DISCOVERY GUIDE

Discovery Guides are Part-Time para-professional educators who facilitate family learning engagement in the Museum’s exhibits and through related gallery programs such as school field experiences, birthday parties, STEM demonstrations and themed workshops. This facilitation includes ensuring that the Museum’s policies are upheld, that the exhibits are reset as needed for visitor interactions, that visitors are safe and receive rapid first aid assistance if needed, and that visitors enjoy their experience at the Museum.

Essential Tasks

• Facilitate visitors' learning by describing, modeling, and prompting engagement with the Museum’s exhibits.
• Serve as the teaching guide for visiting classrooms, leading students through the curriculum focus set for each exhibit for each age/grade.
• Serve as first responder in emergencies as they arise and call-in support as needed, including following the Museum’s protocol for lost children, performing minor first aid and the associated documentation, administering adult/child CPR and the AED defibrillator as needed.
• Enforce CMH rules when necessary, and exercise the judgement required to call in management assistance when needed.
• Always provide excellent customer service and use the judgement needed to diffuse issues with disgruntled visitors or arguments between visitors.
• Throughout each day, re-stock supplies, when necessary, reboot exhibits that are not functioning properly, and call-in assistance as needed.
• Prepare exhibits, as assigned, for opening the Museum to visitors and reset them in the evenings for the next day.
• Demonstrate flexibility by working special events and rentals outside of normal work hours.
• Wear costumes, uniforms, and other special attire when necessary.

Working Conditions

Discovery Guides must be comfortable working in an environment that is at times noisy and crowded. Discovery Guides are needed during all hours that the Museum is open to the public, which includes weekends and school holidays.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics

• Knowledge of child development (i.e., what is appropriate in terms of education and activities for children of various ages)
• Knowledge of the various exhibits as well as the activities within each exhibit
• Knowledge of CMH rules and policies
• Strong communication skills (communicate with both adults and children in manner appropriate for their age)
• Classroom management skills (able to monitor large groups and keep order)
• Dedication and responsibility
• Strong initiative
• Positive and energetic attitude
• Patience, dedication, and reliability
• Ability to work independently to accomplish the Museum’s goals with limited supervision.

Physical Requirements

Discovery Guides are required to be on their feet for most of their shift. Additionally, Discovery Guides may occasionally be asked to lift or move objects of moderate weight.