Staff Usher

YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 27,276 - 38,848; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO & Holiday Pay (CBA)

403(b) Retirement Plan access

Free/members admission to YBCA

Job summary

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) is seeking an on-call Staff Usher to support evening and weekend events at our San Francisco venue. You will welcome guests, assist with ticket scanning, coat checks, and provide directions while maintaining safety and ADA awareness.

The role requires strong customer service skills, reliability, and a sense of humor. Join a dynamic team in a contemporary arts environment and contribute to programs across performing and visual arts.

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer service role or live events environment.
• Ability to communicate clearly with guests and staff.
• Comfort with standing for long periods and lifting program materials up to 25 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Assist with check-in, coat & bag check, and directional support for attendees.
• Provide information about programs and events; act as a brand ambassador for YBCA.
• Support staff during performances, gallery openings, screenings, and special events.

Skills

Customer service

Live events experience

Communication skills

Teamwork

Flexibility

Job description

Job Details

• Job Location: Legal Address - San Francisco, CA 94103
• Position Type: On-Call
• Education Level: Not Specified
• Salary Range: $24.20 - $24.20 Hourly
• Travel Percentage: Negligible
• Job Category: House Staff
• Title: Staff Usher
• Department: Special Events
• Reports to: Sr. Manager of Audience and Concessions Services
• Status: Non-exempt, on-call
• Schedule: Variable schedule, evenings & weekends required
• Location: 701 Mission Street, San Francisco
• Compensation: $24.20/hourly

About Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

For three decades, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) has been a dynamic hub for contemporary art in San Francisco's downtown community. We showcase innovative and thought-provoking work across visual arts, performing arts, film, and more, bringing together artists, audiences, and perspectives under one roof.

YBCA is a catalyst for conversations around critical social and cultural questions, using art as a medium for dialogue. We support artists who push boundaries, challenge conventions, and spark experimentation and innovation in the arts.

YBCA Mission, Vision, Values

Mission: To be a gathering space for creative expression that fosters meaningful connection for all.

Vision: To be a catalyst of creative exploration, expression, and innovation that empowers artists, inspires community, and drives lasting social change.

Values

• Belonging – The arts are for everyone.
• Inclusive Collaboration – We are stronger together.
• Optimism – Art has the power to inspire change.
• Curiosity – Learning is at the center of artistic expression.

About the Role

The House Staff team plays a critical public-facing role at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. This team interacts with a broad range of people during events, including event attendees, YBCA staff and collaborators, venue rental clients, artists, gallery visitors, production crew, and more. In addition to making all guests feel welcomed and valued, this position is accountable for providing directional support for audience members, monitoring paths of travel and egress, maintaining knowledge of emergency protocols, life safety best practices and ADA regulations, providing guests with information about current and upcoming programs, and acting as an ambassador for the YBCA brand. The ideal candidate will have prior experience in a customer service role, as well as keen observation skills, exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, and a sense of humor.

Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with House Manager, Community Experience staff, Security staff, and Concessions staff to create a welcoming and warm experience for all YBCA audience members and visitors.
• Provide exemplary customer service while scanning tickets, checking coats and bags, providing directional support, articulating YBCA programming, and assisting with preparation of event spaces for performances, gallery openings, conferences, film screenings, public squares, community gatherings, and special events.
• Act as a brand ambassador for YBCA, maintaining a working knowledge of our Mission, Vision, Brand Platform, Audience Experience expectations, and current and upcoming programs.
• Maintain positive and collaborative relationships with YBCA staff, clients, vendors, volunteers, visitors, and union members.
• Maintain working knowledge of ADA requirements, crowd management practices, emergency evacuation and life safety policies and procedures.
• Problem solve patron issues/complaints in collaboration with the House Manager.
• Communicate effectively to staff and patrons as needed.
• Attend staff trainings and meetings, including info sessions about programming and exhibitions, as requested by the Manager of Audience and Concession Services.
• Other duties as assigned by the House Manager and Sr. Manager of Audience and Concession Services.

Who Should Apply?

Research shows that many candidates - especially those from communities most affected by inequities - apply only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. At YBCA, no one meets 100%.

If much of this role resonates with you, we encourage you to apply. We are interested in building a mission-driven, collaborative, and curious team, not in checking every box.

Benefits

• PTO, Holiday Pay according to Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Eligible to participate in the 403(b) Retirement Plan and potential access to SF City Option programs.
• Free/member admission during regular museum hours & potential discounts on concert/lecture tickets at participating North American Reciprocal Museum institutions with your YBCA badge.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) is committed to diversity in its programming and in creating a work culture and environment that is reflective of San Francisco Bay Area demography. The Center encourages and actively recruits applicants representing dimensions of difference that include - but are not limited to - age, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, ability, sexual orientation, gender or political affiliation.

YBCA will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).

Accommodations

YBCA is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. To request an accommodation at any stage of the application or hiring process, please contact [e-mail] with the subject line "Accommodations Request".

Qualifications, Skills & Abilities

• Experience in a customer service role; live event experience preferred
• Positive attitude with friendly, open demeanor
• Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong teamwork orientation; able to work with diverse staff, clients, and patrons
• Able to work in an environment with sensitive and/or provocative material
• Diplomacy, integrity, tact, sense of humor
• Able to lift program boxes (about 25 lbs. each), tables, chairs, and easels for event setups
• Able to stand for extended periods of time
• Available to work variable schedule, including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse cultural backgrounds
• Experience working in a contemporary arts organization a plus