Docent Program Assistant

Do you enjoy teaching, creating engaging educational experiences, and working with volunteers? The Desert Museum is seeking a part-time Docent Program Assistant to support the volunteers who bring the Sonoran Desert to life for our guests. In this role, you'll help train and coordinate Docents and Junior Docents, develop creative interpretive materials and activities, and support daily programs and special events. If you have a passion for education, an interest in natural history, and enjoy encouraging others to share their knowledge with the community, we invite you to apply!

Application review will start immediately. This job posting will remain open until a sufficient number of applicants meeting the minimum requirements have been received. Please understand that any offer of employment is dependent upon clearing a criminal background check, a pre-employment drug screen, and providing a current satisfactory 39-month driver's history report as a final condition of employment.

Job Title: Docent Program Assistant (Part-time, 24 hours a week)
Department: Conservation, Education and Science
Reports To: Docent Program Coordinator
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Compensation: Pay rate range of $19.86 - $21.02 per hour DOE, plus a comprehensive benefit package, which includes medical, dental, vision, life and LTD insurance, FSA, HRA, 403(b) retirement plan, paid holidays, personal business, sick leave, and vacation.

Summary
The Docent Program Assistant provides direct support to the Docent Program. Docents are volunteers who interpret live animals, demonstrate educational kits and lead tours, helping to enrich the experience for Museum guests.

The Docent Program Assistant will assist in Docent and Junior Docent training and scheduling, development and evaluation of interpretative activities, creating and maintaining interpretive materials, and implementation of special events. 

The Docent Program Assistant will serve as the staff liaison for docents on most Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Assists with Docent and Junior Docent Training.
• Assists with day-to-day Docent operations; proactively responding to concerns, questions, problems, and complaints.
• Develops, maintains, and updates interpretive kits and materials for Docents and Junior Docents.
• Creates interpretive schedules for daily programming and special events.
• Observes and evaluates Docent and Junior Docent interpretive practices.
• Maintains mastery of scheduling platforms, training Docents in their use, and solving problems and issues.
• Recruits and coordinates Docents for Special Events.
• Maintains current links on Docent and Junior Docent websites and file exchange.

Supervisory Responsibilities         
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. 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 the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience
Associate’s degree (AA) (or equivalent) in a natural history-related field and/or education, and one year experience teaching or creating educational materials. Knowledge of Sonoran Desert natural history is preferred.

Language Skills 
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization. 

Mathematical Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

Computer Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of word processing and design software such as PowerPoint or Adobe Photoshop.    

Other Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work weekends and flexible hours, including evenings and holidays.
• Enjoys teaching, coaching, and helping people solve problems.
• Pleasant, calm demeanor.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written).
• Ability to work independently.
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.
• Design of educational graphics for interpretive kits.
• Ability to design and create 3-dimensional objects for interpretive kits, preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Certifications in Interpretation from the National Association of Interpretation (Interpretive Guide, Interpretive Manager, Interpretive Planner, etc.) are preferred.
• Valid Arizona Driver’s License or ability to obtain.
• Valid Fingerprint Clearance Card or the ability to obtain.
• Satisfactory 39-month DMV report.
• First Aid/ CPR certificate or the ability to obtain.

Physical Demands 
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and to stand, walk, sit. The employee is frequently required to talk or hear. 

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee is occasionally required to work outdoors. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

IDEA Commitment
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is committed to fostering a welcoming space and a diverse, inclusive team that reflects the communities in which we live and work. We understand that inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) are integral to the fulfillment of our mission, and to our success as an organization. To that end, we are working to build the structures, policies, hiring practices and organizational culture that ensure representation and opportunity for all, and create an environment of belonging where everyone feels respected, safe, and understood. Additionally, as we continue to engage in this work, we are working to integrate the core values of IDEA into our programs, exhibits, communications, and other public offerings. Valuing each other’s differences brings us together to create a thriving workplace and fair work culture, allowing us to fulfill our mission more effectively.

We believe inclusion is everyone’s responsibility. Ways in which commitment is demonstrated include continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively addressing bias.

The Museum’s IDEA Coalition consists of staff members who are driving our efforts to build a culture where people feel they belong and have a voice. Visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's IDEA page to learn more.

The above description reflects a general overview of the responsibilities, reporting relationships and position requirements for this job classification. It is not intended to be a complete description of all duties and requirements that may be inherent in the position.