The Religious Literacy, Learning & Engagement Coordinator (Religious Literacy LEPC) reports to the Senior Director, Arts & Social Impact (SDASI) and is a member of the Arts & Social Impact team. This team is responsible for developing and delivering artistic explorations and cultural experiences for all museum audiences who use our resources, including but not limited to; young children ages birth to 10, their caregivers, educators and other external partners.
The Religious Literacy, LEPC’s primary responsibilities is to work across all of the programs teams to contribute knowledge and experience of religious literacy and religious literacy programming for Museum-wide development efforts. This includes creating and supporting the delivery of child- and family-centered religious literacy programming, performing arts, culture and identity-based content, and other educational experiences that reflect the goals and philosophies documented in Boston Children’s Museum’s Learning Framework (A foundation of play and exploration in service of learning).
Other responsibilities may include support of program planning and delivery, assisting with research projects, coordinating and assisting with other public learning forums, developing materials and training resources, curricular materials, digital content or other educational resources for external use, and support the Senior Director in managing relationships with external advisors and partners. The Religious Literacy, Learning & Engagement Coordinator will also collaborate with Collections & Archives to leverage materials in service of Religious Literacy programming, and with Community Engagement to incorporate the work of external partners and community members whose missions are aligned.
About Religious Literacy Initiative
The Religious Literacy (RL) Initiative supports children, caregivers and their families by providing opportunities to develop a curiosity about the ways in which religion is embedded in identity and culture. The goals are to provide our audience and key stakeholders opportunities through various platforms, including exhibits, programs, object-based learning and community collaborations to understand how beliefs and values develop as a facet of identity, develop a sense of curiosity and comfort around differing belief systems, and celebrate religious cultural and familial traditions.
Our vision is to establish Boston Children’s Museum as a model for other cultural institutions to center the lived experiences of children and families with diverse identities, beliefs and religions by generating ongoing learning opportunities about religious literacy from experts in the field, offering staff professional development, serving as a resource to other museum professionals by sharing materials, tools, and facilitating convenings and defining new ways of integrating a religious literacy lens across our work, policies and procedures.
Learning & Engagement
- Collaborate with the Arts & Social Impact team and other museum departments and teams to lead internal topical trainings for all-levels of staff to deepen their understanding of Religious Literacy principles, work and programs
- Lead ongoing training and mentoring for Educators and Visitor Experience Ambassadors in the delivery of Religious Literacy programming
- Work collaboratively with colleagues within the Arts & Social Impact team and on other teams within the Programs and Exhibits department, Human Resources and the EDI steering committee as it relates to influencing internal systems and policies with a Religious Literacy lens
- Communicate information about Religious Literacy programming to appropriate staff within the Museum, including Visitor Experience staff
- Assess current partnerships to identify gaps and new opportunities
- Conduct research to identify and develop a comprehensive spreadsheet of local and national community organizations, individuals, artists, creatives, academics and content experts with mission-aligned approaches to supporting the vision of the Religious Literacy initiative
- Track the status of partnership conversations, connecting emerging concepts and unifying themes to move forward program planning and implementation
- Ensure an equitable and inclusive approach to partnership development and provide creative solutions to address the needs of the partner
- Propose and implement strategies for deepening community engagement specific to Religious-based, mission-aligned entities
- Lead the coordination of meetings and opportunities for information sharing between external stakeholders
- Identify and attend community gatherings and events related to the goals of the Religious Literacy Initiative
- Contribute to Religious Literacy program evaluation effort and incorporate feedback from colleagues, observants, teachers, students, and evaluation professionals into programming considerations and design
General
- Develop and lead engaging, educational, and play-based programs and activities for children, families, and caregivers that supports developing empathy and increasing a sense of religious identity awareness
- Support the refinement of a Religious Literacy framework for programming, in service of the Museum’s Learning Framework and the Arts & Social Impact department’s focus area
- Draft and edit programmatic related documents, inclusive of concept development documents, program descriptions, social media and online content
- Support iterative testing of activities, including scheduling testing sessions within the Museum and in educational settings outside of the Museum, participating in activities and reporting out on observations
- Assist with planning and delivery of major team and Museum events, such as programming for school vacation week, summer camp, school programs and other large-scale celebrations
- Other duties as assigned
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Requirements
- A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of work experience
Preferred Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in education or related fields; religion/theology and public life, social sciences or cultural studies
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- 5 years of related work experience in the field of interdisciplinary education for young children, creative curriculum development, and/or program development for public and informal learning spaces
- Knowledge of current literature and pedagogy around religion and public life, and how these intersections impact children, families and caregivers
- Knowledge or understanding of EDI related and systemic challenges within the arts, cultural and education sectors
- Knowledge of mainstream and non-dominant religious practices, principles, and historical context
- Proactive, with the ability to identify and examine challenges and propose creative solutions
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to build, establish and maintain relationships
- Demonstrated organizational, logistical planning and time management skills
- Ability to coordinate and facilitate public programming, including but not limited to large-scale events, ongoing activities led by Educators, collaboration with community partners, topical training, and other convenings.
- Proven ability to drive initiatives and advance program objectives and goals, while strategically navigating complex internal and external processes and dynamics
Preferred Requirements:
- Experience working with children ages 0-10, museum educators or classroom teaching
- Fluency in a second language
- Local knowledge of Boston area community-based organizations and cultural ecosystems
Physical Demands: Frequently stand/walk, sit, perform desk-based computer tasks, and use a telephone. Occasionally kneel/crawl, twist/bend/stoop/squat, grasp lightly/fine manipulation, and grasp forcefully, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh 21-40 pounds.
Work Environment: Ability to work in a lively, often noisy, and sometimes crowded environment with the public and with young children. Work is performed routinely within the Museum setting, but on occasion may require work performed outside. General office environment shared common office space and equipment.
Other Factors: Regular work schedule includes one weekend day. Flexibility required to accommodate programming and special events, including early or late shifts.
(Benefits eligibility is based on regular weekly hours per week)
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- 13 Paid Holidays
- Up to 12 Sick days
- Mass Earn Sick Time
- Up to 10 Vacation days
- 403(b) Retirement Plan
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Qualified Transportation Accounts
- Life Insurance
- Short- Term & Long-Term Disability
- American Alliance Museum Access
- New England Museum Association Access
- Free Admission to 100+ Museums
jobs@bostonchildrensmuseum.org
OUR MISSION
Boston Children’s Museum engages children and families in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning.
OUR VISION
Boston Children’s Museum is a welcoming, imaginative, child-centered learning environment that supports diverse families in nurturing their children’s creativity and curiosity. We promote the healthy development of all children so they will fulfil their potential and contribute to our collective well-being and future prosperity.
OUR VALUES
Creativity. Respect. Excellence. Accountability. Thoughtfulness. Equity.
Boston Children’s Museum is a curious, experimental, and creative learning organization. We have a child and family centered focus, welcoming and respecting all Museum audiences. We collaborate and show mutual respect and support for our colleagues. We recognize that each person has equal, intrinsic worth and deserves to be treated with dignity. We are a culture that innovates, changes, and pushes boundaries to keep the museum relevant. We are responsible to each other and strive to keep our commitments to our colleagues. We have a commitment to high ethical standards. We recognize the importance of work-life balance, respecting the importance of personal growth and family. We have an ongoing commitment to fairness in all aspects of the Museum and we embrace alternative ways of thinking.
