Title: Early Childhood Education Assistant

State Role Title: 

Hiring Range: $17.52/hour

Pay Band: 3

Agency: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Location: MAIN MUSEUM

Agency Website: https://www.vmfa.museum/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

About Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond is one of the largest comprehensive art museums in the United States. VMFA’s growing encyclopedic collection houses more than 50,000 works of art spanning 6,000 years of world history. 

Our holdings include the largest public collection of Fabergé outside of Russia, the finest collection of Art Nouveau outside of Paris and one of the nation’s finest collections of American art. VMFA is also home to important collections of Chinese art, English silver, French Impressionism, Postimpressionism, British sporting art, and modern and contemporary art, as well as renowned South Asian, Himalayan, and African art.

Recently named the 11th-best art museum in the United States by The Washington Post, VMFA is the only US art museum open 365 days a year with free general admission.

VMFA is a state-supported, privately endowed educational institution created for the benefit of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret art, to encourage the study of the arts, and thus to enrich the lives of all.

About Education Department:

VMFA’s Education Department centers on the core values of Quality, Collaboration, and being Community-centered. Through art and shared experiences, we invite an exchange of diverse perspectives to uncover layers of meaning and in turn, support discovery, learning, and deeper connections.

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program at VMFA is an inquiry based, experiential program for children ages 3 months to 5 years old, and their caregivers. ECE programs connect early learning to the museum’s world-renowned collection. Participants enjoy play, music, and movement activities, gallery walks, and multisensory art projects. While building self-awareness and social skills, a wide array of subjects are explored, including world cultures, science, literature, and mathematics. The Early Childhood Education team at VMFA is committed to creating quality experiences that engage the whole child and to facilitating a supportive community for the adults that join them. 

General Information:

We are currently seeking applications for a highly motivated, action-oriented individual, with a flexible and collaborative mindset, to join our Early Childhood Education Department as Early Childhood Education Assistant. 

The hired applicant supports the Early Childhood Education Programs, and staff, with essential administrative and organizational tasks. 

This is a wage, non-exempt position. This position works 20 hours weekly, increasing to 29 hours during specific months of the year.  

VMFA staff also enjoy agency benefits like free admission to special exhibitions, previews of special exhibitions, employee pricing for selection museum programs and classes, and discounts at Amuse Restaurant, Best Café, and VMFA Shop.

Duties Include:    

This position will work closely with the Early Childhood Education Coordinator to maintain the administration and execution of the Early childhood Education programs.

The hired applicant will assist with the general needs of running all programs including classes that take place weekly, drop off camps for 3-5 year olds, field trips for early learning centers and the Annual Early Childhood Student Exhibition. The hired candidate will have expanded responsibilities with drop-off camps and the student exhibition with work hours increasing during peak periods for these programs (May, June, July, September and January). 

The hired candidate will assist with administrative projects including maintaining enrollment and registration data, the collection of web edits and monitoring of online offerings. They will maintain program statistics, scholarships, grant benchmarking and exhibition data. They will assist with editing projects for registration brochures and resources. 

This position includes supporting the maintenance of the educational spaces Early Childhood programs utilize. These duties include organizing and cleaning studios, compilation and management of supply inventory, including unpacking, labeling and sorting of art materials, and maintaining organization of supplies in storage spaces.

The hired candidate will support Early Childhood’s tours program (Group Visits), assisting with data entry for program, maintaining calendars, inputting reservations into VMFA’s registration software, reserving lunchroom spaces, and supporting Educators in set-up and cleanup during peak periods. 

Staff in this role support preparation for, and the facilitation of, Curiosity Camps that are held in the month of June. This includes maintaining administrative and clerical projects for the program.  They will assist with the administration of camps through set up, wayfinding, check in, in-class interactions, and clean up.  The hired candidate will maintain documentation of camps including iPad use and varied paperwork.  They will also assist with setting up and maintaining the outdoor classroom space.

This position also performs essential roles in support of the Annual Student Exhibition. These duties include maintaining and updating important documentation for the Annual Student Exhibition, corresponding with teachers, and tracking art acquisition from children in Year-Round classes and Curiosity Camps. This individual will correspond with caregivers of student exhibitors and notify them of exhibition updates. They will also collaborate with colleagues in the design of the exhibition, label content and printing, didactic panel design, and preparation of frames to be sent to framer.  Installation will take place in October, and de-installation in January.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Strong customer service, oral and written communication skills.

The ability to work independently on various administrative and organizational tasks, as well as anticipating program needs and addressing them with minimal supervision. 

Demonstrated use of sound judgment, decision-making, and knowledge regarding safety and security protocols for supervising student groups.

Related work experience in a teaching environment and knowledge of basic child development.

Experience using basic formulas in Microsoft Excel

Driver's license is required. Three professional references are required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Certification in Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED.

Knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies typically obtained through the completion of an academic curriculum or program in early childhood education, art education, art history, or a related field; or an equivalent level of practical experience.

Prior or related experience with a variety of platforms including Microsoft Excel, photoshop, registration software similar to Outbound, Asana, Docusign, Asset Essentials, and Formstack.

Prior professional experience in the art education or museum education field.  

Demonstrated knowledge and teaching experience with Reggio-inspired and inquiry-based pedagogy.

Experience installing fine art exhibitions.

Special Instructions:

Selected candidates must pass a criminal history background check.

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

All applicants must submit an online application. This position will close at 11:55 pm on the designated closing date listed at the top of this posting on Jobs.Virginia.gov.
 
VMFA is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Certified Employer. Diverse and inclusive hiring practices are at the heart of what we do at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Contact Information

Name: HR Services

Phone: For the most up-to-date status of your application, please refer to your Jobs.Virginia.Gov account. We do not provide application status updates via phone.

Email: recruitment@vmfa.museum for recruitment related questions.

Emailed applications, resumes, or cover letters will not be accepted. For the most up-to-date status of your application, please refer to your Jobs.Virginia.Gov account.

Conditions of Employment: 

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
 
E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.