Associate Director, Education

MILKEN INSTITUTE
730 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Posted on  

Job Description

About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.


The Milken Institute’s events and programmatic activities, involve the exchange of ideas with leaders from around the world. The Institute hosts more than 200 events each year, with our annual flagship event, Global Conference, bringing together 4,500+ participants from around the world, featuring more than 900+ speakers throughout 200+ sessions over the course of the event.


About the Milken Institute and the Center for Advancing the American Dream

The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD) at the Milken Institute is looking for a seasoned education professional to join the visitor experience team as Associate Director of Education. This position will provide education programming and resources for the Visitor Center opening in 2025.

Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, the Milken Institute conducts research and analysis and convenes top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. The Institute is a non-partisan and nonprofit think tank renowned for convening people with talent and resources to address global challenges.

Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD), the newest center within the Institute, is catalyzing this work by building a new type of cultural center in the heart of Washington, DC. At MCAAD we celebrate the ideal of the American Dream and explore the ongoing challenges people face in pursuing opportunity, through exhibitions and programs. To accomplish this, we focus on four pillars of the American Dream: education, health, finance, and entrepreneurship. MCAAD’s physical home, with a planned opening in 2025, is a remarkable renovation of several 120-year-old historic bank buildings, including Riggs Bank, known as the “Bank of Presidents.” The Center’s main halls are in the National Register of Historic Places, and our stewardship of the property—along with adjacent buildings on 15th St NW—will showcase and honor the history of these buildings while adapting them for use as a modern cultural center with immersive exhibition galleries. There will also be a state-of-the-art theater, events and lecture spaces, a holodeck experience, store and an atrium with café. The six-building complex featuring nearly 300,000 square feet of space will also include a conference center, recording and broadcast studios, and the Washington, D.C., headquarters of five centers of the Milken Institute.

About the Position

WE are a dynamic, collaborative, and motivated team working to reopen the soaring halls of the Riggs Bank buildings as a place to imagine, explore, and expand the American Dream.
YOU are an accomplished museum educator with a passion for providing innovative and creative education programs for a variety of audiences. You are skilled at synthesizing stories and content into audience-appropriate learning experiences. You deftly navigate institutional interests and audience needs to create compelling and relevant education programs and resources.
Working under the supervision of the Director of Visitor Experience, this position will support the vision for a robust education plan to connect audiences with the Center’s mission. The Associate Director will play a key role in components of education programming such as developing school programs, teacher resources, exhibition guides, and gallery experiences.

Responsibilities

Education Planning and Operations

  • In partnership with the Director of Visitor Experience, spearhead the development of dynamic educational experiences and programming with a new cultural organization.
  • Synthesize content into compelling, audience-centered experiences for diverse ages, interests, and motivations.
  • Build and maintain strong professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to align education programming with organizational and community needs and interests.
  • Develop clear goals, expectations, and measures for education resources and programs that align with institutional goals.
  • Support and advise on use of space for education programming.
  • Collaborate with visitor experience team on developing and iterating policies and protocols for welcoming school and community groups.
  • Provide training and professional development opportunities for visitor experience staff to provide high-quality education experiences

Program Development and Implementation

  • Develop and implement plans for serving school and teacher audiences onsite through gallery and workshop experiences.
  • Develop and implement plan for serving intergenerational and teen audiences.
  • Contribute and execute education activities for museum-wide special programs.
  • Collaborate with public programs, visitor experience, operations, partnerships, communications, and other colleagues to bring education experience to fruition.
  • This role may supervise contract educators facilitating education programs.
  • Manage and coordinate day-to-day education programming.
  • Facilitate programs, tours, workshops as required.

Resource Development

  • Create education materials including printed kids guides, K12 lesson plans and curricula, and pre- and post-visit supporting materials and activities for school and community groups.
  • Engage and guide curriculum development contractors in creating learning resources.
  • Collaborate with MCAAD content specialists to unify themes and stories used in educational resources
  • Work with K12 educators to create relevant classroom resources

Evaluation and Reporting

  • Reflect, iterate, and evaluate education programming and make recommendations to improve future versions.
  • Creates and facilitates collection of feedback and data on education programming and resources.
  • Creates and distributes regular education reports and analytics to track the development of education programming.
  • Other Duties as Assigned

Requirements

  • The ideal candidate has a healthy sense of humor, doesn’t shy away from a challenge, and isn’t afraid to break the mold. Thrives in a highly collaborative environment while taking ownership of own duties.
  • You will succeed in this role if you are the kind of person who loves to help shape new initiatives, programs, and goals.
  • Must have at least 5 years of experience in education at a museum, history center, science center, or public-facing cultural organization.
  • Experience in developing learning experiences and programs in museums, historic sites, or cultural centers.
  • Experience working with K-12 students and teachers, teens, and intergenerational audiences.
  • Knowledge of learning styles, informal education theory and practice, and ability to apply them creatively to program and resource development.
  • Demonstrated experience in the development of innovative programming and learning materials.
  • A high level of adaptability to support the changing needs of audiences and the organization.
  • Strong project management and organization skills are required.
  • A proven track record education team management.
  • MCAAD’s topical focus means a background and special interest in its mission and pillars is beneficial: health and science, education and learning, finance, entrepreneurship, plus unique aspects of the American journey (U.S. history, immigration, aspiration and inspiration, advocacy, democracy, civic engagement, community development, and more).
  • The ability to quickly develop positive working relationships, support colleagues, be flexible, and thrive in a fast-paced, fun and creative environment is a must.
  • Successful completion of a security background check.
  • Have necessary authorizations to work in the United States of America.

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

This position will work in a professional office environment on a hybrid schedule consisting of three (3) days per week reporting in-person to the Washington, DC office location (Tuesday – Thursday), with the remaining two (2) days working remotely. Please understand, this schedule is subject to change at the Institute’s sole discretion.

This person will also be required to travel occasionally to other offices and/or venues to assist with events as needed, requiring occasional work outside of traditional hours. Additionally, this position requires interacting virtually on a regular basis with Milken Institute staff based in other locations in the United States and around the world.

Note

The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.

Please submit resume and cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills will contribute to the department and any unique qualities you bring to the position. If applying via Indeed, please upload your resume and any supporting documentation as one attachment. Any application that does not include both a resume and cover letter will be rejected. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact our Human Resources department to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Our Culture


The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.


Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences. We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone.


Benefits

  • Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
  • Retirement Plan - 403b (5% match)
  • Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
  • Paid Time Off (Personal, Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
  • Family Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
  • Fertility Support
  • Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
  • Pet Insurance Discount
  • Training & Development:
  • LinkedIn Learning – over 15,000 self-guided classes offered
  • Annual Mentor Program
  • Wellness Resources:
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • CALM app membership

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