School Program Guide

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library encompasses an unrivaled museum of American decorative arts in its mansion and galleries and a magnificent 60-acre naturalistic garden—all set on 1,000 gorgeous acres.

Winterthur employs a wide array of positions in the areas of curatorial, horticulture, education, conservation, library, maintenance, marketing, development, technology, and administration.

Winterthur offers a unique and rewarding experience that is rich in culture and natural beauty. Winterthur considers its employees and volunteers to be among its greatest assets and welcomes applications from candidates who will contribute their specific skills to its mission “to inspire, enlighten, and delight all of its visitors while preserving and enhancing [Winterthur]” and also uphold its core values of agility, excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusion, and transparency.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Reporting to the Manager of School Programs, School Program Guides work as a team to deliver Winterthur’s educational programs for students from PreK through 12th grade. Responsibilities include leading school programs onsite at Winterthur (both indoors and outdoors) and traveling to area schools and community centers to deliver offsite outreach programs. 

School Program Guides must have a pleasant demeanor, as well as a curious and enthusiastic approach to learning and teaching. In addition, the position requires strong customer service skills that include flexibility and compassion in addressing the needs of visitors of all ages, learning styles, and knowledge levels. Guides must conduct tours in a manner that is mindful of visitors’ safety and comfort, as well as the safety and security of Winterthur’s collections. School Program Guides are an integral part of helping the department reach its goal of growing our school programs to serve 30,000 students per year by 2030.

Compensation: 16.47 per hour

Benefits: 403b with employer match for eligible employees; discounts in the museum store and cafe; free general admission for you and your immediate family

Work Schedule:  Must provide a minimum availability of 12 days per month. Most school programs take place between 9am and 2pm Monday through Friday. 

Responsibilities:

1. Lead groups of up to 10 students from PreK to 12th grade and their chaperones through field trips in the Museum, Garden & Library, while facilitating explorations of history, horticulture, science, and art.
2. Encourage appropriate tour conduct to ensure the safety of the collection and students.
3. Travel up to 30 miles to deliver programs at area schools, community centers, and libraries. Represent Winterthur by sharing objects, stories, and crafts.
4. Set up materials before programs and clean up and reset materials and spaces as needed following programs.
5. Learn and lead new programs as they’re developed, including those that incorporate themes from changing exhibitions.
6. Participate in an initial orientation and continual training to learn program content and protocols, as well as staff meetings and trainings.
7. All guides will take on a shift lead role on a rotating basis, ensuring that supplies are organized and collected and leading the activity room rotation.

Minimum Experience: High School diploma or equivalent with 1-2 years of experience in teaching, childcare, interpreting in a museum/historic site, or customer service

Preferred Experience: Bachelor’s degree in education, history, art history, horticulture, or science with 3+ years of classroom teaching or museum/historic site interpretation

Knowledge/Skills:

1. Familiarity working with children from ages 4 to 18.
2. Adept at modifying programming to suit the widely varying ages, interests, abilities, and prior knowledge of visitors.
3. Detail orientated; able to process information received verbally or in written form and reconstruct this information in a thoughtful and engaging manner during field trips.
4. Flexible; open to new ideas, appreciative of and receptive to varying perspectives, and comfortable with ambiguity, and accepting that there often is no single “right” answer or perspective.
5. Able to pivot quickly during a program due to unforeseen circumstances, including but not limited to staff shortages, variable group sizes, and inclement weather.
6. Excellent customer service, interpersonal, and verbal communication skills.
7. Basic computer literacy; able to indicate availability and clock in/out using our online scheduling and timekeeping websites, regularly check email, and navigate Winterthur computer systems.
8. Excellent time management skills.
9. Interest in history, art history, horticulture, and/or science.

Essential Functions:

1. Must provide a minimum availability of 12 days per month. Most school programs take place between 9am and 2pm Monday through Friday. 
2. Work indoors and outdoors in all seasons and weather conditions.
3. Navigate paved and uneven terrain both indoors and outdoors throughout the estate.
4. Valid driver’s license and ability to drive Winterthur vehicles to area schools, community centers, and libraries to deliver programming.
5. Lift and move up to 25 pounds.
6. Maintain group dynamics to ensure both visitor and collection safety and positive visitor experience.