Museum Educational Program Specialist II

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

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The Maine State Museum, located in Maine’s capital city of Augusta, serves as a vital cultural resource for students, scholars, lifelong learners, and anyone curious about the state’s past, present, and future. The Maine State Museum has roots that stretch back to the 1830s and is currently preparing to enter a new, exciting phase. The museum has been closed for extensive renovations and is now gearing up to reopen in October 2026, with new exhibits and an education center designed to engage families and students from PreK through grade 8.

The museum will be open six days a week (Tuesday–Sunday). This role requires working every other weekend and occasional evenings.

The full-time position of Museum Education Program Specialist II will design and implement innovative, engaging, and meaningful gallery experiences for diverse audiences. Assist with staff and volunteer training, oversee daily operations of public spaces and the admissions desk, and play an active role in developing special events.

The ideal candidate is familiar with current inquiry-based teaching strategies and is skilled in interdisciplinary, object-based teaching, interpretive writing, and curriculum development. We especially welcome applicants with backgrounds in natural sciences and/or STEM fields.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing educational gallery programs and associated materials;
• Serving as technical training advisor to museum staff and volunteers;
• Assisting with the day-to-day operations of the museum gallery and admission desk;
• Planning, developing, and implementing teacher workshops

This classification is differentiated from the next lower classification in this series by the specific responsibilities of:

• Developing and modifying museum programs/ curriculum
• Instructing education division staff, museum volunteers, and teachers in specific subject matter and content related to exhibit interpretation and the presentation of informal programming
• Work is performed under limited supervision

REPRESENTATIVE TASKS:

• Develops and presents educational gallery programs and provides formal and informal gallery experiences and interpretations to inform and educate visiting groups and individuals.
• Determines visitor needs for programs and makes staff program assignments in order to manage workload and deliver appropriate program subject matter.
• Consults with museum staff, experts and scholars in the field, and professional networks in order to remain current in educational methods, decide educational strategies for specific programs, and update materials.
• Provides technical assistance to staff, teachers, and others, and operates exhibit areas in accordance with established policies and procedures in order to maintain a safe learning environment and implement educational and interpretive programs.
• Confers with state and private educational, scientific, and historical organizations in order to assist in the promotion, preservation, and appreciation of Maine's historic artifacts.
• Compiles and creates museum educational programs utilizing a variety of methods and tools in order to achieve identified teaching and/or museum interpretation objectives.
• Determines which educational materials have become obsolete in order to replace and/or update them to achieve desired teaching objectives.
• Conducts research and collects resource reference materials in order to expand personal expertise on Maine social/natural history and prehistory, and to develop educational and interpretive programs.
• Assists in the development and facilitation of a teacher advisory group in order to gather data to inform and determine the types of programs to be created by the museum.
• Meets with and discusses curriculum areas with teachers, homeschool instructors, and others in order to understand learning needs and develop programs and resource materials that support teaching goals.
• Plans and conducts seminars and workshops for educators to create partnerships that link lesson plans and the school curriculum to the museum’s collections and exhibits.
• Assists with staff training and program evaluations in order to maintain program quality and effectiveness.
• Assists exhibition planning teams in the development of educationally based interpretative components in order to ensure exhibit display and signage complements program goals.
• Assists with day-to-day gallery operation, performing duties such as directing activities of staff and visitors; determining maintenance needs; and exhibit organization, display, and labeling in order to support museum program objectives.

KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Knowledge of museum artifacts, Maine social history, natural history, and prehistory.
• Knowledge of object-based teaching and interpretation methods and techniques, and the required subject matter.
• Knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques of museum educational and gallery interpretive program design.
• Knowledge of Maine Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and the Common Core Standards.
• Knowledge of instructional methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of computerized systems, web-based educational tools, and resources.
• Knowledge of the stages of human development.
• Knowledge of customer service standards.
• Ability to perform research studies, develop, plan, and implement interpretive programs.
• Ability to prepare, maintain, and disseminate informational material and coordinate special event activities. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations.
• Ability to prepare and deliver presentations and facilitate groups with different needs.
• Ability to execute emergency and evacuation procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to write clearly and effectively.
• Ability to observe and analyze an instructional program.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's Degree in Museum Studies, Education, Science, or Art History; or related field and two (2) years of experience in planning and presenting public programs related to history, science, visual arts, curriculum development, museum studies, public program development, library, or community center groups. Related work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.