Assistant Director of Community Impact and Learning
Jewish Museum of Florida (JMOF) | Miami Beach, Florida
The Jewish Museum of Florida seeks an imaginative, collaborative and highly organized Assistant Director of Community Impact and Learning to help lead the development, implementation and growth of the Museum’s educational initiatives.
Reporting directly to the Chief Curator and Experience Officer, the Asst. Director of Community Impact and Learning will translate the Museum’s exhibitions, historic buildings, collections and archives into meaningful learning experiences. The Asst. Director will develop educational materials and participatory programs that invite students and visitors to explore Florida Jewish history, migration, identity, memory, art and contemporary Jewish life.
A central priority of this position is expanding relationships with schools and increasing student field-trip participation. The Asst. Director will serve as the Museum’s primary educational liaison to teachers, school administrators, district representatives, universities, Jewish educational institutions, homeschool communities and youth-serving organizations throughout South Florida.
Because JMOF operates with a small and deeply engaged staff, the ideal candidate will be both a strategic thinker and a hands-on educator who is equally comfortable designing a long-term education plan, writing a curriculum guide, communicating with a teacher, preparing art materials and welcoming a school bus full of students.
Primary Responsibilities
Educational Programs and Interpretation
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Work closely with the Chief Curator and Experience Officer to establish an educational vision aligned with the Museum’s mission, exhibitions, collections and institutional priorities.
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Develop inquiry-based, object-centered and participatory programs for students, educators, families, university groups, adult learners and community organizations.
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Create exhibition-related lesson plans, teacher guides, student resources, gallery activities, family guides, digital materials and hands-on workshops.
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Connect the Museum’s collections and archives to learning experiences involving primary sources, oral histories, photographs, objects, artmaking and storytelling.
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Ensure that school programs align, where appropriate, with Florida’s academic standards and respond to learners of different ages, backgrounds, abilities and levels of prior knowledge.
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Facilitate student programs, gallery experiences, workshops, adult tours and community learning experiences as needed.
Outreach and Partnerships
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Lead an outreach strategy to increase field-trip participation and establish JMOF as an essential resource for schools throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and the broader South Florida region.
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Build relationships throughout the community including within the public school system, university faculty, religious-school directors and youth-program leaders.
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Serve as the primary point of contact for school and educational group visits, overseeing inquiries, scheduling, pre-visit communication, educational accommodations and follow-up.
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Promote Museum programs through educator networks, school-system events, professional-learning days, conferences, newsletters and direct outreach.
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Manage and strengthen partnerships with schools, Jewish educational institutions, universities, cultural organizations and community groups.
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Represent JMOF at educator events, cultural convenings, community programs and professional museum networks.
Docents and Visitor Learning
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Work with the Chief Curator and Experience Officer to recruit, train, schedule and support docents, interns and education volunteers.
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Develop tour formats and interpretive approaches responsive to age level, curriculum needs, group interests and accessibility considerations.
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Maintain historical accuracy, warmth and educational quality across docent- and staff-led programs.
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Develop family and intergenerational activities connected to the Museum’s exhibitions, collections, holidays and historic site.
Administration and Collaboration
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Manage education calendars, program logistics, registration, materials, supplies, inventories and educational spaces.
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Maintain organized records of school contacts, reservations, attendance, partnerships and educational outcomes.
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Evaluate programs through attendance data, surveys, observation and participant feedback. Establish goals for field-trip growth, audience reach, partnerships and program quality.
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Participate in exhibition planning, interpretive development, staff meetings, public events and other cross-departmental initiatives.
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Contribute flexibly to the work of a small museum team, including occasional responsibilities outside traditional education department boundaries.
Qualifications
Required
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Bachelor’s degree in museum education, education, Jewish studies, history, art history, public history, humanities, cultural studies or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
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Three to five years of relevant experience in museum education, classroom education, cultural programming, historic-site interpretation or community education.
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Experience developing and facilitating educational programs for K–12 students and creating curricula, lesson plans or museum learning materials.
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Demonstrated ability to build relationships with community partners.
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Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal and public-speaking skills.
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Strong organizational and project-management abilities.
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Ability to communicate complex historical and cultural subjects clearly, accurately and sensitively.
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Commitment to accessible, inclusive and culturally responsive educational practice.
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Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a small, creative and fast-moving team.
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Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.
Preferred
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Master’s degree in museum education, education, Jewish studies, history, public history, art history, museum studies or a related discipline.
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Knowledge of Jewish history, American Jewish life, Florida history, migration or contemporary Jewish culture.
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Familiarity with Florida’s academic standards and South Florida’s educational landscape.
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Experience with inquiry-based, object-based or arts-integrated learning.
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Experience with program evaluation, grant reporting or education budgets.
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Spanish, Hebrew or another language relevant to the communities served by the Museum is welcomed but not required.
Physical and Scheduling Requirements
The position requires regular movement throughout the Museum’s historic buildings and galleries, extended periods of standing while facilitating programs and occasional lifting or transportation of educational materials weighing up to [20–25] pounds. Reasonable accommodations will be provided as required by law.
About the Jewish Museum of Florida
The Jewish Museum of Florida opened in Miami Beach in 1995, evolving from “Mosaic,” a traveling exhibition documenting Jewish history throughout Florida. The museum is housed within the historic former Beth Jacob Synagogue campus, including the first synagogue on Miami Beach, located in a neighborhood once shaped by discriminatory housing restrictions against Jewish and Black residents. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2012, the museum was gifted to Florida International University. Beginning August 1, 2026, the museum, its collections, historic campus, and remaining endowment assets will transition back to the original nonprofit entity, Jewish Museum of Florida, Inc., marking the beginning of a new era of independent leadership and institutional growth.
The next generation of JMOF will build upon its nationally accredited legacy while embracing innovation, digital accessibility, civic dialogue, and statewide community engagement. The museum seeks to expand public participation, deepen educational impact, and foster greater cross-cultural understanding through exhibitions, scholarship, and storytelling rooted in the Florida Jewish experience.
Mission
The Jewish Museum of Florida collects, preserves, and interprets the material evidence of the Florida Jewish experience from 1763 to the present. Through exhibitions, education, scholarship, and public engagement, JMOF explores how Jewish communities have contributed to the evolving cultural mosaic of Florida while balancing heritage, tradition, and contemporary identity.
The museum uses the experiences of Jewish Floridians as a lens to promote cross-cultural understanding, civic dialogue, and public education about American and global Jewish history.
Compensation & Location
Compensation will range between $45,000 and $60,000. Employees are expected to reside within commuting distance of the museum upon employment.
JMOF recognizes that exceptional candidates may not meet every listed qualification. If your experience aligns substantially with this opportunity, we encourage you to apply.
To Apply
Please submit a résumé, cover letter and one relevant work sample, such as a lesson plan, teacher guide, educational resource, program outline or curriculum excerpt, to
[email protected] with the subject "Assistant Director of Community Impact and Learning"
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to describe their approach to museum learning and their experience building relationships with schools or educational communities.
Equal Opportunity
The Jewish Museum of Florida is committed to fostering a workplace and Museum environment that welcomes people of varied backgrounds, identities, abilities and experiences. JMOF is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, disability, pregnancy, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.