Visitor Assistant

DEFTEC Corporation; New London (CT); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental

Vision

Paid time off

401K with match

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Education reimbursement

Job summary

DEFTEC Corporation in Connecticut seeks a Visitor Assistant to act as safety stewards, educators, and customer service representatives inside gallery spaces, ensuring artifacts are protected while visitors enjoy an engaging experience.

You will guide guests, answer questions, support education and volunteer teams, perform gallery sweeps, document incidents, and assist during emergencies or special events.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; associate or bachelor's preferred.
• 1+ years in a customer-facing role.
• Ability to stand/walk for 4–8 hours.
• Ability to learn and communicate historical narratives.
• Trained in emergency evacuation, medical response, and asset protection.
• Customer-service skills for managing school groups and diverse crowds.
• Directing visitors with accessibility needs.

Responsibilities

• Object Protection: Maintain a presence in galleries to protect artifacts.
• Environmental and Technical Reporting: Report malfunctions, spills, safety hazards.
• Crowd Management: Regulate visitor volume to avoid overcrowding in sensitive areas.
• Wayfinding: Guide visitors through gallery maps and exhibits.
• Education: Answer questions and lead short discussions.
• Program Support: Assist with gallery-based educational activities or scavenger hunts.
• Safety: Direct and support the public during emergencies or evacuations.
• Sweeps: Perform opening and closing sweeps of gallery spaces.
• Reporting: Document incidents and visitor concerns per procedures.
• Visitor Information: Provide information about programs and events, assist with special events logistics.

Skills

Customer service

Security & safety

Observational skills

De-escalation

Accessibility

Education

High school diploma or equivalent (associate or bachelor's degree preferred)

Job description

DEFTEC delivers mission-critical solutions through skillfully delivered services and innovative products. We are inspired by the critical missions of our clients, and we are driven to provide the most effective solutions to execute their missions, operational challenges, and requirements. Our dedicated, experienced, and talented employees work closely with our clients to ensure the delivery of exceptional services and products.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Positioned inside the galleries, Visitor Assistants act as safety stewards, informal educators, and customer service representatives to ensure collections remain secure while visitors enjoy an engaging experience.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Object Protection: Maintain a physical presence in galleries to protect artifacts from accidental or intentional harm.
• Environmental and Technical Reporting: Report local exhibit malfunctions, spills, damage, environmental concerns, or safety hazards through established procedures.
• Crowd Management: Regulate visitor volume to avoid overcrowding in sensitive areas.

Visitor Engagement

• Wayfinding: Guide visitors through gallery maps, ensuring they locate primary collections and exhibits.
• Education: Answer questions and lead brief discussions encouraging deeper
• Program Support: Help the Volunteer or Education teams with gallery-based educational activities or scavenger hunts.
• Safety: Direct and support the public during emergencies or building evacuations.

Operations Support

• Sweeps: Perform opening and closing sweeps of all gallery spaces.
• Reporting: Document unusual incidents, visitor complaints, security concerns, and safety near misses in accordance with approved procedures.
• Visitor Information: Provide Government-approved information about museum programs, events, and authorized membership or support opportunities. Assist with logistics for special museum events.

Required Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent (associate or bachelor's degree preferred).
• Experience: 1+ years in a customer-facing role (tourism, hospitality, retail, or
• Physical Requirements: Ability to stand/walk for the duration of a shift (4 to 8 hours)
• Content Knowledge: Ability to quickly learn and communicate historical narratives, exhibit highlights and Coast Guard missions.
• Security & Safety: Trained in emergency evacuation, medical response, and asset protection.
• Customer Service: Managing school groups and diverse crowds with patience and professionalism.
• Accessibility: Directing visitors with physical, visual, or sensory needs.

Highly Desirable Skills

• Coast Guard Acumen: Direct knowledge of Coast Guard history and maritime operations.
• Soft Security: Tactfully reminding guests about rules (e.g., "no touching") in a friendly, constructive manner.
• Observational Skills: Noticing and reporting facility issues like spills, broken interactive screens, or environmental changes.
• De-escalation: Handling frustrated guests or rules challenges with professionalism.

In addition to the responsibilities outlined in this job description, employees may be assigned administrative, reporting, training, or other business-related tasks necessary to support DEFTEC operations, customer requirements, and contract performance.

DEFTEC offers a comprehensive whole-life benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, holiday, paid time off, 401K with a match, life insurance, short/long-term disability, and educational reimbursement.

DEFTEC is a Drug-Free Workplace where post-offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria are met as outlined in our policies.

AAP/EEO Statement

DEFTEC Corp is an Equal Opportunity and Aff itative Action Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any typebased on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding),gender, gender identity, and gender expression, religious creed,disability (mental and physical) including HIV and AIDS, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics ), genetic information, age, marital status, civil union status, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, denial of family and medical care leave, arrest record and/or any other characteristic(s) protected by federal, state or local law.