Assistant Director of Education

We offer thousands of free programs every day for people from all walks of life—immigrants learning a new language, aspiring entrepreneurs launching their dreams, children discovering the world, people of all ages exploring arts and culture. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life's greatest satisfactions: the discovery of a good book.

Now's your chance to join the best team in Brooklyn

The Center for Brooklyn History (CBH) is Brooklyn Public Library's nationally recognized research library and public history institution. Free and open to all, CBH provides visitors with dynamic ways to connect with Brooklyn's story through its historical collections, enlightening programs, educational resources, and wide-ranging exhibitions. 

CBH is currently seeking an Assistant Director of Education to lead its Education Department. Reporting to the Executive Director of CBH  and working closely with the Director for Special Collections and the Chief Historian, the Assistant Director of Education is responsible for overseeing all educational programs. The position manages a team of five, working collaboratively to design and execute innovative programming that aligns with CBH's mission and meets the needs of NYC students and teachers, with a particular emphasis on Title I schools in under-resourced Brooklyn neighborhoods. Current programs include: Brooklyn Connections, CBH's award-winning partnership program in local middle and high school classrooms; New York City History Day (NYCHD), the regional contest for National History Day; class visits to CBH for NYC elementary and middle schools; the   Summer Scholars paid internship program; and a range of free CTLE professional development workshops for educators. 

This is a full-time, non-union position. The salary range for this position is $90,000 - $93,000. This is a hybrid position with a minimum of 3 days on-site with the availability to be present as needed for additional events. Please submit a cover letter along with a resume in the application.

Responsibilities

• Work with CBH leadership and the Education team to establish long-range vision, annual goals, objectives, and priorities for the department

• Oversee the design, development, implementation, marketing, and evaluation of CBH educational programming, including introducing new programs for students, teens and families as appropriate

• Manage the Education team of five full-time staff  and collaborate on the design, goals, and implementation for Brooklyn Connections, NYC History Day, professional development workshops, teen internships and other educational offerings

• Administer and grow the School Visit Program, including hiring and supervising part-time educators, with the goal of reaching at least 50 schools per year

• Lead class visits and professional development workshops as necessary

• Recruit, select, and orient new Education staff

• Collaborate with Chief Historian and other curatorial staff on permanent and temporary exhibits to help ensure they meet CBH's educational objectives

• Collaborate with Welcome Services on family programming, building tours, and other projects

• Liaise with BPL senior staff and branch librarians as appropriate to develop and collaborate on educational outreach initiatives and projects

• Represent the Education department at CBH Committee meetings

• Manage the Education department's annual budget

• Collaborate actively with BPL's Development department on fundraising from government, foundation, and corporate sources; manage Education grants and awards; meet with and present to funders as needed; provide information for funder reports.

• Identify internal and external professional development opportunities for the Education team

• Represent CBH Education department within larger education field (e.g. through partnerships, conference presentations, publications, committees, etc.) and network with external cultural institutions to establish opportunities for joint programming

• Other tasks as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in history, education, archival/museum studies or related field; Master's degree preferred

• At least 7 years in museum education, public history education, or K-12 education with at least 3 of them in a leadership role

• Experience managing teams

• Experience teaching with object-based learning and creating related curricula 

• Experience conducting archival research and handing archival documents

• Demonstrated knowledge of pedagogical best practices, learning principles, and teaching techniques

• Experience with departmental budgets, grant applications and reporting practices

• Familiarity with NYC and NYS Scope and Sequence curriculum guidelines for Social Studies

• Commitment to diversity, inclusion and accessibility, and the amplification of underrepresented stories and histories

• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken, and strong organizational and schedule management skills 

• Passion for local history 

We seek professionals dedicated to providing excellent customer service, developing fruitful partnerships in the community, and implementing programs aligned with our mission and vision. You will be immersed in a motivating and challenging environment where innovation is key to the organization. If you are looking to be a part of a stimulating workplace that is highly regarded by its culturally diverse community, BPL is the place to be.

Brooklyn Public Library is an equal opportunity employer.