Museum Associate - part-time (16 hours)

Children's Museum of Denver; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid sick leave

401(k) plan

Employee assistance program

Free parking

Free family membership

Gift Shop discount

Café discount

Job summary

The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus is hiring a Museum Associate to actively engage guests and guide play experiences. You’ll warmly welcome families, spark curiosity and ensure exhibits are welcoming and safe for exploration.

This role blends performance, teaching moments and teamwork to create memorable visits. This part-time position includes weekend/evening flexibility, benefits, and a bilingual pay bump for Spanish proficiency.

Qualifications

• Minimum 18 years of age with high school diploma or equivalent.
• Passion for play and a strong commitment to diversity, equity, access and inclusion.
• Ability to perform, sing, improvise and be energetic in front of families.
• Experience working with children and families (formal or informal).
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while delivering great guest service.

Responsibilities

• Be a performer of play: greet guests with energy and warmth, jump into imaginative scenarios.
• Inspire children and families by modeling curiosity, creativity and joy.
• Maintain engaging, clean and safe environments for exploration.
• Actively listen to and address guest feedback to enhance the experience.
• Open, reset and close exhibit spaces, restock materials.
• Support the Guest Services team at the Front Desk, Gift Shop and Café as needed.
• Participate in after-hours events (minimum one per month).
• Assist in onboarding and mentoring new staff as assigned.

Skills

Playful engagement

Engage families

Performance on stage

Guest service

High energy

Education

High School diploma

Job description

At the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, play is serious business—and we’re looking for people who are ready to jump in. We believe in kid-powered learning and we work hard every day to create extraordinary experiences that celebrate the wonder and joy of childhood. To make this happen, we bring together a dynamic team of passionate individuals whose talents range from exhibit design to the culinary arts, from developing engaging educational programs to delivering outstanding guest experiences.

If you thrive in an environment where imagination, energy and play are part of the job description, we want to hear from you! We offer a comprehensive benefits package, competitive wages, and a supportive, rewarding and FUN work environment.

The Museum Associate is at the heart of the guest experience. This is not a sit-behind-a-desk role—it’s an active, engaging position where you’ll facilitate play every day. You’ll welcome families, spark curiosity, encourage exploration and create moments of joy that guests will remember long after they leave. Museum Associates set the stage for adventure by maintaining clean, safe and inviting exhibits while also being playful guides, silly performers and partners in discovery.

Position Specifications

Part-time, with additional hours as needed to meet business needs for occasional weekends, evenings, holidays and events.

Benefits

• Paid sick leave begins accruing from date of hire.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with eligibility to contribute after a 3-month waiting period (must be 21 years of age).
• Employee assistance program.
• Free parking.
• free family membership to the Museum.
• discount to the Museum Gift Shop and Café.

Rate

$20.29/hour (additional $1/hour for bilingual proficiency in Spanish)

Responsibilities

• Be a performer of play: greet guests with energy and warmth, jump into imaginative scenarios and facilitate playful interactions in exhibit spaces
• Inspire children and families by modeling curiosity, creativity and joy in every interaction
• Maintain engaging, clean and safe environments so exhibits always feel welcoming and ready for exploration
• Actively listen to and address guest feedback and work to enhance the guest experience
• Stay current on programming, events and exhibit schedules to share with guests
• Open, reset and close exhibit spaces, including restocking and preparing materials
• Collaborate with teammates and jump in to assist others whenever needed
• Participate in after-hours events (minimum one event per month)
• Assist in onboarding and mentoring new staff as assigned
• Support the Guest Services team at the Front Desk, Gift Shop and Café as necessary
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Passion for play and a strong commitment to the Museum’s mission, vision and values of diversity, equity, access and inclusion
• Ability to engage with children and adults in a playful, welcoming and respectful way
• Comfortable performing, singing, improvising and being “on” in front of families and large groups
• Experience working with children and families (formally or informally)
• Ability to work effectively and accurately in a fast-paced environment while maintaining excellent guest service
• Interest and enthusiasm for working with children and families
• High energy and enthusiasm for facilitating interactive experiences
• Minimum of 18 years of age with high school diploma or equivalent required
• Must pass Museum pre-employment screening process

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This role is active, physical and dynamic—you’ll be moving through exhibits, carrying materials (up to 50 lbs.), climbing in Adventure Forest and engaging with guests both indoors and outdoors in variable conditions. You’ll frequently be on your feet, facilitating play and creating memorable moments in spaces that range from quiet galleries to lively, high-energy environments.
• Ability to frequently communicate with staff or guests with daily inquiries and must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time indoors and outdoors (up to 6 hours)
• Some duties may need to be performed at elevated heights and navigating uneven surfaces
• Ability to effectively operate a two-way radio to frequently communicate and exchange information with staff
• Operate a computer and other office equipment
• Climbing stairs, ladders and wearing a helmet are required when working in the outdoor structure “Adventure Forest”

This position operates in both an indoor and outdoor environment where variable temperatures, light levels and crowds are moderate to very noisy sound levels are common. The employee is required to interact and communicate with adults and children frequently, and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones and photocopiers, as well as common cleaning supplies.

The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus is an equal opportunity employer. The Museum is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse staff committed to serving the needs of all our visitors and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

The Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age 40 and over, disability, veteran status, military status, genetic information, marital status or any other status protected by applicable state or local law.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of The Museum 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 Andrew Pasini ([e-mail]) or Yasmin Diaz Mendias ([e-mail]) with Human Resources, 303-561-0138.