Museum Operations Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

MOXI seeks a dynamic, play-driven STEAM Educator to play a critical role in advancing MOXI’s mission. This position will be responsible for the facilitation of MOXI’s education programs, including field trips, exploration labs, community and school outreach, STEAM program carts, and exhibit engagement. Additionally, this position offers curriculum support, education material coordination, and assists in educator training. Approximately 80% of this role involves direct interaction with learners and the public, with 20% dedicated to back-of-house programs and operational support. The ideal candidate has excellent teaching and youth engagement skills, works well with collaborative programming, demonstrates independent problem-solving, and has a proven track record in both peer and youth program leadership.

Reports to: STEAM Education Manager

Pay Range: $21.00 - $23.00

Responsibilities

Facilitation Duties (80%)

• Facilitates visitor interactions across museum exhibits and programs, including but not limited to:
• Engaging with guests at exhibits + STEAM program carts.
• Facilitation design + maker activities in the Innovation Workshop.
• Supporting field trip programs including serving as a lead educator for Engineering Explorations programs.
• Facilitating on-site and off-site community and school outreach programs.
• Supports the implementation and facilitation of MOXI’s community, school, and public programs, both on-site and off-site.
• Cultivates a positive and inclusive environment for MOXI guests and staff.
• Supports overseeing assigned volunteers, staff, and general floor flow, including during occasional after-hour or early-hour events.
• Supports museum flow and operation:
• Greet and welcomes guests in a friendly, professional manner.
• Addresses guest feedback in a positive, helpful manner.
• Monitors visitor flow and communicates concerns to supervisor if needed.
• Manages program and exhibit supplies, reporting any safety or maintenance issues as needed

Program Preparation Duties (10%)

• Supports program materials purchasing and organizing, as needed.
• Assists in the development and implementation of new STEAM programs using an iterative development process to evaluate and document these activities.
• Attends, participates, and facilitates scheduled training sessions and meetings.

Operational Duties (10%)

• Supports in making, updating, and posting daily floor schedules.
• Supports general museum operations including opening and closing procedures: general cleaning, daily tidying of exhibit loose parts, removing hazards, and daily sanitizing.
• Collaborates with members of management to ensure readiness for handling building evacuations, guest injuries, and other potential emergency situations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills & Qualifications Requirements

• Dynamic, engaging, and energetic, with an enthusiasm for STEAM, tinkering, exploring, and play-based learning with the ability to actively move throughout the museum throughout the full day.
• Demonstrated experience working with children in a formal or informal setting; ability to maintain a positive attitude throughout full-day shifts.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Conscientious and detail-oriented; must have an appreciation of the necessity of following through with paperwork, record-keeping, and documentation.
• Ability to organize and prioritize varied tasks in a manner that most effectively serves the needs of the organization.
• Excellent interpersonal skills: must be receptive to the ideas of others and able to work cooperatively to prioritize tasks and accommodate many different and conflicting concerns.
• Passion for creating a world-class museum that is recognized as a truly outstanding educational experience.
• Enthusiasm for working in an organization where change is frequent, the structure is evolving, and flexibility, teamwork, and good humor are absolute necessities.
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications and ability to learn new systems and adapt to emerging technologies.
• Awareness of issues relating to access and inclusion and the ability to build inclusive and accessible programs.
• CPR, First Aid, or equivalent certification is a plus.
• Spanish fluency a plus.

Job Requirements & Expectations

• Typical schedule is Sunday–Thursday or Tuesday–Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
• Occasional availability required for evenings, weekends, and early mornings to support MOXI programs.
• This is a full-time, in-person position in indoor and outdoor museum environments, in school settings, and other locations as needed.
• Predictable and reliable attendance is an essential function of this role

Education and Experience requirements:

• College degree in Education, Sciences, or related field preferred, or 2+ years in STEAM education.
• Experience in formal teaching and/or informal education programs or directly with children.
• Experience working with individuals with special needs and behavioral issues is preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to bend, squat, and lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time
• Comfortable working with multiple technologies and systems
• Strong ability to troubleshoot, problem-solve, and adapt in real time
• Must be able to communicate clearly and courteously, both verbally and in writing, with a diverse audience
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position

Reasons to Apply

• Growth-centered work environment that includes professional development opportunities.
• Fun and creative organization culture.
• Free admission into local museums including MOXI, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Lotusland, and Santa Barbara Zoo.
• Free ASTC membership for museums across the country.

Benefits

• 80 hours vacation + 56 hours sick leave + Holiday Pay (13 paid holidays)
• Medical: Employer-sponsored gold plan (PPO & HMO options)
• Affordable Dental & Vision coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Health & Dependent Care)
• 403(b) retirement plan + Employer match: 100% up to the 3% of gross pay
• Employer-paid EAP, LTD, and Life/AD&D
• Supplemental Life/AD&D options
• Pet Insurance and Identity Theft Protection

About MOXI

MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation® is dedicated to igniting learning through interactive experiences in science and creativity. Located in the heart of Santa Barbara’s vibrant Funk Zone at 125 State Street, the museum is LEED - certified Gold and serves guests of all ages through its hands-on exhibits and education programs. MOXI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization generously supported by its daily guests, members, facility rentals, and donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners.

Who we are

MOXI is a collaborative, creative, and fun place to work. Our team is guided by a set of core values that help create a joyful place where we empower curious minds to explore the world .

We are Playful. We are Collaborative. We are Experimenters – we take risks and embrace failure. We believe that diversity is critical to creativity.

How to apply

To be considered, all applicants must submit a cover letter and a resume.

Website: https://moxi.org/careers/

MOXI is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity at all levels.