Museum Visitor Experience Assistant - Student Hourly

Center for Public Partnerships & Research; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 15,000 - 21,000; Part time

Job summary

KU Natural History Museum in Dyche Hall is seeking a Visitor Experience Assistant to create a welcoming and informative visitor experience. You will greet guests, respond to inquiries in person, by phone, and by email, and assist with visits, group tours, and museum operations.

The role includes duties such as opening/closing the museum, restocking the gift shop, processing admissions and memberships, handling cash, and supporting other museum staff.

Qualifications

• Excellent communications skills, as evidenced in application materials.
• Work experience showing attention to detail and reliability.
• Experience handling money and cash register operations.
• Ability to work independently and communicate with diverse populations.

Responsibilities

• Greet visitors and engage with guests; process admissions and memberships; answer questions about visiting the museum and arrange group visits; assist with opening and closing the museum and occasional tours.
• Restock the gift shop, process sales, balance cash drawer, and prepare deposits; perform confidential data entry and related financial tasks; monitor galleries as needed.
• Support museum staff, assist with setup/breakdown for events, and participate in miscellaneous museum projects.

Skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Cash handling

Dependability

Customer service

Job description

Position Overview

The Visitor Experience Assistant is responsible for creating a positive, memorable, and engaging experience for visitors at the KU Natural History Museum in Dyche Hall. They are required to greet and interact with visitors, answer questions regarding the museum and surrounding areas (in person, on the phone, and by email), and assist visitors with any needs they may have related to their visit. Occasionally Visitor Experience staff members (VEX) give guided tours through the museum. VEX are responsible for opening and closing the museum; restocking the museum gift shop and processing retail sales; tracking attendance and contributions; communicating with and aiding museum staff in other departments; and completing miscellaneous museum projects. Special events occur occasionally in the evenings and on weekends and VEX may be asked to assist with these programs.

Eligible candidates must have availability to work shifts during the weekend, breaks, and in the summer.

Job Description

45% - Greet and engage museum visitors, process admission and membership contributions, answer questions about visiting the museum, schedule group visits, occasionally give tours, and open and close the museum.

45% - Restock the gift shop and process retail sales transactions, balance a cash drawer and prepare deposits, perform confidential data entry and financial tasks, and periodically monitor the museum galleries.

10% - Communicate and aid other museum staff, assist in set-up and breakdown for special museum events, assist in miscellaneous museum projects.

Required Qualifications

• Excellent communications skills, as evidenced in application materials.
• Work experience which required attention to detail, as evidenced in application materials.
• Experience in handling money/cash register experience, as evidenced in application materials.
• Work experience which demonstrates dependability, ability to work independently, and ability to work and communicate with all populations, as evidenced by application materials

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with the public, as evidenced in application materials.
• Major in biology, geology, archaeology, museum studies, communications, marketing, business, or other field related to the operation of a natural history museum.

Position Requirements

During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).

Student employees must be able to work shifts during the weekend, breaks, and in the summer.

Employment Conditions

• Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
• This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.

Advertised Salary Range

$13.00 per hour

Anticipated Start Date

Friday September 11, 2026