Educator, Tour and Docent Programs

Educator, Tour and Docent Programs

Job Category: Education and Research

Full-Time

Newfields 4000 Michigan Rd Indianapolis, IN 46208, USA

Description

Opportunity Title: Educator, Tour and Docent Programs

Reports To: Associate Director of Education

Salary Range: $55,000 - $60,000

OVERVIEW

The Educator, Tour and Docent Programs provides strategic leadership for docent engagement at Newfields. Under the direction of the Director of Education, this role ensures guided tour content is inclusive, relevant, and connected to the collection and exhibitions across the Indianapolis Museum of Art and Lilly House. The Educator advances docent learning, fosters a cohesive and well-supported docent corps, and positions the program as a vital part of Newfields' educational mission, engaging audiences from PreK12 through adult learners.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strategic oversight for the docent program in partnership with the Associate Director of Education.
• Recruit, train, and mentor docents to grow program capacity, diversify perspectives, and meet increasing demand.
• Develop and lead docent continuing education that integrates art historical scholarship with pedagogical best practices, in collaboration with curators, educators, and external experts.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the docent corps and Newfields team members.
• Implement and uphold policies established in collaboration with the Director of Education.
• Monitor national trends in docent programming and museum education to position Newfields at the forefront of practice.
• Develop docent trainings and new tour formats for exhibitions, gallery rotations, cultural celebrations, holidays, and commemorative milestones.
• Develop and maintain docent teaching resources aligned with institutional standards and informed by industry best practices.
• Lead evaluation and assessment of the docent program, using visitor feedback and data to refine training, tour design, and visitor engagement.
• Track and steward program budgets with fiscal responsibility, in coordination with the Associate Director of Education.
• Maintain accurate records, including docent engagement statistics, program attendance, and evaluation data.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

• Communication: Clear, effective communication with docents, colleagues, and museum audiences.
• Facilitation: Skilled in leading docent training sessions, workshops, and continuing education programs.
• Mentorship: Ability to provide individualized guidance and support to docents, fostering growth and confidence.
• Art Historical Knowledge: Strong grounding in art history with skill in connecting scholarship to public engagement.
• Collaboration: Demonstrated success working with curators, educators, and external experts to enrich docent learning.
• Diplomacy: Ability to navigate strong personalities, build consensus, and cultivate trust across teams and volunteers.
• Judgment: Proven capacity to exercise sound judgment in balancing docent needs, institutional priorities, and visitor experience.
• Accessibility & Inclusion: Commitment to equitable, accessible, and inclusive museum practice that welcomes varied perspectives.
• Organization: Strong organizational and record-keeping skills, with attention to detail and accountability.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree in Museum Education, Art History, Education, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5 years of experience in docent program management, volunteer leadership, or museum education within an art museum or cultural institution.
• Prior experience developing and evaluating docent training programs that integrate art historical scholarship and pedagogical best practices.
• Experience with program evaluation and data-driven refinement of museum tours and educational offerings.
• Proficiency with Volgistics or comparable volunteer management systems used in museum contexts.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE WORK ENVIRONMENT

Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/ or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the position. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.