Teaching Artist; Early Childhood - Part-Time

Organization Description

Cocoon is a rapidly expanding, members-only club for families, offering beautifully designed play spaces, classes, and community experiences inspired by Montessori and Reggio Emilia philosophies. Located in Tribeca and the Upper West Side, Cocoon is committed to inclusivity—each membership helps subsidize prenatal and postpartum programming for families across New York City.

Cocoon is seeking dynamic, creative, and engaging Teaching Artists (Early Childhood) to join our team. This hybrid role blends early childhood education with creative expression (including music, performance, and open-ended art experiences), as well as children’s birthday party and event execution. Teaching Artists lead developmentally appropriate classes for young children and caregivers, contribute to Cocoon’s high-touch family events, and play an important role in delivering a seamless and welcoming front desk experience for members.

This position is ideal for individuals with backgrounds in musical theater, music, performance, or the arts, who are passionate about working with young children and thrive in warm, social, and fast-paced environments.

• Facilitate engaging classes for children ages 3 months–6 years, with a primary focus on infants and toddlers (3 months–3 years)
• Lead music, movement, art, and sensory-based experiences using a play-based approach
• Adapt curriculum to meet the developmental needs of each group
• Incorporate performance elements such as singing, storytelling, and rhythm
• Build strong relationships with children and caregivers; foster a sense of community within each class; communicate clearly and confidently with families
• Support and help execute birthday parties and special events; bring energy, presence, and creativity to event experiences (music, games, light entertainment); assist with event setup, flow, and overall guest experience; learn or perform creative enhancements such as balloon twisting, face painting, or interactive activities
• Serve as a front desk lead, ensuring a welcoming, efficient, and polished member experience; manage daily front desk flow, including awareness of schedules, arrivals, and coverage support; respond to member inquiries via Zendesk, email, and in-person communication; support member needs including enrollment questions, class policies, and general club information; maintain and manage front desk inventory, including supplies and materials; oversee swag bag organization and preparation for new members, events, and special moments;
  
  contribute to both proactive and reactive communication with members
• Maintain Cocoon’s elevated standards: keep classrooms and shared spaces clean, organized, and visually appealing; assist with setup and reset of classrooms and event spaces; collaborate closely with team members across Education, Events, and Membership teams; support end‑of‑day closing procedures as needed

• 3+ years experience working with young children, especially infants and toddlers
• Background in music, theater, performance, or visual arts strongly preferred
• Comfortable singing, performing, and/or playing an instrument in front of groups
• Strong understanding of early childhood development
• Experience in events, hospitality, or customer-facing roles preferred
• Able to multitask and stay organized in fast-paced environments, including managing event flow and member interactions
• Warm, engaging, and confident presence with both children and adults
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative, team‑oriented mindset
• Comfortable with hands‑on responsibilities, including setup, organization, and maintaining clean, guest-ready spaces

• Type:
  Part-Time (with potential for growth)
• Schedule:
  
  Weekday classes (primarily mornings and early afternoons);
  Weekend birthday party and event shifts;
  Front desk and member‑facing shifts as scheduled;
  Additional on‑call opportunities available

• Teaching
  
  Shifts:
  
  $40–$43 per hour
• Event
  
  Shifts:
  
  $30 per hour
• Front Desk
  
  Shifts:
  
  $25 per hour

• Work in a beautiful, thoughtfully designed environment
• Build meaningful relationships with families
• Bring creativity and artistry into early childhood education
• Be part of a collaborative, mission‑driven team

Cocoon is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.