ABOUT US
Discovery Place (DP) brings science, nature, and design together to create transformative experiences that enable our community to understand, enjoy and apply science to their lives. Operating four museums in the greater Charlotte, NC metropolitan area, serving more than 700,000 people a year through Museum visits, interactive in-school educational programming and community outreach initiatives. Founded in 1946, Discovery Place is shaping a future where people embrace science to create opportunities, build hope, solve problems and bring positive change for our world. Come science with us!
Summary
The Experience Specialist, Early Learning advances Discovery Place's mission by designing and leading extraordinary early learning experiences that nurture curiosity, creativity, and belonging at Discovery Place Kids Huntersville. This role develops and delivers engaging, developmentally appropriate programs that connect children and families to science, art, literacy, mathematics, and the world around them through purposeful play and joyful discovery.
Discovery Place Kids' educational framework intentionally integrates Purposeful Play, STEM & Design, Early Literacy, Mathematical Thinking, Social-Emotional Learning, and Character Development as essential foundations for lifelong learning. Working collaboratively with Learning Experiences leadership and fellow educators, the Specialist applies this framework across programming and guest experiences to ensure every child and caregiver feels welcomed, valued, capable, and inspired to explore together.
Through collaboration with colleagues, schools, childcare providers, libraries, and community organizations, the Specialist supports Discovery Place's commitment to inclusive, family-centered learning rooted in curiosity, creativity, and character.
The Specialist also serves as a key operational team member by supporting daily museum operations, staff coaching, and quality standards that help ensure exceptional guest experiences throughout Discovery Place Kids.
Content Expertise
This position serves as a Discovery Place content specialist in early childhood learning, combining expertise in purposeful play, child development, Early Literacy, Mathematical Thinking, STEM & Design integration, Social-Emotional Learning, and Character Development. Working collaboratively with Learning Experiences leadership, the Specialist applies developmentally appropriate practices to create engaging experiences that encourage exploration, creativity, communication, and problem-solving.
Character Development refers to the learning outcomes this role helps cultivate in children and families, while Discovery Place Character Values describe the behaviors the Specialist models every day—including curiosity, empathy, perseverance, collaboration, responsibility, respect, and kindness—through interactions, facilitation, and learning experiences.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Program Leadership and Development
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Direct the planning, development, and implementation of educational programming, public events, and special experiences at Discovery Place Kids Huntersville.
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Design and deliver educational experiences that intentionally integrate Purposeful Play, STEM & Design, Early Literacy, Mathematical Thinking, Social-Emotional Learning, and Character Development while remaining engaging, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate.
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Plan monthly themes and activities that promote curiosity, creativity, and collaboration.
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Coordinate with the Marketing team to provide accurate and inspiring content for programs, camps, and events.
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Collaborate with community partners, schools, and childcare centers to advance Discovery Place’s early learning mission and reach diverse audiences.
Teaching and Facilitation
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Facilitate classes, workshops, school programs, camps, and family learning experiences using interactive, inquiry-driven approaches while modeling strategies that encourage caregivers to extend learning beyond the museum experience, recognizing families as children's first teachers.
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Adapt content and delivery to meet the developmental needs and interests of all learners.
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Encourage problem-solving, storytelling, and imaginative exploration to promote both cognitive and emotional growth.
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Model effective facilitation for staff and volunteers, promoting a consistent, guest-centered approach grounded in purposeful play and discovery.
Team Development and Museum Operations
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Serve as Manager on Duty as needed or as part of a regular rotation, providing on-site operational leadership by supporting staff, monitoring guest experience, responding to safety or facility concerns, coordinating daily coverage, addressing guest needs, and escalating issues according to Discovery Place policies and procedures.
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Train, coach, and support Creative Play Professionals and volunteers in effective facilitation, guest engagement, purposeful play-based learning, and Discovery Place Character Values.
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Support professional development opportunities aligned with Discovery Place’s mission and educational philosophy.
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Perform cash-handling supervisory duties and admissions reporting according to company procedures.
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Conduct exhibit and safety checks, ensuring functionality, cleanliness, and welcoming environments for guests.
Community Collaboration and Guest Experience
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Partner with schools, community groups, and families to promote Discovery Place Kids as a leader in early childhood education.
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Build collaborations that connect Purposeful Play, STEM & Design, Early Literacy, Mathematical Thinking, Social-Emotional Learning, and Character Development through community initiatives, partnerships, and shared learning experiences.
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Provide an exceptional guest experience by fostering an atmosphere of belonging, respect, and inclusion.
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Support museum-wide events and Discovery Place initiatives that celebrate creativity, learning, and discovery.
Evaluation and Continuous Improvement
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Develop and analyze evaluation methods to measure engagement, learning outcomes, and guest satisfaction.
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Use visitor feedback and observation to refine programs for greater accessibility, relevance, and impact.
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Create, prototype, deliver, evaluate, and refine educational experiences, programs, and activities that test new ideas, gather feedback, and strengthen consistency, accessibility, innovation, and guest impact.
Schedule and Expectations
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The schedule alternates to include weekends and occasional evenings.
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The majority of time is devoted to direct delivery of guest experiences and the development of innovative, revenue-generating educational content.
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The Experience Specialist is expected to think boldly, experiment fearlessly, and advance the culture of science and innovation throughout Discovery Place’s network.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
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Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field; Master’s preferred.
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One to two years of experience in early childhood, museum education, or informal learning environments.
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Knowledge of child development, purposeful play, Early Literacy, Mathematical Thinking, STEM & Design integration, Social-Emotional Learning, Character Development, or family engagement Preferred but not required
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Experience supervising teams and leading educational operations.
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Strong communication and facilitation skills with both children and adults.
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North Carolina Teaching Certificate or equivalent preferred.
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Bilingual ability preferred but not required.
Competencies
Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems effectively; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops creative and practical solutions.
Customer Service – Responds promptly to guest needs; provides warm, inclusive, and professional experiences; encourages team excellence in guest engagement.
Adaptability – Adjusts to evolving needs in a dynamic, fast-paced environment; maintains flexibility and positivity.
Innovation – Displays creativity and resourcefulness; integrates Purposeful Play, STEM & Design, Early Literacy, Mathematical Thinking, Social-Emotional Learning, and Character Development into early learning experiences.
Planning/Organizing – Prioritizes and plans work activities; manages time efficiently; leads program coordination effectively.
Executes/Delivers – Makes consistent progress on assigned goals; communicates proactively; delivers outcomes that support Discovery Place’s mission.
Work Environment
The work environment includes active, high-energy museum spaces and outdoor areas. Employees must be comfortable working in lively, crowded environments and facilitating programs with young children and families. The noise level is typically moderate to loud.
Physical Demands
The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. The position requires standing and walking for extended periods, frequent reaching, bending, and interacting at a child’s level. Clear communication and responsive engagement are essential.
Employees of Discovery Place should uphold the mission, vision and values of the organization. We strive to provide exceptional service through four core values: uncommon courtesy, the pursuit of personal excellence, teamwork and inclusion. We value the diversity of opinions and intellectual thought and encourage an environment where employees can share ideas openly.
The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities of this job. Other duties may be assigned. This job description may be changed to include new responsibilities and tasks or change existing ones as management deems necessary.
