Education Assistant

Join Our Team as an Education Assistant! Do you love museums, enjoy working with people of all ages, and get a strange amount of satisfaction from well‑organized systems? Are you energized by juggling multiple priorities and helping educational programs run like a well‑oiled machine? If so, we’d love to meet you. Position Summary The Education Assistant provides essential operational and programmatic support for museum education initiatives serving students from pre‑kindergarten through adult learners. This position plays a critical role in facilitating high‑quality educational experiences through direct student engagement, volunteer coordination, material management, and administrative support. The Education Assistant works collaboratively with educators, docents, storytellers, teachers, and museum staff to create welcoming, inclusive, and meaningful art learning experiences. This is a full‑time, on‑site position with a primarily Monday‑through‑Friday schedule. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Program Development and Implementation Support Scheduling school tours, including coordinating with teachers, managing space allocations, and ensuring appropriate volunteer staffing Assisting the Manager in researching, developing, preparing, and implementing developmentally appropriate art activities for onsite museum programs, virtual online experiences, and off‑site school and community partnerships Supporting major Education Department events such as open houses, teacher professional development workshops, family programs, and community events Program Facilitation and Student Engagement Facilitating the flow of students, chaperones, and volunteers throughout the museum during school programs, ensuring safe, organized, and engaging experiences Greeting and orienting school groups, providing warm hospitality and clear directions to facilitate smooth program execution Conducting or co‑facilitating gallery discussions and hands‑on art activities tailored to diverse age groups and learning needs Implementing appropriate behavior management and safety protocols during school programs Adapting program delivery to accommodate students with diverse learning needs and abilities Monitoring and implementing daily setup of education spaces, including classrooms, galleries, and virtual learning environments Preparing, setting up, replenishing, and cleaning up materials for tours, workshops, and educational programs Volunteer Support and Training Assisting in training volunteer docents and storytellers in facilitation techniques, student engagement strategies, and technology use for both in‑person and virtual programs Providing real‑time support to docents and storytellers during virtual programs, troubleshooting technology and assisting with participant engagement Collaborating with museum staff, docents, and storytellers to adapt activities to meet the diverse needs of student audiences Communicating regularly with volunteers to ensure they have the information and resources needed for successful program delivery Materials Management and Logistics Collecting, compiling, organizing, and maintaining educational materials and supplies for school programs Ordering materials and supplies as needed, tracking inventory and ensuring adequate stock for upcoming programs Compiling artwork submissions from student programs and teacher workshop materials Administrative and Data Processing Performing administrative duties to support efficient operations of school programs, teacher services, and volunteer coordination Updating and maintaining Education Department website content to ensure accurate, current information for teachers and community partners Processing and compiling teacher evaluations, workshop feedback, artwork submissions, and docent/storyteller surveys Maintaining organized digital and physical filing systems for program documentation Collaboration and Communication Engaging with staff, vendors, visitors, program participants, teachers, and colleagues in a personable, professional, and culturally responsive manner Participating in School Programs Team meetings, Education Department meetings, and all‑staff meetings as required Contributing to the museum’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility through all aspects of work Performing other related duties as assigned to support the Education Department Minimum Qualifications High school diploma or equivalent and experience working with children and youth in educational, school‑based, or community settings; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Sites, Calendar) Experience with video conferencing platforms, particularly Zoom Excellent oral and written communication skills appropriate for diverse audiences including children, educators, and families Outstanding organizational skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail Demonstrated resourcefulness, creativity, and flexibility in problem‑solving and adapting to changing circumstances Strong problem‑solving abilities and sound judgment when assessing situations and implementing solutions Flexibility and adaptability when working in ambiguous situations, particularly in dynamic educational settings Sensitivity to and appreciation of cultural differences with ability to communicate effectively with culturally diverse audiences Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to work collegially across departments and with volunteers of all backgrounds Customer service orientation with diplomacy and tact Ability and willingness to work onsite at the museum Ability to travel occasionally to school and community sites throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area (mileage reimbursement provided) Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in education, art education, museum studies, or closely related field from an accredited college or university One or more years of experience in museum education, gallery teaching, or arts education programming Experience with FileMaker or similar database management systems Knowledge of or interest in Asian art, history, and culture Multilingual abilities, particularly in languages spoken by Bay Area communities Training or experience in universal design for learning (UDL) and accessible education practices Physical Requirements and Work Environment Work Schedule and Location Work is primarily scheduled Monday through Friday during regular business hours, onsite, with the understanding that schedules may be adjusted to meet operational requirements. Remote work arrangements are in accordance with the museum’s Telecommuting Policy. Occasional local travel to schools and community sites throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area (mileage reimbursement provided) Work performed across multiple museum environments: galleries, education classrooms, offices, and occasionally off‑site locations Sitting/Standing/Walking Sitting/Standing: Prolonged standing (up to 3 consecutive hours) when facilitating school programs, gallery discussions, and hands‑on art activities with student groups; extended periods of sitting (up to 2‑3 hours) at a computer workstation performing administrative tasks, data entry, and program planning Walking: Frequent walking throughout museum facilities and between buildings, on hard surfaces (tile, marble, concrete flooring) and stairs Moving: Ability to move between sitting, standing, and walking throughout the workday Bending/Kneeling: Ability to bend, kneel, and crouch when working with young children and setting up/cleaning up activity materials at floor level Manual Tasks Manual Dexterity: Continuous use of hands and fingers for keyboarding, mouse operation, administrative work, website updates, and data entry; handling documents; fine motor skills required for accurate data entry, preparing art materials, handling education supplies, and organizing program materials Lifting/Carrying: Frequent lifting and carrying of materials up to 20 pounds; occasional lifting and carrying of materials up to 35 pounds Reaching: Reaching above shoulder height and below waist level to access supplies on shelving and in storage areas; ladder use to reach storage areas Pushing/pulling wheeled carts with program materials up to 75 pounds between classrooms and galleries Sensory and Communication Requirements Vision: Requires close visual acuity for extended computer work (4+ hours daily), reading printed materials, reviewing lesson plans, and monitoring student activities; ability to read standard print (10‑12 point font) and computer screens Hearing: Requires hearing ability sufficient for telephone conversations, facilitating discussions with student groups ranging from quiet to noisy environments, in‑person communication with teachers and volunteers in various acoustic settings (quiet offices to busy galleries with groups of 30+ students), and participation in meetings Communication: Requires frequent facilitation with diverse audiences including children (pre‑K through high school), teachers, volunteers, and museum visitors; ability to project voice clearly in gallery settings with groups of up to 30 students and adults Environmental Conditions Climate‑controlled office and classroom environments with ergonomic computer workstation Museum gallery spaces with controlled lighting and temperature Education spaces with variable noise levels, especially during school programs with multiple groups present Exposure to art materials, including paints, markers, clay, and adhesives, with appropriate safety protocols Regular interaction with large groups of children and adults in dynamic, sometimes unpredictable educational settings Occasional outdoor exposure when greeting school buses or facilitating outdoor activities Occasional travel to off‑site school and community locations with varying environmental conditions Cognitive and Concentration Sustained attention to detail for program facilitation, material preparation, and administrative accuracy Ability to manage multiple simultaneous priorities and frequent interruptions, particularly during high‑volume school program days Real‑time problem‑solving and adaptability when working with diverse student groups with varying needs Processing and responding to a high volume of communications from teachers, volunteers, staff, and program participants Ability to maintain focus and composure while supervising groups of children in dynamic museum environments Quick decision‑making regarding student safety, group management, and program adjustments Position Notes This description is representative of typical duties but is not exhaustive This document does not constitute an employment contract Duties and responsibilities may evolve based on organizational needs and may be adjusted by your supervisor For represented positions: Terms and conditions of employment are governed by the CBA between the Asian Art Museum and SEIU 1021 Compensation The Asian Art Museum is committed to practicing salary transparency. The hourly range for this position is $26.7996 - 32.1871 per hour. This FLSA non‑exempt opportunity includes a generous benefits package, including but not limited to: Fully covered medical, dental, and vision insurance for employee 12 paid holidays (2026) 15 days of vacation 12 days of sick leave Group retirement plan starting after one year of employment This position is represented by Local 1021, Service Employees International Union. New hires typically start at the beginning of the wage range. Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commitments At the Asian Art Museum, we are dedicated to ideating, building, and holding ourselves accountable for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion in everything we do. We strive to foster a culture of respect, belonging and inclusivity for all employees. Our mission is to celebrate, preserve, and promote Asian and Asian American art and cultures for local and global audiences. We provide a dynamic forum for exchanging ideas, inviting collaboration, and fueling imagination to deepen understanding and empathy among people of all backgrounds. Diversity of thought and experience is essential to our mission, and we are committed to recruiting, hiring, and retaining a diverse workforce. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply. The Asian Art Museum is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories (arrest and criminal histories) consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. #J-18808-Ljbffr