Guest Engagement Facilitator

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 15,000 - 25,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free admission for family and friends

Free admission to other museums

Free parking

Job summary

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry invites applications for a Guest Engagement Facilitator (GEF). This part-time, on-site role delivers world-class guest programming including group tours, live demonstrations, and interactive experiences to a diverse museum audience.

The position is union-represented (AFSCME Council 31) and requires Tue availability and at least one weekend day, with occasional evenings for events.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent and 1–2 years of related experience in program facilitation, public speaking, and guest-facing functions.
• Associates degree or higher is a plus.
• Enthusiasm for science and education and ability to work in spaces with large crowds.
• Hospitality, flexibility, adaptability and resilience with a desire to work with people in a fun, fast-paced environment.
• Multitask and prioritize efficiently.
• Consistent attendance, timeliness, and guest readiness.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
• Excellent public speaking and conversational skills.
• Ability to engage guests for long periods and lead groups.
• Able to handle questions and adapt to diverse learning styles.
• Physical ability to move and assist guests in a museum setting.
• Willingness to work weekends, holidays, and some evenings.

Responsibilities

• Deliver programming in multiple areas of the building to engage and inspire guests.
• Proactively engage guests to participate in programming and create guest-first experiences.
• Lead discussions using conversational educational approach and open-ended questions.
• Adapt engagement for diverse ages, backgrounds, and knowledge levels.
• Master museum programming and updates.
• Deliver inspirational programs with provided goals and outlines.
• Anticipate and address guest issues and needs.
• Participate in team discussions to improve programs.
• Support core operations like wayfinding, check-in, and opening/closing.
• Collaborate with the Guest Operations Team to manage guest flow.
• Maintain a safe, inclusive, and positive environment for all guests.
• Participate in coaching and development with supervisor and GEF Trainer.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Public speaking

Guest engagement

Multitasking

Hospitality

Communication

Adaptive to diverse audiences

Time management

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Customer service

Public speaking/lead groups

Availability weekends/evenings

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associates degree or higher a plus

Tools

Basic computer skills

Handheld devices familiarity

Job description

About Us: The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is the largest and most interactive science museum in the Western Hemisphere. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (Griffin MSI) exposes guests of all ages to awe-inspiring exhibitions that spark curiosity and bring science to life. Griffin MSI’s mission – to inspire the inventive genius in everyone – is realized through its world-class exhibitions and engaging guest experiences. The Museum provides programs and experiences that deepen the engagement of students and teachers in science and science-related disciplines, with a vision to inspire and motivate our children to achieve their full potential in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

We offer a creative, collaborative, and innovative environment for our employees. Our employees get great perks such as: free admission to Griffin MSI for family and friends, free admission to other museums, free parking in Griffin MSI’s garage and more! If you are equally passionate about our vision and want to be surrounded by a team of dynamic, smart and innovative people, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is the right place for you!

The Job: The Guest Engagement Facilitator (GEF) role is responsible for providing all core team operational functions in support of engaging and orienting Museum guests by delivering world-class guest programming through group tours, interpersonal flex programming, live science demonstrations, in-depth experiences, and other engagement formats to all visitors to the Museum.

This is a part-time position working onsite at the Museum three (3) full days per week and is a union-represented position (AFSCME Council 31). Please note the role requires Tuesday availability and at least one weekend day availability as well as occasional evening availability for special events.

Responsibilities:

• Utilize a combination of science content knowledge, educational best practices, and strong public speaking skills to deliver programming in various areas of the building that engages andinspires our guests.
• Proactively engages guests to participate in programming and to create personalized, guest-first experiences.
• Leaddiscussions with guests by applying a conversational educational approach and using open‑ended questions to teach science content and reach program goals.
• Adaptguest engagementto reach diverse audiences of varying ages, backgrounds, and knowledge levels.
• Master museum programming and updates.
• Utilizeprovided program goals and outlines, along with independent or group research, to deliver inspirational programs.
• Anticipates guest issues and proactively solves guest issues and needs.
• Participates in team discussions and meetings to continually practice skills and improve programs.
• Perform core operational functions in support of Museum exhibits and experiences, including but not limited to wayfinding, guest check‑in for experiences and other guest services, and opening/closing of the Museum.
• Partners with the Guest Operations Team to ensure the guest flow at tours and other experiences are well‑communicated to ensure efficient guest entry.
• Collaborate with Museum staff to provide a safe, inclusive, and positive environment for all guests.
• Demonstrates a cordial, professional, and collaborative approach when supporting team members and engaging with guests.
• Supports team members with a positive, professional, and collaborative attitude.
• Actively participate with supervisor and GEF Certified Trainer(s) in continual coaching and development of self, team, and programs in support of facilitation and program goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent and one (1) to two (2) years of related experience in areas such as program facilitation, public speaking, and guest‑facing functions including experience in engaging with guests of all ages.
• Associates degree or higher is a plus.
• Enthusiasm for science and education and ability to work in spaces with large crowds.
• Demonstrate hospitality, flexibility, adaptability and resilience with a desire to work with people in a fun, fast‑paced, ever‑changing environment.
• High ability to multitask and prioritize efficiently.
• Consistent good attendance, timeliness, and guest readiness.
• Exceptional self‑awareness and self‑regulation; strives for continual growth and improvement.
• Demonstrates strong problem‑solving and conflict‑resolution skills.
• Exceptional public speaking, multi‑tasking, and conversational skills.
• Ability to talk and engage guests for long periods of time in either one‑on‑one situations and/or in large groups and to lead groups of guests from place to place.
• Must be able to handle any questions that arise from guests as instructed.
• Adaptive to diverse learning and communication styles.
• Ability to perform various functions such as walking/moving across uneven surfaces, climbing stairs, lifting, pushing, carrying, seeing in varying light conditions, and participating in some physical activities.
• Proficient computer skills and knowledge; must be comfortable with learning and using new software and hardware (computer and hand‑held devices) in support of guest needs.
• Must be able and willing to work weekends and holidays, and some evenings, and able to commit to a regular schedule.
• Language:
  • Ability to read and interpret documents such as training guides and procedure manuals.
  • Ability to speak effectively before groups of employees of the organization.
• Mathematical:
  • Ability to calculate figures and amounts such aspercentages, area, circumference, and volume.
  • Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Reasoning:
  • Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
  • Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or schedule form.
• Physical:
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel, and talk or hear.
  • The employee frequently is required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms.
  • The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.
  • The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, stand for up to 3 hours at a time, and move safely through the Museum campus.
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; extreme cold; extreme heat; dissection of animal parts in science; and vibration.
• The employee will perform duties in locations where they will share space with guests in tight, enclosed spaces.
• The employee will perform duties in certain exhibit spaces with sensory characteristics such as moments of complete darkness or flashes of lights, moments of loud noises like loud booms, operating machinery, bells ringing, and explosions.
• The employee will perform duties in certain exhibit spaces that will have or may have content advisories such as military violence and war themes, Nazism, or feature human specimens and other medical content.