students of all ages in a formal or informal educational setting.
• Ability to serve as tour guide, docent, museum guide, interpreter, visitor experience professional highly desired.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills as well as the ability to work comfortably and effectively with diverse audiences including both children and adults. An enthusiastic and performance-minded individual with the ability to maintain high energy throughout each day that can create a warm, welcoming and joyful environment where visitors can learn and become inspired.
• Demonstrate commitment to continuous learning and the ability to pro-actively seek out additional information about a wide variety of topics and disciplines. Must be able to absorb, summarize, synthesize and communicate information to a wide variety of audiences in an engaging and compelling way in a brief amount of time.
• Proven experience as a team player with a "can-do" attitude, highly organized, adaptable and flexible to meet time, priority and workload demands as well as shifting schedules and unexpected circumstances that come with working with the general public.
• Proven ability to maintain a calm exterior presence during periods of high volume, high stress or unusual events.
• Proficiency with computers, Microsoft Office applications, electronic communications, and other technology.
• Punctuality is key, as well as the ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends. This position will work both indoors and outside depending on season and weather.
• Ability to flex schedule according to organization's needs including some evenings and/or early mornings.
• This position must work on site at Grace Farms in New Canaan, CT.

Experience & Education:

• Master's degree required preferably in Education, English/Communication, Performing Arts, Nature, Science, History, or related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years' experience as an Educator in formal and informal educational setting.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to perform sedentary work, including prolonged periods of sitting and frequent, repetitive use of a computer, keyboard, mouse, and sustained visual focus on digital screens.
• Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout the site for extended periods during event preparation, execution, and breakdown.
• Visual and auditory acuity sufficient to effectively manage event activities, monitor environments, and communicate with staff, vendors, and guests.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 15 pounds, bend, reach, climb stairs, stand and perform other physical movements as required.
• Comfortable and the ability to work both indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions depending on event and operational needs.

Benefits

Grace Farms offers a comprehensive and competitive benefit package that includes tuition reimbursement, a 403(b) retirement benefit with an organization match, along with different medical plans, including dental and vision plan, 100% employer-paid basic life insurance and short-term disability. We encourage our staff to take time-off to rest and recharge and provide PTO, sick, and personal days as well as 11 paid holidays. All staff are welcome to explore the beautiful 80-acres of our preserved land and may take part in any of the numerous public events on-site.

Grace Farms is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.