Education Officer/Communications Assistant [The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art]

The Education Officer/Communications Assistant will divide his/her time between two departments with equal responsibility for educational and communications Native American outreach responsibilities. This one-year assignment will have responsibility for a number of diverse tasks within the education and marketing/communications department during the active programming for the temporary exhibition, The Plains Indians: Artists of Earth and Sky.

Responsible for the implementation of teacher professional development and school programs, as directed by the Head of School and Educator Services, as related to this exhibition. This will include traveling to schools for in class presentations, travel to schools for teacher professional development, and work on site at the museum.

Delivery of high quality Teacher Professional Development: This role is to connect key messages of the exhibition with Core Curriculum standards. The program will be developed by the Head, School and Educator Services, with teacher advisory input.

Delivery Student Programming: This role is to deliver classroom experiences to prepare students for a high quality museum field trip. Content to be developed by the Head, School and Educator Services, with teacher advisory input. This position will later meet students at the museum for their exhibition experience, connecting that work to the classroom experience mentioned prior.

Family Programming: Assists in the delivery of program related family events and hands on experiences.

Other: Completes all other duties as assigned or requested for the general support of the organization.

Responsible for establishing contacts and networks with Native American peoples in advance of and during the exhibition. The assistant will promote the exhibition in outlying regions through a variety of outreach efforts and will invite Native Peoples to opening ceremonies and arrange for all visits and opening protocol. The ultimate purpose of this role is to increase the museum’s sensitivity and general openness to Native American culture.

Delivery of detailed contact lists and networking: This role is to collect and nurture contacts within the Native American population, throughout the United States and Canada.

Delivery of communication plan: The assistant will determine the best methods for communicating with Native peoples, from onsite visits and meetings, to attending American Indian events, to creating printed materials, to streamlining electronic communications.

Opening blessings and visits: Direct all details involved with the opening blessings for the exhibition, including opening speakers, and also will direct all details of inviting Native peoples to the museum, including arranging for hotel stays and transportation.

Welcomes Native Americans to the museum: This assistant will ensure that Native Americans feel welcomed during their visits to the museum and will guide other museum staff in best practices.

Other: Completes all other duties as assigned or requested for the general support of the organization.

•Bachelor’s Degree Art History or Museum Education, Master’s a plus.

•Preferred 1-2 years previous experience as a Museum Educator or in formal education.

•Experience developing communication materials.

•Experience working with diverse community groups and audiences.

•Excellent diplomacy and teamwork skills

•Experience developing and/or implementing, from a curatorial perspective, multiple temporary and permanent exhibitions.

•Advanced proficiency with Excel and other MS Office Applications (Word, Outlook)

•Excellent communication (both oral and written) skills

•Excellent time management, planning, and teamwork skills

•Must be flexible, well organized and able to work independently