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Venue Programming Manager at the Museum of Natural Curiosity Job Description

Wage: DOE

Shift: Full time. Primarily Monday-Friday. Periodic availability for Saturdays, evenings, holidays, and peak attendance periods may be required.

Benefits: Free Thanksgiving Point Membership for you and immediate family; medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurances; paid time off & holidays; 401(k); Employee Assistance Program; Financial Assistance Program; Thanksgiving Point venue discounts; and more!

Summary: The Programming Manager leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of hands-on programs, learning experiences, and events at the Museum of Natural Curiosity that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and create memorable family experiences.

This position oversees daily guest programming and supports our frontline team members who bring the museum to life. The Programming Manager combines creativity, educational expertise, operational discipline, and strong people leadership to ensure programs and events are fun, accessible, guest-centered, mission-focused, scientifically sound, and consistently delivered.

The successful candidate will be enthusiastic about Thanksgiving Point’s mission and Growing Character initiative and will thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment serving children and families.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the planning, development, testing, implementation, and evaluation of daily programs and special learning experiences at the Museum of Natural Curiosity.
• Maintain a strong lineup of hands-on, high-participation STEM programs that encourage guests to ask questions, experiment, gather evidence, solve problems, and learn through play.
• Advance Thanksgiving Point’s Daily STEM Discovery Program objectives by increasing program participation and helping guests recognize the STEM learning embedded in their experiences.
• Develop and regularly refresh programs that are engaging, accessible, scientifically sound, operationally feasible, and appealing to children and families with varied ages, abilities, backgrounds, and learning styles.
• Create clear program lesson plans, facilitation guides, training materials, supply lists, safety procedures, and evaluation measures.
• Lead, coach, and support programming and facilitation team members in delivering welcoming, inquiry-based, guest-centered experiences.
• Observe program delivery and provide timely feedback, training, and skill-development opportunities that strengthen engagement, accuracy, safety, and consistency.
• Help team members apply Thanksgiving Point’s Growing Character skills, including asking questions, experimenting, gathering evidence, listening with empathy, adapting to guest needs, and learning together.
• Support hiring, onboarding, scheduling, performance management, and team development as a key member of the museum’s Guest Services leadership team while fostering a positive culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and monitor goals related to program participation, guest satisfaction, learning recognition, facilitation quality, and repeat engagement, using data and feedback to guide improvements.
• Ensure programs are delivered safely, consistently, on schedule, and with appropriate staffing, equipment, supplies, budgets, and operational procedures.
• Collaborate with Guest Services, Learning and Engagement, Exhibits, Signature Experiences, Consumer Insights, Marketing, Facilities, IT, and other departments to create cohesive, high-quality events guest experiences.
• Provide visible leadership during high-volume periods, special events, and operational challenges while modeling Thanksgiving Point’s mission, values, policies, and commitment to exceptional service.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Exemplify Thanksgiving Point’s Mission, Values and Policies with curiosity, compassion and confidence.

Requirements:

• Relevant experience or education in museum education, informal learning, STEM education, youth programming, recreation, guest experience, or a related field.
• Experience developing and delivering engaging programs or learning experiences for children and families.
• Experience leading, coaching, training, or supervising employees, volunteers, educators, or facilitators.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to provide constructive feedback and support employee development.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, resources, and deadlines.
• Ability to work proactively and collaboratively, exercise sound judgment, and solve problems effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Availability to work occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, and peak attendance periods as needed.
• Physical requirements include: lift up to 30lbs, sit and stand for long periods of time, climb stairs, bend, twist, manipulate small objects
• Must speak English fluently
• Valid Utah Driver’s License required.

• Pass a background check and Motor Vehicle Record check.
• Must be at least 16 years old.