Program Guide

Job Title:

Program Guide Work Schedule:

Varies; Tuesday•

Sunday Classification:

Part Time Pay Scale:

$12

• $14 per hour

Supervisor:

Vice President of Play and Learning Description:

The Kansas Children's Discovery Center in Topeka, Kansas is seeking an engaging, dependable, and team-oriented individual to serve as a Program Guide. The Program Guide plays an important role in supporting the museum's educational and play-based experiences by assisting with Maker Space activities, supporting educators during programs, and helping guide new staff and volunteers as they learn their roles. This position requires a strong understanding of play-based learning, a positive and proactive attitude, and the ability to support both guests and team members in a dynamic environment. This role operates in a highly interactive, fast-paced, and child-centered environment where flexibility and teamwork are essential. The Program Guide is expected to be a visible and engaged presence on the museum floor, helping to elevate the quality of guest experiences while modeling best practices in play facilitation. A strong commitment to a team-first and guest-first culture is critical, as all staff contribute to creating a welcoming, safe, and engaging environment for children and families. This role also requires the ability to remain calm, organized, and professional while managing multiple demands at once, including supporting guests, assisting staff, and adapting to changing needs in real time.

Mondays:

Closed:

(open for special events occasionally) Tuesday

• Wednesdays:

  9am
• 5pm

Thursdays:

9am

• 8pm Fridays

• Saturdays:

  9am
• 5pm

Sundays:

12pm

• 5pm

Responsibilities:

Support Maker Space experiences by assisting guests, preparing materials, maintaining organization of supplies, and ensuring a safe and engaging environment Assist educators with the setup, facilitation, and breakdown of programs, field trips, and special events Provide support on the museum floor by engaging with children and families, encouraging play, and helping to create meaningful learning experiences Assist with offsite programming such as mobile museum events, discovery classroom events and family steam nights Serve as a go-to team member for assisting with onboarding and training of new staff and volunteers, helping them learn expectations, processes, and best practices Model strong play facilitation techniques and guest engagement strategies for other staff Support guest interactions by answering questions, providing guidance, and helping resolve minor concerns in a friendly and solution-oriented manner Step into a Playologist-style role as needed to support floor coverage, ensuring guest experience remains consistent and high-quality Assist with maintaining cleanliness, organization, and readiness of program spaces, exhibits, and materials Work collaboratively with team members across departments to support daily operations and guest experience Take direction from supervisors and adapt to shifting priorities throughout the day Maintain reliability and flexibility in scheduling and responsibilities Other duties as assigned

Required Skills:

Strong interpersonal and customer service skills with the ability to engage positively with children, families, staff, and volunteers Strong problem-solving and multitasking skills with the ability to stay calm under pressure, manage competing priorities, and support multiple needs at once Ability to model positive behaviors and support the development of new staff and volunteers Comfortable facilitating or supporting play-based learning experiences in an interactive environment Excellent communication skills with the ability to provide clear, supportive guidance to both guests and team members Strong organizational skills and attention to detail Ability to work independently while also contributing to a collaborative team environment Comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly interactive setting with children and families Commitment to the mission and values of the

Kansas Children's Discovery Center Preferred Skills:

Previous experience as a Playologist or in a similar role within a museum, educational, or youth-focused environment Experience supporting or facilitating educational programs or group activities Experience assisting with training or mentoring staff or volunteers Bilingual skills preferred

Position Conditions:

Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment screening requirements Ability to lift up to 50 pounds Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and remain active for extended periods of time in both indoor and outdoor environments Ability to perform repetitive physical tasks such as kneeling, crouching, climbing, and reaching Ability to multitask and remain flexible in a fast-paced, high-traffic, and highly interactive public environment Comfortable working in a space with moderate to high noise levels and constant activity Expected to be an active, engaged team member who supports a team-first culture, stepping in wherever needed to support staff, programs, and guest experience Ability to remain calm, professional, and supportive while balancing multiple responsibilities, including assisting guests, supporting programs, and guiding team members in real time

Work Location:

On-site at the Kansas Children's Discovery Center Remote work is not available for this position

Pay:

From $12.00 per hour Shift availability: Day Shift (Required) Ability to

Commute:

Topeka, KS (Required)

Work Location:

In person