Program Manager
Job Title: Program Manager
Reports To: Director of Education and Wildlife
Status: Exempt
Salary: $40,000-43,000 annually
Department: Visitor Experience Team
Position Type & Expected Hours of Work: Full-time, Tuesday-Saturday with evening and weekend hours required.
Summary: The Program Manager is responsible for developing, coordinating, and leading engaging public programming that supports our mission and enhances the visitor experience. This role oversees everything from large-scale community events to daily hands-on activities on the museum floor. The ideal candidate is creative, organized, collaborative, and excited about connecting families with science and nature.
Essential Functions:
Deliver excellent customer service to families, visitors, and community partners.
Plan, schedule, and lead educational programs and public offerings: manage materials, equipment, supplies, and staff.
Lead planning and execution of large community events (1,000+ attendees), including logistics, staffing, supplies, and day-of operations.
Collaborate with external partners, performers, vendors, and community groups to enhance event and program offerings.
Coordinate program plans with Marketing, Operations, Facilities, Exhibits, and other internal departments.
Manage event and program budgets, supplies, timelines, and communications to ensure smooth implementation.
Evaluate programs to ensure high-quality content and delivery.
Train, supervise, and mentor staff and interns; assist with hiring and performance evaluations.
Develop themes, descriptions, and schedules for public and educational programs; support marketing efforts.
Teach programs and handle all core animals required for programming.
Additional Duties:
Gain familiarity with all programs in order to deliver any program as necessary.
Attend staff meetings and required events such as volunteer recognition, membership and fundraising events.
Participate in the on-duty staff rotation.
Supervisory Responsibility: This position has direct reports. This role is responsible for the training and supervision of part-time educators as assigned.
Work Environment: The work is both inside in a Museum, school or other inside environment and outside in heat/cold, wet/humid and dry/arid conditions. The employee needs to be able to work in an environment exposed to environmental allergens including, but not limited to: dust, mold and pollen. They will regularly be exposed to live birds, insects and other animals as well as some exposure to dust, fumes and chemicals from exhibit materials. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud when delivering programs to large groups.
Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The employee is regularly required to lift and/or move items that weigh up to 50 pounds. This is an active role that regularly requires reaching, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling and climbing stairs. The employee is frequently required to walk outside on uneven ground.
Travel: Daily local travel is required to attend events, community meetings and deliver programs to offsite locations.
Required Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of related experience
Minimum of 2 years of staff management experience
Minimum of 2 years of formal or informal education or public programming experience
Strong understanding of pedagogy, Michigan natural history, and visitor engagement strategies
Strong leadership, communication, and customer service skills
Ability to multitask, prioritize, and meet deadlines
General computer literacy
Preferred Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree or coursework in Museum Studies, Environmental Education, Education, Interpretation, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or related fields
NAI Certified Interpretive Guide
Experience in museum or non-profit administration
Additional Eligibility Qualifications: A valid driver’s license, access to reliable transportation and the ability to meet our insurance requirements is required.
To apply: send resume and cover letter to jobs@aahom.org.