Fort Bend Discovery Guide

The mission of the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center is to transform communities through innovative, child-centered learning that improves the trajectories of all children in Greater Houston.

For more than four decades, Children’s Museum Houston has supported student achievement, empowered parents, and ignited a life-long love of learning. We are consistently rated as one of the top children's museums in the nation. Our programming serves more than 900,000 participants annually at the Museum, at the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center, and at 270+ outreach locations across Greater Houston. We welcome families with offerings that include 13 exhibits, a performing arts series, a full slate of cultural programming, science activities led by degreed educators, and weekly Free Family Nights.

Job Summary:

Discovery Guides are part-time para-professionals who help facilitate family learning engagement in the Museum’s exhibits and through related gallery programs such as school field experiences, birthday parties, STEM demonstrations, and themed workshops. This facilitation includes ensuring that the Museum’s policies are upheld, that the exhibits are reset as needed for visitor interactions, that visitors are safe and receive rapid first aid assistance if needed, and that visitors enjoy their experience at the Museum. Discovery Guides also may work at the Welcome Center handling admissions and memberships.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Facilitate visitors' learning by describing, modeling, and prompting engagement with the Museum’s exhibits.
• Serve as the teaching guide for visiting classrooms, leading students through the curriculum focus set for each exhibit for each age/grade.
• Serve as a first responder in emergencies as they arise and call-in support as needed, including following the Museum’s protocol for lost children, performing minor first aid and the associated documentation, administering adult/child CPR and the AED defibrillator as needed.
• Enforce FBCDC rules when necessary, and exercise the judgment required to call in management assistance when needed.
• Always provide excellent customer service and use the judgment needed to diffuse issues with disgruntled visitors or arguments between visitors.
• Throughout each day, re-stock supplies, when necessary, reboot exhibits that are not functioning properly, and call in assistance as needed.
• Prepare exhibits, as assigned, for opening the Museum to visitors and reset them in the evenings for the next day.
• Demonstrate flexibility by working special events and rentals outside of normal work hours.
• Wear costumes, uniforms, and other special attire when necessary.
• Manage daily ticket sales (daily admission, tickets to special events, performances, etc.).
• Cash handling, selling memberships, reconciling cash drawers, inputting membership and other special programs into the POS system.

• Knowledge of child development (i.e., what is appropriate in terms of education and activities for children of various ages)
• Ability to learn exhibits and explain them to guests.
• Ability to demonstrate FBCDC rules and policies to ensure a safe visitor experience.
• Discovery Guides are needed during all hours that the Museum is open to the public, which includes weekends and school holidays (various shifts available).
• Strong communication skills (communicate with both adults and children in a manner appropriate for their age)
• Classroom management skills (able to monitor large groups and keep order)
• Dedication and responsibility
• Strong initiative
• Positive and energetic attitude
• Patience, dedication, and reliability
• Ability to work independently to accomplish the Museum’s goals with limited supervision.
• Attend all scheduled staff meetings.
• General interest in working with children.
• Bilingual (Spanish, Vietnamese) is a plus.

Experience:

• Previous experience working with children or in a customer service setting.
• Theatre experience or public services experience a plus
• Cash handling is preferred.

Education:

Associate degree in childcare, psychology, education, or related field preferred. College and high school students may also apply.

Discovery Guides are required to be on their feet for the majority of their shift. Additionally, Discovery Guides may occasionally be asked to lift or move objects of moderate weight.