Bell Museum Special Events Associate

University of Minnesota; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 14,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

University of Minnesota is seeking part-time, in-person staff to support Bell Museum rentals and events in Saint Paul. The role focuses on delivering exceptional customer service at after-hours events, helping with setup/teardown, and coordinating with student staff and vendors.

Hours range from 10 to 19 per week, with evenings and weekend shifts. This position is not eligible for H-1B sponsorship. Apply to join a team dedicated to safe, engaging event experiences at a premier campus museum.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED and 2 years of event coordination experience; substitution allowed.
• Prior event staffing or customer service experience.
• Must be available to work varying schedules with evenings and weekend hours.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• Minimum two years' customer service experience with leadership responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as on-site staff during Bell Museum after-hours rental events, primarily evenings and weekends.
• Interact with clients and guests to ensure smooth event execution with excellent customer service.
• Assist with event setups, teardowns, and room changes per floor plans.
• Proactively maintain a clean and safe environment for guests.
• Coordinate arrival and guidance of event vendors while upholding museum policies.
• Act as a point of contact for student staff during after-hours events.
• Help preserve museum integrity during and after events.
• Maintain event notes, calendars, data entry, and email communications.

Skills

Excellent communication

Customer service

Team coordination

Able to lift 50 lbs

Evening/weekend availability

Education

High School diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree (preferred)

Tools

Event management software

Database experience

Job description

About the Job

College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS)
Pay Range: $23.24- $25.10
Time Appointment: Supplemental AFSCME Clerical
Working hours: 10 hours per week working a varying schedule with evening and weekend hours.
Working location: This position is in-person based out of the Bell Museum, St Paul Campus.
This part-time position provides staffing support at special events and private rentals, with the main focus on providing an excellent event experience for both client and event guests through exceptional customer service. They will report directly to the Facility Rental & Events Coordinator and also assist the Facility Rental Manager with on-site support, including load in & out of vendors and management of student staff.
This is a flexible, part-time, in-person position and hours will primarily be on evenings and weekends. We guarantee a minimum of 10 hours per week, with a maximum of 19 hours per week during peak seasons such as the Fall and Spring.
Major Areas of Accountability (with percentages): Event Staffing (85%)

• Serve as a principal on-site staff member during Bell Museum after-hours rental events. Working hours are usually evenings and weekend evenings, with variation dependent on event schedule.
• Work directly with clients and interact with event guests to ensure smooth event execution through excellent customer service.
• Assist with event setups, teardowns, and room change-overs according to floor plan specifications.
• Proactively maintain a clean and safe environment for guests.
• Help with coordinating event vendors upon arrival to ensure all Museum policies and guidelines are adhered to.
• Act as a point of contact for student staff during after-hours rental events.
• Aid in ensuring the integrity of the museum and its collections during and after the event.

Rentals & Events Administrative Support (10%)

• Perform administrative tasks including but not limited to: event notes during and after the event, rental item and document management, event calendars maintenance, data entry, and emails.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

• This might include attending staff/project meetings, assisting other departments, off-site special event tabling, and working on projects.

Minimum of 10 hours per week, with a maximum of 19 hours per week during peak seasons, such as fall and spring. Work is primarily scheduled during evenings, typically Thursday through Saturday, with occasional Sunday shifts.

This position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship. This position does not offer a STEM OPT training program.

Questions about the position can be directed to , [e-mail].

Qualifications

Required

• High School diploma or GED and 2 years of event coordination experience. Training and education may be substituted for years of experience.
• Prior event staffing or demonstrated customer service experience.
• Must be available to work varying schedules with evening and weekend hours.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with people whose backgrounds differ from one's own.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• Minimum two years' experience in customer service with previous experience leading other's work.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree.
• Experience with database or event management software
• Demonstrated commitment to excellent customer service.
• Detail-oriented with ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks, problem solve, and exercise independent judgment
• Previous experience working in event venues, museums, nature centers, or similar cultural or visitor-serving organizations.
• Ability to work in a changing environment remaining positive, proactive, resourceful and efficient

About the Department

The mission of the Museum is to ignite and sustain curiosity for nature and the universe. The Bell envisions a hopeful future where all are inspired by nature and empowered by science. For over 150 years, the Bell Museum of Natural History has collected, preserved, interpreted, and displayed the natural history of Minnesota as the state's official natural history museum. The Bell serves learners of all ages. Additionally, our scientific collections contain over one million specimens, representing every county in Minnesota and various locales around the globe.
The museum is powered by the great minds on campus-from our faculty-curators, student lab assistants, and undergraduate interpretive guides to our dedicated staff and collegiate partners.
We are looking for individuals to join our team who are inspired by our mission to ignite and sustain curiosity for nature and the Universe and achieve our vision of a hopeful future where all are inspired by nature and empowered by science. We believe that difference is a strength and are looking for candidates who reflect and respect diversity. We encourage you to apply for the position even if you do not believe you meet every qualification.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $23.24 - $25.10; depending on education/qualifications/experience.
Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.
The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.