Manager of Learning Resources & Teacher Professional Development

Position: Manager of Learning Resources and Teacher Professional Development

FLSA Status: Exempt

Department: Sue Ling Gin Center for Education and Public Programs

Our Mission: Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history.

Join our team and enjoy a benefits package that truly supports your well-being and lifestyle:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Including medical, dental, vision plans, and even pet insurance.

• Financial Security: Life and disability benefits plus a 403(b) savings plan to help you plan for the future.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off, paid sick leave, and paid holidays to ensure you have time to recharge and spend with loved ones.

• Exclusive Perks: Enjoy great employee discounts and complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions.

We're dedicated to enhancing your life both at work and beyond!

The School Programs team provides meaningful learning experiences that invite Pre-K-12th grade students, educators, and community organizations to explore the world’s natural and cultural diversity. Through authentic investigations with museum collections, the team supports student and educator learning by developing educational resources, facilitating in-person and virtual classroom workshops, facilitating community outreach in Chicago neighborhoods, providing professional development for educators, and offering hands-on educational materials through the N. W. Harris Learning Collection.

As a member of the Learning Resources and Teacher Professional Development team, the manager’s primary role is to oversee the development of Field Museum learning resources and suite of professional development, including but not limited to N. W. Harris Learning Collection materials, exhibition toolkits, professional development for educators, Field Ambassadors educator community, and pre-service teacher preparation, ongoing professional development, and external and internal partnerships with the intended outcome of co-created learning resources. The Manager also fosters ongoing professional learning opportunities and develops internal and external partnerships to support the collaborative creation of educational resources that meet the needs of educators and students. In addition, the Manager directly supervises, hires, trains, and coaches all members of the Learning Resources and Teacher Professional Development team and serves as a member of the Education and Public Programs Leadership Team.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Manage Learning Resources and Teacher Professional Development staff

   1. Directly supervise all team members, including the Professional Development Educators, Harris Learning Collection team, School Programs Instructor, and Interpretation Specialist.

   2. Oversee the hiring, onboarding, training, supervision, and professional development of team members, providing ongoing coaching and support to promote individual and team success.

2. Manage the suite of in-person and virtual professional development offerings from the Field Museum.

   1. Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Field Museum’s in-person and virtual professional development offerings for educators.

   2. Supervise the Professional Development Educators and guide their work to ensure high-quality, relevant, and effective programming.

   3. Oversee and manage grants awarded to the Learning Resources and Teacher Professional Development team, including project planning, budget, implementation, and reporting.

   4. Foster internal collaboration across Museum departments and develop external partnerships with schools, school districts, and district administrators.

   5. Establish flexible and responsive communication structures to support effective collaboration with schools, educators, and other stakeholders.

   6. Support educator professional development programs as needed through facilitation, event coordination, content development, and technical assistance.

   7. Contribute to the Field Museum’s and Education and Public Programs’ understanding of Pre-K-12th grade education trends, instructional practices, and audience needs.

   8. Engage in ongoing professional learning to remain informed about current research, emerging best practices, and changes in the Pre-K-12th grade education landscape.

3. Oversee the Harris Learning Collection

   1. Supervise the Harris Learning Collection team and provide guidance and support for the development, implementation, and ongoing management of Collection programs and services.

   2. Oversee the maintenance and continuous improvement of the Harris Learning Collection website and digital resources to ensure materials are accessible, accurate, and relevant to educators.

   3. Oversee the care, maintenance, organization, and ongoing development of the Harris Learning Collection’s physical and digital materials.

   4. Serve as the primary liaison for internal and external stakeholders regarding Harris Learning Collection materials, resources, and programs.

4. Manage the development of curricular resources for students and educators

   1. Collaborate with stakeholders across Museum departments to evaluate, update, and maintain the Field Museum’s educational resources website.

   2. Oversee the development of educator toolkits, curricular materials, and other educational resources that support student learning and educator practice.

   3. Supervise the evaluation, development, and revision of learning resources, including lesson plans, worksheets, facilitation guides, and digital materials, to ensure alignment with educational standards and current instructional practices.

5. Manage team operations and logistics

   1. Oversee team operations, including budget management, strategic planning, resource allocation, and data collection for grant-funded programs.

   2. Monitor program effectiveness and contribute to evaluation and reporting efforts, including grant reports, proposals, internal updates, newsletters, and other communications as needed.

   3. Establish and maintain organizational systems and processes that support effective project management, team collaboration, and the successful implementation of programs and initiatives.

6. Marketing and outreach

   1. Support marketing and outreach for professional development programs by managing and contributing to the Field Museum’s educator newsletters, and maintaining social media presence for teacher programs.

   2. Collaborate with the Marketing team to develop and implement strategies that increase Harris Learning Collection membership, promote the use of educational resources, and expand participation in professional development programs.

   3. Represent the Learning Resources and Teacher Professional Development team at promotional events, outreach activities, and other Museum initiatives as needed.

7. General Responsibilities

   1. Support broader Education and Public Programs initiatives and assist with additional responsibilities as assigned.

8. Work Schedule and Location

   1. Regular evening and weekend hours may be required to support programs, events, and broader departmental needs, including occasional off-site work.

Skills and Qualifications

• Skills

  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team to develop innovative program ideas.

  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

  • Demonstrated ability to prioritize competing responsibilities and meet multiple deadlines simultaneously.

  • Success in hiring, managing, training, coaching and building community among diverse stakeholders (internal and external)

  • Strong project management skills including the ability to establish clear goals, manage budget, manage timelines, and oversee multiple projects simultaneously.

  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, establish priorities, meet deadlines, and oversee program budgets, and grant-funded initiatives.

  • Demonstrated ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships with internal and external partners.

• Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Education, Curriculum and Instructional design, Educational Administration, or a related field required, master’s degree preferred.

  • 3-5 years experience supervising, managing, mentoring, and developing diverse educators including providing feedback, coaching, and support for professional growth required.

  • 3-5 years of professional experience successfully developing and implementing inquiry-based curriculum for Pre-K-12th grade science and social science

  • Experience developing and implementing in-person and remote adult learning programs for Pre-K-12 educators.

  • Strong understanding of and experience developing and teaching instructional frameworks and approaches including inquiry-based learning, Illinois state standards, Next Generation Science Standards, C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards, Social Justice standards, and Common Core required.

  • Knowledge of formal and informal learning theory and best practices in student and adult learning required.

Supervision Received:

Receives general supervision by School Programs Director.

Supervision Exercised:

Provides general direction and task supervision to Professional Development Educators, Harris Learning Collection Educator, School Programs Instructor, and Interpretation Specialist.

Work Hours and Shift:

8:30am-4:30pm Monday through Friday. Regular weekend and evening work required.

Hybrid Eligibility:

Eligible

Location:

1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. Chicago, IL 60605

Union Representation:

Not Applicable.

Pay: $79,808-81,436/Annually

PLEASE READ: *When you apply for multiple positions, please make sure to delete your previous resume and cover letter and upload the latest version of your resume and cover letter that is relevant to the job you are applying for, every time you apply. This will help our hiring managers access the correct documents. Please note that removing the resume and cover letter will not delete any previously submitted resumes and cover letters.

The Field Museum is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination, embracing diversity, and fostering mutual respect. We value the unique perspectives each team member brings, which empowers our ability to innovate and overcome challenges.

At the Field Museum, we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you encounter any difficulty when using or accessing our online application, or if you need a reasonable accommodation for completing your application, participating in interviews, or any other part of the selection process, please reach out to us at recruitment@fieldmuseum.org.