Now Hiring! Arts & Culture Program Associate (Full Time)
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT - Arts & Culture Program Associate, Full Time, 38.5 hours per week
POSITION PURPOSE
The Arts & Culture Program Associate leads, supports, and assists in the development of programs for the Museum & Theatre visitors, to create fun and engaging programs & events using Social Emotional Learning as the foundation. The Arts & Culture team leads the program development & upkeep of the MakerSpace, a vibrant exhibit for making and creativity. The Arts & Culture team also creates & delivers theatrical, musical, and/or educational programming in Maddy’s Theatre, the aquarium, the garden, and the IDEXX Learning Hub each week.
POSITION SUMMARY
Learn, lead, and support the ongoing development of innovative & creative programming for all ages, skills, experience and physical ability levels. This includes new seasonal and special event programs and/or introducing new techniques and concepts within a STEAM framework for ongoing guest engagement. Leaning on each team member’s creative strengths and experiences, we aim to offer a wide variety of interactive programs. Strengths and experiences can include, but are not limited to: studio arts, music, theatre, artisans, and makers.
Engage visitors on floors and exhibits
Restock, prepare, and assist with gathering supplies for activities and events
Maintain an organized, vibrant MakerSpace while adhering to accessibility and safety guidelines including teaching safe tool use, using observational language, managing inventory, and daily cleaning & maintenance
Support interdepartmental family events including Halloween, Dino Egg Hunt, and New Years Eve, as well as school vacation weeks, tot parties and other events.
Assist in mentoring assistants, interns, and volunteers
Utilize best practices in education and interactive museum experiences
Foster a culture of reflection and evaluation through regular audience evaluation and peer observation
Support outreach programs throughout the state as needed, as assigned by supervisor
Support Thursday evening rentals & events as needed, as assigned by supervisor in advance
Participate in various forms of professional development, when available & assigned
Participate in annual reviews and weekly team meetings
Greet school groups & field trip groups as assigned
Other duties identified by supervisor
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
One to two years of experience leading informal education programming
Strong understanding of children's social-emotional development and learning highly preferred
Experience working with families and children ages 0-14
Comfortable speaking and engaging with large groups of people of various ages
Access to a car, a valid driver’s license, and automobile insurance for outreach programming (typically several times per month), as well as a driving record check with acceptable results
Ability to work a schedule of: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:30-4:30pm, Tuesdays 9:30am-4:00pm and Thursday evenings as assigned & scheduled
Comfortable with email and Microsoft office suite
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF WORKPLACE/ROLE
Listening to children and responding to them, with occasional direct supervisory responsibilities
Many tasks require prolonged periods of walking and standing during regular duties
Reaching overhead is required frequently
Lifting up to 25 lbs is required frequently
Climbing ladders up to 12 feet high is required occasionally
Bending, crawling, kneeling, and crouching are required occasionally
Exposure to elements: occasional work outdoors in various weather conditions
Occasional prolonged sitting and gripping while driving
Seeing distances and navigating roads safely while driving
Additional physical demands may be required when leading programming, based on the individual role performed
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
Solution-oriented attitude and creative problem solving
Proven time management skills and a proactive approach
Ability to work independently and as a team player
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to engage in a mature, friendly and positive way with all visitors
Passion for teaching and learning
A deep respect for children and their varied learning styles and stages of development
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
COMPENSATION
$20.88 per hour, plus $11,550 annual benefit pay, which can be used toward a cafeteria plan of benefits including health insurance (3 options, HSA available), dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, short & long-term disability, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, 401(3(b) retirement plan contributions, and/or HSA or FSA contributions. Benefit pay may also be taken as pay in lieu of benefits.
Additional benefits include:
Annual free membership (for yourself or to give as a gift)
Monthly free admission passes
Snacks, tea & coffee available daily onsite
Staff events such as outings, parties, and lunches
CMTM has an equitable system of pay that offers a base rate based on position, and incorporates longevity pay increases over time.. This system is designed for equity, and as such, we do not have the ability to negotiate the compensation listed above.
HOW TO APPLY
Each applicant is required to email a resume, Museum & Theatre employment application, and letter of interest to hiring@kitetails.org. As part of your letter of interest please include the following:
Please read the Children’s Museum & Theatre mission & values statement here: https://www.kitetails.org/mission.
Please answer the question ‘Is there a specific value that resonates with you, and how does it align with your personal career goals?’
CMTM Employment Application can be found at https://www.kitetails.org/work-with-us.
Job Application Deadline: August 21, 2026, or until the position is filled.
ABOUT CMTM
At the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, we set the stage for every child to imagine and learn through play.
We value Belonging.
Everyone belongs at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine. We believe each person has value and worth; we celebrate what makes each of us unique and what binds us together as a strong community.
We value Play.
We embrace the power of play to build resilience, spark creativity, and ignite a child’s imagination. Play inspires our work, our physical spaces, our storytelling, and our learning experiences.
We value Community.
We center community in all we do. We strive to be an inclusive partner and resource in order to build strong, lasting relationships.
We value Trust.
We provide safe, inclusive experiences and spaces to ensure that the community’s trust is earned and upheld in all that we do.
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine is an equal opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity amongst our team and leadership, and we strongly encourage people of all traditionally marginalized identities to apply. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws. We are committed to making our facilities and programs accessible and safe for all members of our community, staff, and volunteers. We are actively working to increase accessibility and usability of our website, building, and educational activities. Supervisors work collaboratively with employees to make accommodations and modifications to accommodate the employee’s needs, including physical changes, assistive technologies, accessible communications, and policy enhancements. In doing so, we adhere to the available standards and guidelines and, in many cases, go beyond the guidelines to uphold our philosophy that our staff should have a safe and welcoming work environment where they can learn and grow. For a full description of our facility’s accessibility, please visit: www.kitetails.org/accessibility