Jobs at the Museum

Click here to view current career opportunities at Chicago Children’s Museum. Chicago Children Museum also has opportunities for volunteers and students seeking internships. To learn more these exciting positions, visit our volunteer and internships sections.

Chicago Children's Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Full-time Positions
Chief Financial Officer
Staff Accountant

Part-time Positions
Adult Programs Facilitator
Exhibit Developer

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Ways to apply

E-mail
To apply for a position online, please submit a resume and cover letter by clicking on the “Apply Now!” button that appears at the bottom of each job description.

Mail
You may mail your resume and cover letter to:
Chicago Children's Museum
700 East Grand Avenue, Suite 127
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Attn: Nikki Scott, Human Resources Manager
Please include in your cover letter the position for which you are applying.

Fax
Fax your resume and cover letter to Human Resources at 312.464.8241.

In Person
Employment applications are available at CCM’s admissions desk during museum hours.

All applicants will receive acknowledgement upon receipt of resume. Please, no phone calls.

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Full-time Positions

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Chief Financial Officer

Position Overview:
The museum's Chief Financial Officer serves as a key member of the museum's Management Team and works closely with the President, Board of Directors and Finance Committee in planning, resource allocation, directing and administering the financial strategies, financial operations and the financials of the new museum project.

This person will be responsible for ensuring the fiscal well-being of the organization, including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, and investments.

Responsibilities:
Financial Management

Oversee the Plan of Finance for the Daley Bi project including both short-term and long-term financing requirements to initially fund the project, and ultimately support the operations of the new museum via long-term capital financing.

As a member of the management team, provide fiscal and financial advice and leadership. Provide strategic framework for resource allocation and achievement.

Lead/oversee the annual budgeting process with appropriate input from Senior Management Team. Conduct a thorough review of the annual budget with the Board to review key assumptions and targeted outcomes; gain board approval.

Oversee the development and delivery of timely, accurate and thorough reports to Senior Management Team, donor’s (as required) and the Board to provide a complete understanding of the financial condition of the museum on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis versus budget and prior year. Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Finance Committee and Board of Directors.

Coordinate management of outside relationships including; Bank’s credit agreements, cash management and investment management, etc., auditors, investment bankers, outside counsel and bond counsel.

Manage debt and maintain debt compliance including filing of annual reports as outlined in the bond documents (credit reports, annual letters of compliance to the auditor, Illinois Educational Facilities Authority and Bond Trustee) and monitor revision of bond model and letter of credit.

Provide oversight for all investments and investment policies. Manage the museum’s investment portfolio in compliance with investment policies established and approved by the Finance Committee.

Oversee administration of government grants related to capital projects.

Ensure “clean” audit report through establishment and maintenance of appropriate control procedures.

Provide leadership role in the financial management and structure of a major comprehensive campaign, including capital, endowment, and operational components.

Review all contracts and facilitate legal review by outside counsel for significant issues to include existing museum and Daley Bi Project.

Oversee security and risk management strategies including commercial insurance coverage and the related operational policy decisions to protect the existing organization, board and Daley-Bicentennial Project.

Oversee annual budgeting process—creation and compliance.

Museum Management

Work closely with the President, Board of Directors, and the Senior Management Team to: plan and execute annual goals and objectives that achieve the museum’s mission and vision.

Lead strategic planning process for new museum.

Represent museum with funders, associations, partners and collaborators and outside contractors and consultants.

Function as the chief liaison with Navy Pier at existing location and the Park District and City of Chicago as we move to Daley Bi.

Position Qualifications:
Education: The ideal candidate will have an advanced degree in business or management with a specialty in Finance and CPA.

Job Experience: Minimum ten years of experience in financial management. Including six years of direct supervision of technical and/or professional staff to include hiring, evaluation, training and development.

Special knowledge and skills:

Proven experience managing projects of commensurate size and complexity and related financing techniques.

Successful record of accomplishment as a CFO or senior financial advisor in a well managed company/organization.

Proven ability to work well with senior executives, leveraging strong intellectual, conceptual and analytical skills.

Strong written and oral communications skills; ability to clearly, confidently and convincingly present analyses and recommendations around major financial decisions.

Ability to command credibility and to influence outcomes at the highest levels; strong communication and influencing skills.

Good interpersonal skills with a proven ability to manage a diverse staff.

Ability to work collegially with varying degrees of financial skills and knowledge.

Experience with not-for-profit a plus, but not required.

Hours:
Monday through Friday with some evening and weekend hours required

CCM's online job application form is temporarily unavailable. In the interim, please fax your cover letter and resume to 312.464.8241.

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Staff Accountant

Position Overview:
The Staff Accountant communicates policy and procedure to the organization that supports accountability and proper performance of stewardship over CCM’s assets. The staff accountant processes all transactional accounting information, performs general accounting functions, and provides internal and external customers with financial analyses and reports.

Responsibilities:

Processes transactional accounting data for assigned areas of responsibility. Areas of responsibility include, but not limited to, accounts payables, payroll, cash management, cash receipts, and petty cash. (30%)

Prepares account reconciliations for assigned balance sheet and income statement accounts. (20%)

Prepares journal entries and account analyses, as necessary, to ensure proper accountability and internal control of CCM’s assets. (20%)

Performs monthly close procedures to provide management with CCM financial results on a monthly basis. (10%)

Provides internal and external customers with accounting support, including but not limited to reports, analyses, and manpower. (10%)

Perform special projects, as necessary. (10%)

Performance Measures:

1. All transactional accounting data must be processed accurately and timely.
1. Payroll – Must be processed accurately on transmission date.
2. Accounts Payable – All invoices and statements must be processed within 3 business days.
3. Cash Receipts - All cash receipts, including journal entries must be processed within 7 business days.
4. Petty Cash – All approved petty cash receipts must be processed in 5 business days.
2. All account reconciliations must be completed within 30 days of following month.
3. Financial results must be completed by 3rd Wednesday of following month.
4. Other measures will be identified based on nature of assignment.

