Associate Director Of Early Learning And Programming

The Associate Director of Early Learningand Programming is key to carrying out Knock Knock's mission to be a community spark for engaging, playful learning experiences that inspire and support lifelong learning. With this mission in view, the Associate Director will have a solid background in Early Childhood Education, experience working with young children and a passion for learning through play. Working under the supervision of the Director of Learning Innovation and in conjunction with other Learning Innovation staff, the Associate Director of Early Learningand Programming will be responsible for the development, coordination, and implementation of a variety of age-appropriate programs and activities for children, birth to age 8, and their families. S/he will manage all aspects of the Knock Knock's "pop-up" activity program, its camps and classes, and will work in tandem with the Development and Marketing departments to develop, coordinate, and deliver developmentally appropriate programming for the Museum's signature events held throughout the year.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education (Birth-3 years; Pre-K- 3rd grade)
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience working with young children in formal or informal educational settings.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of
  • child development,
  • developmentally appropriate practice,
  • best practices in early literacy,
  • STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics)
  • the importance of play (active, hands-on experiences) and how it contributes to children's Learning and development
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral
• Innovative thinker with creative and problem-solving skills
• Positive attitude
• Collaborative work style, team player
• Experience working with diverse, cultural, and socio-economic populations

Core Responsibilities:

• Under the supervision of the Director of Learning Innovation and in coordination with other LI staff, develop, coordinate, and facilitate programs for various visitor groups, (e.g., infants/toddlers/twos; preschool and kindergarten; grades 1-3);
• Develop evaluation tools to assess program effectiveness;
• In coordination with the Manager of Visitor Experiences, manage museum exhibits to ensure that each Learning Zone is well-stocked with the necessary materials, supplies, and equipment;
• Create and maintain a library of activity plans that can be used for pop-ups, in camps and/or classes, and at signature Museum events;
• Train staff and volunteers to deliver/facilitate activities in the Museum or in the community;
• Contribute program content for Knock Knock publications and website / social media posts;
• Collaborate with community partners to increase our presence in the community and their presence at the museum;
• Demonstrate professionalism at all times, e.g,, model respectful, high-quality interactions and cultural sensitivity when dealing with visitors and staff;
• Participate in professional development and maintain a presence in professional organizations.
• Follow KKCM's system of procedures and standards for program development and implementation (developmentally appropriate practices; the CREATE framework)
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supporting Responsibilities and Tasks

• Support the Director of Learning Innovation in developing and managing the LI budget;
• Assist with grant writing and reporting with respect to programs;
• Collaborate with other departments (i.e., Marketing, Operations, Development) to create, organize, manage and deliver programming when needed;
• Provide support across museum activities, e.g., data management