Gallery Attendant

Smith College; United States; On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Smith College's museum seeks a Gallery Attendant to oversee galleries and protect the art while delivering an outstanding museum experience through welcoming, informative service.

This casual, fixed-term, on-site position pays $17.49 per hour and emphasizes inclusive customer interactions, safety reporting, and support for art interpretation. You will engage visitors, assist with programming, and help evacuations if needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma and demonstrated experience building positive customer relations.
• Experience working with and supporting a diverse learning community.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of this position.
• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Enhance visitor experience by contributing to a positive, welcoming and inclusive environment for all museum visitors and staff.
• Engage directly with visitors and offer assistance as needed.
• Observe and report safety incidents and concerns in collaboration with museum safety staff.
• Support SCMA visitor experience policies and procedures and respond to emergencies in accordance with museum policies.
• Ability to identify and resolve visitor-related issues in the moment and solid decision-making skills required.
• Proactively address visitor questions and needs.
• Remain informed about art on view, museum programming, and visitor amenities and resources.
• Help maintain supply of in-gallery interpretation materials, including brochures, feedback cards, etc.
• Support the safety of visitors and art and report incidents and concerns to Safety Team staff as needed.
• Assist in evacuations and emergency response procedures.
• Participate in regular training, including training on customer service and evacuation and safety procedures.
• Attend regular SCMA all-staff meetings.
• Complete incident reports related to duties and share observations on visitor experience needs with Visitor Experience Manager, Safety Team and other departments in order to continually improve visitor experience at SCMA.

Skills

Customer service

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Emergency response

Basic computer skills

Reliability

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Job Summary

Responsible for overseeing the museum galleries and protecting the art while ensuring a positive museum experience by providing outstanding customer service. Members of the Gallery Attendant team are central to cultivating dynamic and welcoming spaces within the museum for learning and engaging with the art on display. Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

This is a Casual (Non-Benefitted) Position. The pay rate for this position is $17.49 per hour.

Essential Functions Visitor Experience (85%)

• Enhance the museum visitor experience by contributing to a positive, welcoming and inclusive environment for all museum visitors and staff.


• Engage directly with visitors and offer assistance as needed.


• Observe and report safety incidents and concerns in collaboration with museum safety staff.


• Support SCMA visitor experience policies and procedures and respond to emergencies in accordance with museum policies.


• Ability to identify and resolve visitor-related issues in the moment and solid decision-making skills required.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• Proactively address visitor questions and needs.


• Remain informed about art on view, museum programming, and visitor amenities and resources.


• Help maintain supply of in-gallery interpretation materials, including brochures, feedback cards, etc.


• Support the safety of visitors and art and report incidents and concerns to Safety Team staff as needed.


• Assist in evacuations and emergency response procedures.

Administrative Duties (15%)

• Participate in regular training, including training on customer service and evacuation and safety procedures.


• Attend regular SCMA all-staff meetings.


• Complete incident reports related to duties and share observations on visitor experience needs with Visitor Experience Manager, Safety Team and other departments in order to continually improve visitor experience at SCMA.

All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications Required

• High school diploma with demonstrated experience building positive customer relations.


• Demonstrated desire to work with and support a diverse learning community.


• Ability to meet the physical requirements of this position.


• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bi-lingual or multi-lingual a plus.

Skills

• Excellent customer service, customer relations and communication skills; exemplary interpersonal skills; strong communication skills; good judgment; ability to respond quickly, calmly and appropriately in emergency situations.


• Basic computer skills.


• Promptness, reliability and honesty are required in this position.

Additional Information

To help visitors identify staff in the museum, Gallery Assistants wear an ID badge and radio with an ear piece and abide by a dress code.

Position Type Fixed Term

Review of applications will begin September 15, 2026.

About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at [e-mail].

As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty. The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.

Smith College seeks to attract individuals who are committed to our mission of providing the highest quality education to women. Smith College enjoys the reputation as one of the finest colleges in the country. This reputation, tempered by time and challenged by change, holds strong because of the dedicated work of our staff, faculty and administration. We are a diverse group bringing to our community different talents, perspectives and experiences. Our strength arises from this diversity and is sustained by a community value of providing an outstanding educational environment for our nearly 2,700 students.

Smith at a Glance https://www.smith.edu/about-smith/smith-glance