Position Qualifications:

B.S. or B.A. in Accountancy or comparable experience

5yrs experience A/R, A/P, journal entries, reconciliations without degree or 1-2 years accounting experience with degree

Strong Organizational Skills

Strong knowledge of accounting principles & basics

Strong verbal and written communication skills

High value of ethics, dependability, and reliability

Strong computer skills with demonstrated proficiency in spreadsheets

Positive “can do” attitude

Strong teamwork values

CCM's online job application form is temporarily unavailable. In the interim, please fax your cover letter and resume to 312.464.8241.

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Part-time Positions

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Adult Programs Facilitator (seasonal part-time)

Position Overview:
The Adult Programs Facilitator is responsible for the facilitation of professional development workshops of the Back to Basics Teacher Training program. The Back to Basics program is a partnership with Chicago's Department of Family Support Services providing professional development to classroom teachers and caregivers across the city. The Adult Programs Facilitator is responsible for providing the highest-quality professional development experience for CCM’s adult audiences.

Responsibilities:

Develop and/or learn professional development workshop curriculum and goals.

Communicate program goals and related curriculum to groups of educators, make connections to daily practice, adapt programs to participants’ needs, interests and experience.

Link workshop content to Illinois Learning Standards and to CCM's mission to be a community where play and learning connect

Prepare the workshop room and materials for the group’s arrival, whether onsite or offsite.

Arrive early to workshops both within and outside of CCM to prepare and set up materials, and facilitate workshops in classrooms or other spaces.

Manage time during workshops to ensure that all goals are met and all intended activities are completed.

Lead and encourage discussion among participants relevant to workshop content.

Clean-up after workshops, re-pack materials, and return materials to CCM (if offsite).

Administer program evaluation as determined by CCM

Attend all necessary training sessions and meetings

Position Qualifications:

Completion of a Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred. Coursework in education, child development, developmental psychology, etc. highly desirable.

Broad subject knowledge and comfort teaching diverse content areas, including art, science, math, literacy, as well as practice-based techniques such as playful approaches to learning, and documentation.

Minimum two years experience working with children in formal and/or informal learning environments. At least one year of experience leading or facilitating groups of adults.

Understanding of the needs and challenges of classroom teachers

Ability to effectively apply curriculum to daily practice as well as incorporate CCM's philosophy into workshop delivery.

Ease and experience in working with children and adults from a diversity of cultural, ethnic, geographic, etc., backgrounds; ability to relate curriculum to children and adults with diverse backgrounds

Outgoing personality, energetic, enthusiastic, able to have fun and make others comfortable while effectively delivering challenging hands-on workshops

Access to licensed, insured vehicle strongly preferred

Bilingual English/Spanish a very strong plus

Hours/Physical Requirements:
Contract position. Educator Program facilitation hours vary. Other responsibilities may include preparation of program materials, assistance with curriculum development, afternoon meetings or trainings, and evening or weekend sessions. Must be able to lift program supplies, up to 50 lbs.

Ideal position for retired teachers, graduate students, and those seeking a challenging part-time position with flexible hours

CCM's online job application form is temporarily unavailable. In the interim, please fax your cover letter and resume to 312.464.8241.

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Exhibit Developer

Position Overview:
The Exhibit Developer is a member of the core experience development team, which includes an Education Developer, Exhibit Designer, Project Manager and other team members who create the exhibits and programs for CCM’s new museum in Daley Bicentennial Plaza. This position initiates ideas and researches, develops and organizes exhibit content, which includes interpreting thematic concepts into innovative exhibits that support a variety of children’s learning styles, family interactions and museum programmatic needs.

Responsibilities:

1. Provide creative leadership and vision in the planning and implementation of exhibits and public spaces in the new Chicago Children's Museum.
1. Shape exhibit content through research, interviews, site visits and other means to advance the experience themes.
2. Develop concepts for interactive and interdisciplinary activities supporting an exhibit’s objectives.
3. Work with the Education Developer to ensure that experience themes are presented comprehensively through exhibits and programs.
4. Work with the Exhibit Designer to ensure that concepts and design support each other.
5. Write copy for labels and other interpretive materials.
6. Ensure the meaningful integration of staff and advisor feedback into the development process.
7. Contribute to and participate in the experience development prototyping and evaluation process.
8. Contribute to and participate in the engagement and active participation of all partners, communities and audiences who have relationships with CCM.
9. Develop training materials for exhibits with appropriate staff members as necessary.
10. Participate in the development of funding proposals as needed.
2. Participate with team of museum exhibit staff, contract exhibit developers and designers and architects on critical review of all exhibit experiences and public spaces included in the new museum building.
3. Participate as needed in other aspects of the museum relocation project.

Position Qualifications:

BA in Child Development, Education, Fine Arts or similar

Minimum of 10 years work experience including exhibit development

Experience with early learners (ages 0-5) a must

Creative team player

Demonstrated experience in successfully creating hands-on exhibits for children; commitment to hands-on learning and play as a form of learning

Strong verbal and written communication, team participation, and organizational skills with an ability to work on several projects simultaneously; sensitivity, high energy and capacity for hard work in a fast-paced environment

Physical Requirements of the Position: occasional night and/or weekend hours will be necessary to participate in exhibit prototyping and community engagement

Position Classification: Non-exempt; this is a part-time (10 hours/week) position for a contract

CCM's online job application form is temporarily unavailable. In the interim, please fax your cover letter and resume to 312.464.8241.