Visitor Experience Specialist

Don Harrington Discovery Center; Amarillo (TX); On-site; USD 17,000 - 19,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

FSA

Job summary

Don Harrington Discovery Center in Amarillo, TX is seeking a Visitor Experience Specialist to welcome guests, assist with admissions, memberships, and retail, and support exhibits and Space Theater programs. This position may work at both DHDC and Wildcat Bluff locations as needed.

The role requires daytime, weekday, and weekend availability, strong communication skills, and comfort with handling transactions.

Qualifications

• Must have daytime, weekday, and weekend availability.
• Friendly, outgoing, patient, and comfortable engaging with a wide variety of people.
• Interest in science, nature, learning, and creating positive guest experiences.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Dependable, organized, and able to work effectively in a busy, collaborative environment.
• Comfortable using computer and learning technology used for admissions, registrations, sales, and internal communication.
• Ability to handle cash and transactions accurately.
• Willingness to learn, take direction, and assist wherever needed to support the guest experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide a warm, friendly welcome to all guests, answer questions, provide directions, and help resolve any guest concerns professionally.
• Processing admissions, memberships, gift shop and concession sales, while maintaining accurate guest and transaction records.
• Engage with guests throughout exhibit areas by answering questions, facilitating hands-on activities, and helping create safe, enjoyable moments of discovery.
• Help maintain the guest experience by resetting exhibit spaces, restocking supplies and merchandise, keeping public areas organized, and reporting maintenance or exhibit concerns.
• Assist and support educational programs, demonstrations, camps, birthday parties, facility rentals, special events, and other activities, including setup, cleanup, activity stations and guest coordination.
• Operate and assist with Space Theater programs, including making announcements, managing seating, answering guests questions, and helping shows run smoothly.
• Answer incoming phone calls, provide general information, and direct callers to the appropriate department.
• Make guests announcements of activities, events, and closing reminders using the audio system.
• Support fundraising efforts and organizational campaigns, including visitator solicitations when appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with other departments to address needs and support a positive visitor experience.
• Support the Manager on Duty (MOD) and Animal Team as needed in caring for live animals, promoting understanding and respect for wildlife.
• Participate in staff training and organizational meetings as scheduled.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the DCC operations and its mission.

Skills

Customer Service

Cash Handling

Communication Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Teamwork

POS Systems

Tools

POS Systems

Job description

Discovery Center Collective: Don Harrington Discovery Center & Wildcat Bluff Discovery Center

Job Title: Visitor Experience Specialist (Full-time, Part-time, Non-exempt)

Discovery Center Collective (DCC) includes two interactive, recreational learning spaces in Amarillo, TX: Don Harrington Discovery Center and Wildcat Bluff Discovery Center. The Discovery Center Collective sparks curiosity, inspires lifelong learning through play and empowers individuals to engage confidently with the world.

The Visitor Experience Specialist serves as the first point of contact for guests and helps create a welcoming, engaging, and memorable experience. This frontline role supports admissions, memberships, retail and concession sales, exhibits, Space Theater programs, and special activities and events. This position will primarily work at Don Harrington Discovery Center, but may occasionally require work at both locations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide a warm, friendly welcome to all guests, answer questions, provide directions, and help resolve any guest concerns professionally.
• Processing admissions, memberships, gift shop and concession sales, while maintaining accurate guest and transaction records.
• Engage with guests throughout exhibit areas by answering questions, facilitating hands-on activities, and helping create safe, enjoyable moments of discovery.
• Help maintain the guest experience by resetting exhibit spaces, restocking supplies and merchandise, keeping public areas organized, and reporting maintenance or exhibit concerns.
• Assist and support educational programs, demonstrations, camps, birthday parties, facility rentals, special events, and other activities, including setup, cleanup, activity stations and guest coordination.
• Operate and assist with Space Theater programs, including making announcements, managing seating, answering guests questions, and helping shows run smoothly.
• Answer incoming phone calls, provide general information, and direct callers to the appropriate department.
• Make guests announcements of activities, events, and closing reminders using the audio system.
• Support fundraising efforts and organizational campaigns, including visitator solicitations when appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with other departments to address needs and support a positive visitor experience.
• Support the Manager on Duty (MOD) and Animal Team as needed in caring for live animals, promoting understanding and respect for wildlife.
• Participate in staff training and organizational meetings as scheduled.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the DCC operations and its mission.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

*** Must have daytime, weekday, and weekend availability. Will typically work a consistent daytime schedule with occasional evening shifts.

• Support the DHDC mission and enjoy working with children, families, groups, and the public.
• Friendly, outgoing, patient, and comfortable engaging with a wide variety of people.
• Interest in science, nature, learning, and creating positive guest experiences.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Dependable, organized, and able to work effectively in a busy, collaborative environment.
• Comfortable using computer and learning technology used for admissions, registrations, sales, and internal communication.
• Ability to handle cash and transactions accurately.
• Willingness to learn, take direction, and assist wherever needed to support the guest experience.

PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS

• The ability to work closely with a computer and remain active throughout the workday, including standing, walking, bending, reaching and performing repetitive hand movements.
• Ability to regularly lift and move up to 30-50 pounds.
• This position will primarily work at Don Harrington Discovery Center, but will also work at Wildcat Bluff Discovery Center as needed.

COMPENSATION:

Hours vary based on part-time or full-time status and are non-exempt. Pay range is $12-14 hourly with a yearly review for increase. Salary commensurate with experience. Full-time employees are eligible for benefits options, including medical, dental, vision, FSA, life insurance, and more.