Employment

Education Assistants facilitate educational programs in the topics of art, architecture, and design for broad and diverse audiences at the Cranbrook Art Museum. Education Assistants demonstrate excellent presentation, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills. Familiarity with a range of artmaking, art education, design, and art historical topics are required. Programs primarily consist of school tours and workshops for our field trip students from Detroit Public Schools, Cranbrook Schools, and surrounding districts.

The Education Assistant position is part-time, working approximately 12-15 hours per week during regular business hours. The schedule will vary due to school holidays. The employment period runs through May 2027 with the possibility to extend.

• For consideration, please submit a resume and cover letter. 

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• Working closely with the larger education and visitor experience team, assisting with the development of materials for programs and school field trip tours.
• Effectively present information and work with diverse audiences in an articulate, thoughtful, and enthusiastic manner; adapting programs in response to age, ability, and feedback of participants.
• Explain art materials and perform hands-on workshop demonstrations for groups of visitors or school groups.  Maintain program storage area, supplies, teaching materials, equipment, and logs.
• Maintain attendance, punctuality and performance standards set forth in Cranbrook’s employee handbook.

• • A high school degree or GED and college-level Studio Art, Art History, Art Education, or Theater courses required, a Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
  • Minimum of one year of experience working in education or with youth.
  • Must possess the enthusiasm and resourcefulness necessary to work with families and young children.
  • Proficiency in Google Suite, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Customer service experience and the ability to effectively work with varied constituents, including the public, school personnel, students, and volunteers.
  • Ability to adapt program materials, presentation style, and/or delivery as needed to provide age-appropriate instruction. Must be able to problem-solve on the spot as issues arise. Adept at taking initiative, working without continuous supervision, and working as a team member.
  • Requires a Michigan driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record.

To provide enthusiastic customer service to all museum visitors and constituents (in the galleries and on the grounds), create a welcoming educational environment, ensure protection of works on display in the galleries, and support Visitor Service Supervisor roles and museum operations as necessary.

This is a part-time position, working less than 20 hours per week.

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Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Welcome and engage Museum visitors and constituents, orientate them to the Museum facility and introduce current exhibitions and programs. This includes visitors to the museum, campus, public programs, and private groups. Look for opportunities for further engagement, exceeding expectations of routine customer service.
• Perform the role of Gallery Educator circulating through the galleries, engaging visitors in dialogue when appropriate, provide information on the exhibition, artists, and campus history, while monitoring of security issues pertaining to the artwork and visitor surroundings. Stay current with changing gallery and exhibition information. Know key talking points about artworks and artist featured in the galleries.
• Go out of your way to be helpful and informative to visitors about facilities at the museum and on campus. This includes institutional history, wayfinding, and information about current and upcoming exhibitions and programming.
• Must be comfortable standing and walking in the galleries whenever visitors are present during extended shift.
• Must be able to perform basic operations through the point of sale at the front desk and perform duties related to shop sales, including the accurate entry of all visitor information and fees collected into the Museum’s admission system.
• Sell museum memberships, process applications and be knowledgeable about the benefits of membership in the Art Museum.
• Answer Visitor Services front desk telephone and email and provide accurate information.
• Keep Museum lobby, reception desk, storage areas, and galleries clean and orderly.
• Must be physically able to navigate multiple levels and safely move visitors with handicapped restrictions or strollers into and out of the Museum through the elevator.
• Be aware of emergency and security procedures at the Art Museum and implement them when necessary.
• Follow appropriate opening and closing procedures as assigned, including peristyle and grounds set up, and monitoring daily museum inventory checklist procedures.
• Maintains attendance, punctuality, and performance standards set forth in Cranbrook’s employee handbook with adherence to dress code policy.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• High School Diploma or GED required (BFA or MFA strongly preferred).
• Customer service experience is required.
• Ability to work with the public, school personnel, students, and volunteers easily and enthusiastically.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Computer experience is required; additional training on specialized software is provided.
• Ability to manage several projects simultaneously.