Please Touch Museum®

Position Description

Vice President

Education & family learning**

(**Universal Requirements for Vice Presidents noted immediately following Position Description)
Reports To:

Executive Vice President

 Department:

Education
Direct Reports:

Director, Collections & Content

Director, Performance and Events

 Division:

Education
FLSA Status:

Exempt

 Grade:
Expansion / Grant:

No

 Effective Date:

7/1/11
Status:

Full-Time

 Hours / Week:

40
Position Summary:
Responsible for the educational vision and content integrity of  Please Touch Museum.  Connects the Museum’s exhibit experiences and learning opportunities directly to families caregivers and teachers of young children. Provides strategic leadership and oversight. Embraces the Museum’s Learning through Play philosophy and ensures it is incorporated into all aspects of programming. Works closely with the Vice President of Community Learning to present clear and consistent educational content for very young children both within the walls of the Museum and throughout the region. Partners with like-minded formal and informal learning institutions to develop and implement forward thinking early childhood content and programs. Leads research and evaluation of Museum experiences including working with faculty and researchers from universities and other institutions.

The Vice President, Education & Family Learning is responsible for all activities related to conceptualizing and implementing education strategy, achieving strategic goals and achieving educational program targets.

Direct reports are: Director, Collections & Content; Director, Performance and Events.

Member of the senior management team, reporting to the Executive Vice President. Works closely with the executive team and the other members of the senior management team in setting strategic directions and implementing programs. Staff to the Board Program Committee along with the Vice President of Community Learning.
Essential Functions:

  • Leads and ensures that all education & family learning offerings expand the museum exhibit experiences;
  • Hires, trains and retains highly skilled and well-qualified staff who possess a strong educational background and exemplify the museum’s belief in learning through play;
  • Ensure that effective and efficient organizational structures are in place to carry out day-to-day operations and decision-making.  Works closely with other leadership staff to facilitate a transformational and seamless visitor experience;
  • Directs and oversees Directors to develop and implement excellent learning opportunities for all visitors;
  • Responsible for  financial management of division and overall fiscal health of the organization;
  • Assist in the development, preparation and implementation of all educational and programmatic grants. Monitors grant-funded educational programming and educational planning initiatives to ensure that they fulfill grant requirement. Develops and monitors grant-related evaluation plans. Assists in preparation of grant reports;
  • Support the organization’s individual and corporate fundraising efforts by meeting with prospective major donors upon request and preparing written information about educational exhibits, programs and initiatives as necessary;
  • Work with Executive Vice President and the Development Department on relationship management for funding partners. Strengthen existing partnerships and create new possibilities for sponsorships;
  • Create and develops  new concepts for innovative events, exhibits, outreach and programs;
  • Manage outside research projects and ensure that they benefit the Museum;
  • Work closely with the Vice President, Operations in exhibit development process;
  • Collaborate with organizations to broaden the museum’s impact and visibility. Communicate the process of the creation, design and evaluation of exhibits, events and programs to others;
  • Document and share the evolution and evaluation of Please Touch Museum and its Education Department;
  • Attend Board of Directors meetings/ retreats  and  act as staff to  the Programming Committee;
  • Manage the development and supervision of weekly programmatic themes, hands-on activities to support weekly themes and coordination of special events such as Monster Mash, Count to Noon and other special events;
  • Prepare presentations to explain the museum’s current and future strategies to internal and external audiences. Act as the museum spokesperson by representing the museum at various community and/or business meetings to promote the museum; and
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree or comparable experience is preferred.  Strong background in early childhood education with a focus on  sciences, the arts, humanities or related areas;
  • Comprehensive knowledge of the Pre-k – 2nd educational environment as well as an understanding of the family learning environment;
  • A minimum of five years’ senior-level experience in managing education programing in a large, cultural, non-profit, or academic institution;
  • A minimum of 10 years’ experience in a museum or informal learning environment working with children and adults.  Must possess sound knowledge of professional museum practices and familiarity with all aspects of museum administration.  Must have familiarity with learning and teaching theory/techniques in both formal and informal learning environments;
  • Proven leadership skills in mentoring and nurturing a diverse and professional staff.  Ability to instill accountability while creating a work environment allowing for creativity and innovation;
  • Experience in developing, implementing, overseeing and evaluating programming for young audiences in a children’s museum or other informal setting;
  • Experienced leader who has been a member of an executive management team, demonstrating excellent accountability, leadership, communication, mentoring, empowerment and resource management skills;
  • Experience in developing and sustaining a network of external professional and stakeholder relationships and the skills to negotiate, develop partnerships, and represent the institution in development efforts, particularly those related to obtaining grants; and
  • Excellent organizational, decision-making and communication skills.  Sound administrative management skills related to strategic planning, financial plan development and management and project management.

