Education Specialist/Docent Manager

Introduction

The Education Specialist/Docent Manager position is located in the Department of Education and Public Programs of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. The purpose of the position is to develop and manage docent-led programs for varied audiences and create and administer select middle school offerings. The programs, including highlights tours, hands-on demonstration carts, and school offerings, are presented to the public seven days a week. The Education Specialist/Docent Manager will have broad knowledge of museum education best practices, teaching and pedagogy, and commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access principles for audience engagement and learning. The incumbent reports to the Director of Education and Public Programs. As an employee of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, the employee has a dotted line reporting to the CFO.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Docent Program Management  70%

The Education Specialist/Docent Manager:

• supervises and administers the docent program including annual budget preparation and allocation.
• recruits, selects, trains, and evaluates docents. Collaborates on training with department, Museum, and Visitor Services staff.
• collaborates with docents to set learning goals and individual learning plans aligned with adult learning theory and needs of audiences they serve.
• plans continuing education opportunities and annual recognition ceremony.
• develops and evaluates historically accurate programs for varied audiences and social groupings based on education theory and best practices that are led or facilitated by museum volunteers for onsite and virtual audiences.

Middle School Programs 30%

The Education Specialist/Docent Manager:

• develops, implements, and evaluates select middle school programs for onsite visits and virtual learning.
• recruits, trains, makes assignments, and evaluates part-time education technicians who present middle school programs onsite and in a virtual learning environment.
• collaborates with and/or trains education technician(s) in the development or implementation of these offerings.
• develops curriculum-relevant, interactive social studies and language arts lesson plans and activities for print and digital educators’ newsletters.
• creates or partners in the creation of professional development opportunities for educators including conferences, workshops, institutes, and materials.

The Education Specialist/Docent Manager embeds DEAI practices into all aspects of work.

Qualifications, knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Degree in history, education, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of eight years of experience in museum or history education
• Strong written and oral communications skills with demonstrated ability to present educational programs, prepare materials for publication, and provide online learning opportunities.
• Demonstrated professional knowledge of educational theory, techniques, and museum education practice and historical research methods; and demonstrated ability to develop and evaluate a variety of docent programs for diverse audiences and middle school offerings. A demonstrated working knowledge of K-12 curricula.
• Demonstrated knowledge of American history, particularly of the twentieth century.
• Demonstrated knowledge of adult learning theory, training methods, and supervisory techniques and to recruit, train, and evaluate docent and education technician staff.  Demonstrated ability to supervise volunteers and paid staff.
• Knowledge of distance learning technology and facility with virtual learning platforms as outreach tools for school and general audience programming
• Knowledge of the characteristics of museum visitors.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to work occasional weekends and evenings.

Apply:

Please send a cover letter, resume, and three references under the subject line, “Education Specialist/Docent Manager” by June 30, 2023 to:

Director of Education and Public Programs

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Columbia Point

Boston, MA 02125

HR@jfklfoundation.org

No phone calls please.

About the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization founded in 1984 to provide financial support, staffing, and creative resources for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, a presidential library administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The Kennedy Presidential Library and the Kennedy Library Foundation seek to promote, through educational and community programs, a greater appreciation and understanding of American politics, history, and culture, the process of governing and the importance of public service.

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity toward all communities and individuals who may seek our services, for all employees, qualified applicants and volunteers, in every area of employment, without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy (and pregnancy related conditions), gender identity or expression, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic disposition or carrier status, marital status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, military or veteran status or any other category protected under applicable federal, state or local law.