Gottesman Learning Center Program Assistant

American Museum of Natural History; New York (NY); On-site; USD 22,730 - 32,373; Full time

Job summary

The American Museum of Natural History seeks a Gottesman Learning Center Program Assistant to staff the Library Reference Desk on weekends and support guest engagement across programs. You will help with Storytime, book talks, and community group meetings, coordinating activities outside weekday hours while maintaining high standards of visitor care.

This role requires an irregular schedule including weekends and early evenings, and demands the ability to multi‑task in a public-facing

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• 2 years of professional experience working with the public in an informal education or library setting.
• Experience with event coordination and operations.
• Demonstrated public speaking and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Staff the AMNH Research Library Reference Desk during weekend open hours and support processing requests for access of the library resources.
• Greet visitors and guide them through the available resources of the reading room.
• Support the development of 'Satellite Library' displays and monitor their use.
• Maintain accurate visitation records and feedback reports.
• Support the operations and planning of a new slate of programs coming to the Gottesman Learning Center, including book clubs, storytime, meetings of community groups, drop‑in activities, and interactions with AMNH scientists.
• Maintain an irregular work schedule which includes frequent weekend, early morning, and evening programs.
• Ensure all program participants and visitors receive the highest quality of attention and care throughout their experience.

Skills

Public interaction

Event coordination

Public speaking

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Some college-level coursework in the natural sciences

Job description

Gottesman Learning Center Program Assistant

Position Summary

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions, and has as its mission to discover, interpret and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education and exhibition. The Gottesman Learning Center Program Assistant will support the operations and programming initiatives of the AMNH Gottesman Learning Center, the publicly accessible wing of the AMNH Research Library. The Program Assistant will serve in a public facing role by staffing the Library Reference Desk for weekend open hours and supporting overall guest engagement with the facility. The assistant will also facilitate the activities of program initiatives such as Storytime events, Book release talks, Local Society group meetings, and others still to be determined, that take place outside of the Library’s normal weekday operating hours. The ideal candidate for this role is a capable multi‑tasker who is organized, detail‑oriented, able to work independently and take initiative.

Responsibilities

• Staff the AMNH Research Library Reference Desk during weekend open hours and support processing requests for access of the library resources.
• Greet visitors and guide them through the available resources of the reading room.
• Support the development of "Satellite Library" displays and monitor their use.
• Maintain accurate visitation records and feedback reports.
• Support the operations and planning of a new slate of programs coming to the Gottesman Learning Center, including book clubs, storytime, meetings of community groups, drop‑in activities, and interactions with AMNH scientists.
• Maintain an irregular work schedule which includes frequent weekend, early morning, and evening programs.
• Ensure all program participants and visitors receive the highest quality of attention and care throughout their experience.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• 2 years of professional experience working with the public in an informal education or library setting.
• Experience with event coordination and operations.
• Demonstrated public speaking and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with project management systems or tools.
• Some college‑level coursework in the natural sciences.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for prolonged periods.
• Must be able to occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.
• Must be able to move about the Museum campus.
• Positioning/change of positioning: Must be able to frequently position oneself/body to accomplish job duties.
• Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and up to 20 pounds of force frequently. May include any of the following:
  • Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward, or outward.
  • Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
  • Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position‑to‑position.

Salary and Benefits

Expected salary: $20.00/hour. This position is overtime‑eligible. Pay will be determined based on skill, experience, and other individualized factors.

EEO Statement

The American Museum of Natural History is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate with respect to employment, or admission or access to Museum facilities, programs or activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, gender (including sexual harassment), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, pregnancy and lactation accommodations, alienage or citizenship status, current or former participation in the uniformed services, status as a veteran, caregiver, pre‑employment marijuana testing, sexual and reproductive health decisions, salary history, national or ethnic origin, height, weight, or on account of any other basis prohibited by applicable City, State, or Federal law. Additional protections are afforded in employment based on arrest or conviction record, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, unemployment status, and credit history, in each case to the extent provided by law.