Museum Assistant Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

ABOUT THE ROLE
The Teen & Family Museum Education Fellow supports SAM programs for children, caregivers, and teens while receiving training and mentorship and taking on increasing responsibility. This fellowship is designed for emerging museum educators who have completed a bachelor's degree or developed comparable experience through employment, internships, artistic practice, teaching, youth programs, community work, or another relevant pathway. A degree in a specific field and prior museum employment are not required.
This paid fellowship advances racial equity and diversity at SAM and across the museum field. We encourage applicants from communities historically underrepresented in museums and cultural institutions.
What you'll learn:

• Program planning, coordination, facilitation, and evaluation in a museum context
• Inclusive strategies for engaging children, caregivers, and teens through art-making, close looking, conversation, and leadership
• Collaboration with teaching artists, volunteers, community partners, curators, visitor-facing teams, and other museum colleagues
• How to use observation and participant feedback to improve programs and create effective museum-education resources
• Potential career pathways in museums, education, nonprofits, youth development, and the arts

Applications are due at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time Sunday, September 6, 2026. Candidates invited to interview will be asked to provide two professional, academic, or community references.
ABOUT SAM
As SAM heads into its second century, we are boldly reimagining what we can and should be. Our goal is to be a model for the future of museums - a bold, dynamic hub of creativity, belonging, and cultural leadership, shaping the future of art and community. Embracing new ways of engaging communities and seeking innovative partnerships - all while keeping art and community at the center of what we do. This ambitious effort represents a transformative shift and radically redefining how art museums operate. This is a pivotal moment for SAM, and we are seeking great talent to join us on our journey. Working at SAM is not just a job-it's a chance to be part of a vibrant, creative community.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Family Programs - 50%

• Help plan and implement recurring Family Saturdays, including Third Saturdays at the Seattle Asian Art Museum and Chase Open Studio on First Saturdays at the Seattle Art Museum
• Support major community celebrations and events, including Día de los Muertos, Diwali, Lunar New Year, and Baby Rave at the Olympic Sculpture Park
• Contribute to Community Family Fun Workshops, family tours, community partnerships, early learner programming, and other on-site and off-site family experiences
• Assist with the reopening and ongoing use of the third-floor Family Room and with multilingual self-guides and other resources for families
• Prepare and test art materials; support teaching-artist and volunteer coordination; and assist with setup, visitor welcome, program facilitation, registration, breakdown, documentation, evaluation, and post-program reporting
• Develop and facilitate a defined Family Programs component and provide limited support for early planning for SAM Camp 2027

Teen Programs - 40%

• Attend and support weekly Teen Arts Group (TAG) meetings on Thursday afternoons and evenings from October through May
• Assist with TAG agendas, art-making activities, attendance, communications, food, supplies, culminating projects, and spring recruitment for the next cohort
• Contribute to Teen Night Out, Teen Art Lab, teen workshops, and meetings with other teen programmers in the city through planning, promotion, production, facilitation, volunteer support, and evaluation
• Co-plan and co-facilitate at least one TAG workshop, teen art-making activity, or defined Teen Night component
• Help develop roles and orientation materials for teen volunteers or peer leaders and provide limited outreach or planning support for SAM's summer teen program 2027

Professional Development - 10%

• Complete a structured museum-education training sequence covering equity, accessibility, youth development, family learning, gallery teaching, program design, safety, and evaluation
• Establish a learning plan, participate in regular mentoring meetings, and complete three observed facilitation experiences with feedback
• Contribute to developing practical resources and recommendations to strengthen future Teen & Family programs
• Build a professional portfolio featuring family and teen program plans, reflections on facilitation, and resources developed during the fellowship, and share a final presentation with SAM colleagues

WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
• At least 1 year of experience working with children, families, and/or teens in an arts, educational, museum, youth development, or community setting
• Experience planning or facilitating a workshop, tour, art activity, youth program, community event, or comparable learning experience
• Ability to manage multi-step assignments, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines
• Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to represent SAM with professionalism, sound judgment, tact, and integrity
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, seek support, receive feedback, and revise work
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Drive, email, and general computer use
• Availability for weekly Thursday afternoon/evening TAG meetings, selected Saturday programs, and identified major-program dates

Preferred Qualifications

• Study or experience in fine arts, art history, cultural studies, education, museum studies, youth development, community engagement, or another humanities field
• Experience working with both family and teen audiences
• Experience with gallery teaching, object-based learning, or hands-on art facilitation
• Experience with program evaluation, reflective documentation, or coordination with teaching artists, volunteers, community partners, or peer leaders
• Multilingual or cross-cultural communication experience

FLSA Status: Fellow/Temporary, Non-Exempt
Reports To: Senior Manager of Teen & Family Programs
Work Location: Onsite, Seattle Downtown, Volunteer Park, and Olympic Sculpture Park
Work Schedule: Approximately 13 hours per week from Tuesday, October 6, 2026, through Wednesday, June 30, 2027. The standard weekday schedule is Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 am-2 pm, and Thursdays, 1:45-6:45 pm. The Fellow will also work First Saturday programs at SAM Downtown and Third Saturday programs at the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park, from 10 am-1 pm. During those weeks, the three Saturday hours will replace three hours from the standard weekday schedule. Hours may be reduced during holiday periods or adjusted for other required weekend and evening programs. These program hours will replace weekday hours, and schedule changes will be communicated in advance. Required major-program dates currently include Diwali (October 17, 2026), Día de los Muertos (November 5, 2026), Lunar New Year Community Celebration (January 30, 2027), and Baby Rave (May 15, 2027). Additional dates will be communicated in advance.
WORK CONDITIONS

• Primarily in climate-controlled museum environments, with occasional off-site or outdoor activities
• Approximately 60% seated or working at a desk and 40% moving within galleries or program spaces
  • Extended standing may be required during programs and events
• Clear and effective communication with children, caregivers, teens, staff, volunteers, partners, and the public is essential.
• Ability to move program materials and supplies weighing up to 20 pounds occasionally
• Regular use of computers, phones, and other office equipment

BENEFITS
Temporary SAM Staffhaveaccess toan onsitefitness facilityand SAM's museum library,can access a no-cost Employee Assistance Program resource, enjoya 20% discount at theSAM Museum Shop anda 15% discount at SAM'sMARKET cafe,receive2 SAM guest passes per quarter worked,can access 8 Home Free Guarantee cab rides homeperyear,andaccrue paid sick leave at a rate of .0385 per hour worked.
ACCOMODATION
The Seattle Art Museum will consider reasonable accommodations for all employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions/duties of this position. If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact [email protected]. For candidates, we ask that, if possible, you wait until you're invited to a screen, online technical assessment or interview before requesting an accommodation.
SAM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming workplace for all employees and volunteers. Guided by our mission to connect art to life and engage diverse communities, we strive to create a sense of belonging for all of the communities we serve. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, military status, or any other protected characteristic
Not sure you check every box? Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often only apply if they meet 100% of the criteria. If you believe you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply!
$24.91 - $27.53 an hour
with a target hiring range of $26/hour