Curator of the Discovery Room, Raleigh, North Carolina

Primary Purpose of Position:
The Curator of the Discovery Room is essential to the daily operations of the Discovery Room, a hands-on inter-generational learning exhibit which houses hundreds of natural specimens, models, costumes, and a few live animals including an observation honeybee hive.  This position assists guests during the Discovery Room’s public hours, curates the Discovery Room’s collections, develops and delivers programs to young children, their families, and teachers, and provides technical expertise with regards to experiential learning. This position assists with the scheduling, training, and management of volunteers and interns assigned to the Room.  This position curates the Teaching Collection, a collection of 1,200+ natural science specimens used by Museum education staff during programming. This position obtains specimens, performs regular pest management, manages an online searchable database, and ensures that the collection is maintained according to current best practices.

Key Responsibilities:
Duties include but are not limited to:

• Maintaining functionality, safety, and integrity of the Discovery Room, including routine opening, closing, and maintenance
• Facilitating visitors’ informal experiences in the Discovery Room for all ages with focus on young children and their families
• Managing the Discovery Room Collection, Teaching Collection, and the Teaching Collection’s on-line database
• Designing, implementing, and evaluating experiential natural science programs, many using live animals, for preK-1st grade students, their families, and their teachers both for the Discovery Room and other Museum venues including outdoor settings
• Supporting educational initiatives across the Museum through participation in events, grants, task forces and relevant committees

Qualified candidates must have or be able to:

• Demonstrated experience planning, developing, and presenting natural science educational programs (e.g., field trips, workshops, classes, etc.) to young children, families, and educators
• Demonstrated ability to write informative, educational, and promotional materials for any level of understanding in the natural sciences
• Extensive knowledge of North Carolina’s environments, natural history, and general ecology
• Demonstrated skill in organizing projects and determining time frames for completion
• Valid NC Driver’s license or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment

Physical Requirements: 

Ability to lift 50 pounds with or without accommodation

Management Preferences:

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in effective and inclusive teaching methods
• Demonstrated ability to adapt communications to various levels of sophistication and delivery methods
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of safety and legal concerns in a museum education context such as specimen permits, artifact providence, and childcare regulations
• Demonstrated experience working in an inter-generational, experiential learning environment
• Demonstrated experience caring and handling of natural science specimens and/or management of natural science specimen collections 
• Demonstrated experience with the use of computers/tablets and relevant computer applications such as spreadsheets and databases
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of handling and/or caring for live specimens
• Demonstrated ability to lead groups effectively and safely on outdoor field experiences that include hiking and/or paddling small boats

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Art History, Biology, Botany, Conservation, Education, History or Zoology from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of museum or related work

-OR-

• An equivalent combination of education and experience.

How to apply:

Application closes 7/21/2022

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/northcarolina/jobs/3601164/discovery-room-curator