ADA REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be able to communicate extensively with children, visitors, staff and stakeholders, via telephone/TDD, one-on-one conversations and public presentations;
  • Must be able to observe and supervise adults, view computer monitor, and make individual or public presentations;
  • Ability to use computer keyboards, review proposals, contracts and process extensive paperwork;
  • Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time; and
  • Requires the ability to negotiate travel locally and nationally and internationally.

Please Touch Museum

Universal Position Description for all Vice Presidents

Vice Presidents
Reports To:

Executive Vice President
Direct Reports:

Directors
FLSA Status:

Exempt

 Grade:
Expansion / Grant:

No

 Effective Date:

FY11
Status:

Full-Time

 Hours / Week:

40
Position Summary:
Provide leadership, management and program development for Education Department. Member of the executive management team.

Support the museum’s mission, vision and values by exhibiting the following behaviors: excellence, collaboration, innovation, respect, commitment, accountability and ownership. Responsible for providing a high level of internal and external quality and efficient customer service.
Essential Functions:
  • Leads and manage Education  department;
  • Directs and develop director-level personnel;
  • Coordinates divisional activities with those provided by other divisions;
  • Prepares presentations to explain the museum’s current and future strategies. Acts as the museum spokesperson;
  • Ensures adherence among staff to all museum policies, procedures, systems and standards;
  • Implements  processes and management to generate workflow optimization;
  • Develops and monitors departmental budget goals and budgetary goals;
  • Develops annual plans, strategies, tactics and resources to reach goals with managers;
  • Ensures performance targets are met;
  • Participates in the development of the museum’s plans & programs as a tactical partner in evaluating & advising on the impact of long-range planning & regulatory actions;
  • Prepares and delivers management reports on departmental activities to staff and Board;
  • Identifies and attracts outside funding sources;
  • Participates in professional societies & activities.  Must stay current with business trends;
  • Participates with senior management in the ongoing planning and programming/development of the museum;
  • Attends events & programs as a representative of the museum;
  • Maintains high degree of motivation in team members to retain focus on providing highest level of customer satisfaction;
  • Manages through adhering to museum’s policy and administering practices in fair and equitable manner;
  • Implements  processes to generate best possible workflow;
  • Builds and maintains a strong functional team through coaching, team building and succession planning;
  • Hires, trains, develops and appraises staff effectively. Takes corrective action as necessary on a timely basis and in accordance with museum policy;
  • Enhances museum on EEO/ADA by supporting good-faith efforts to recruit, select, develop and retain protected-class employees;
  • Utilizes independent judgment to determine project guidelines, purpose, follow-through and completion;
  • Consistently works in a positive and cooperative manner with all PTM staff;
  • Responds promptly to internal and external customer needs;
  • Participates in continuing educational opportunities for personal growth and development;
  • Completes assignments in a timely manner and within museum’s standard, and;
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
  • A decisive individual who possesses a “Big-Picture” perspective;
  • Proven ability to work independently;
  • Must have the ability to participate effectively in teams;
  • Demonstrated change-management experience;
  • Effective leadership skills to build a work team to respond to museum’s business needs;
  • Must have a proven record of leading in a collaborative work structure;
  • Demonstrates excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation and commitment to External Relations & Business Development department;
  • Experienced leader who has been a member of an executive management team, demonstrating excellent accountability, leadership, communication, mentoring, empowerment and resource management skills;
  • Proven ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations;
  • Broad functional experience and technical skills in areas of strategic planning, business development and research;
  • Experience or knowledge of fund raising;
  • Skilled in budget preparation and fiscal management;
  • Conflict resolution and mediation skills necessary. Problem analysis & problem resolution at both a strategic and functional level;
  • Proven ability to plan, develop and coordinate multiple projects to meet business goals;
  • Proven record that the candidate communicates effectively both verbally and in writing with CEO and EVP, colleagues and individuals inside and outside the museum;
  • Good computer skills and familiarity with e-mail communication tools;
  • Must have proven ability to prioritize and plan work activities and use time efficiently;
  • Ability to represent the museum in a variety of settings;
  • Must demonstrate the ability to adapt to changes in the work environment, manage competing demands and be able to deal with frequent changes, delays or unexpected events;
  • Must have a commitment to the museum field; and
  • Team player, flexible, innovative, good sense of humor, interest in children and children’s museums.