Visitor Services Assistant

Philadelphia Museum of Art; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free general admission

Discounted guest tickets

Gift memberships discounts

Staff tours and presentations

Restaurant discounts

Museum cafe and store discounts

Job summary

The Philadelphia Museum of Art seeks a Visitor Services Assistant to serve as a friendly ambassador, greeting visitors and guiding them through the museum experience. You will operate ticketing terminals, handle admissions, memberships, and events, while upholding museum standards and safety policies.

Ideal candidates bring outstanding customer service, cash handling experience, dependability, and a genuine interest in the arts.

Qualifications

• Outstanding customer service and conflict resolution skills.
• Prior cash handling experience.
• Friendly and professional demeanor.
• Genuine interest in communicating with and assisting others.
• A track record of dependability and punctuality are essential.
• Personal interest in the arts or a related field preferred, but not necessary.
• Experience in hospitality, customer service and/or retail preferred.
• High School diploma, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Be a respectful, inviting, and approachable presence at all times while in the museum.
• Actively greet the public and provide a warm welcome and orientation to the museum and its spaces.
• Engage in conversation with visitors about the museum and its collections.
• Operate the museum’s ticketing terminals efficiently and accurately.
• Assist all members, groups, and visitors of the museum with their ticketing needs, including general admission, tours and special events.
• Promote museum programs and sell memberships.
• Communicate effectively with visitors.
• Enforce PMA policies and respond accordingly to emergencies and alarms.
• Work effectively and collaboratively with other departments including but not limited to Development, Special Events, Education and Protection Services.
• Assist visitors at the coat check.
• Ensure all visitor facing spaces, and personal workspaces, adhere to museum standards of cleanliness and sanitation.
• Complete opening and closing procedures in a timely and efficient manner.
• Attend department trainings and meetings.
• Work in other departments when possible, including regular Special Event shift offerings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Customer service

Conflict resolution

Cash handling

Friendly demeanor

Punctuality

Arts interest

Hospitality experience

Retail experience

Education

High School diploma

Job description

We Are Committed to an Inclusive Workplace

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.

The Visitor Services Assistant serves as a friendly and professional ambassador for the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Exemplifying qualities of confidence, reliability, and efficiency all while providing world-class customer service to our diverse visitor base. The assistant provides exceptional, empathetic, and responsive service to all museum audiences to enrich their experiences and encourage them to expand their involvement with the museum, motivating them to return.

Specifically, you will:

• Be a respectful, inviting, and approachable presence at all times while in the museum
• Actively greet the public and provide a warm welcome and orientation to the museum and its spaces
• Engage in conversation with visitors about the museum and its collections
• Operate the museum’s ticketing terminals efficiently and accurately
• Assist all members, groups, and visitors of the museum with their ticketing needs, including general admission, tours and special events
• Promote museum programs and sell memberships
• Communicate effectively with visitors
• Enforce PMA policies and respond accordingly to emergencies and alarms
• Work effectively and collaboratively with other departments including but not limited to Development, Special Events, Education and Protection Services
• Assist visitors at the coat check
• Ensure all visitor facing spaces, and personal workspaces, adhere to museum standards of cleanliness and sanitation
• Complete opening and closing procedures in a timely and efficient manner
• Attend department trainings and meetings
• Work in other departments when possible, including regular Special Event shift offerings
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Your background and experience include:

• Outstanding customer service and conflict resolution skills
• Prior cash handling experience
• Friendly and professional demeanor
• Genuine interest in communicating with and assisting others
• A track record of dependability and punctuality are essential
• Personal interest in the arts or a related field preferred, but not necessary.
• Experience in hospitality, customer service and/or retail preferred
• High School diploma, or equivalent

Position And Compensation Details

• The hourly rate for this position is $18.50
• This position is Full-Time, Non-Exempt, and 35 hours per week
• Schedule requires weekends, evenings, and holidays
• This position reports to the Assistant Managers of Visitor Services
• This position is part of the AFSCME Local 397 bargaining unit.
• Physical requirements:
  • Able to remain standing for extended periods of time, to utilize computers and other office equipment required of this job, to perform physically administrative duties in a typical interior office environment, gallery, or exhibit space, and to access most public and staff areas of the museum campus
  • Able to regularly set up, adjust, and operate a computer/keyboard and other office equipment used to generate work/transmit data
  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the role for the entirety of the shift (up to 11 hours)
  • Able to remain stationary for up to eight hours
  • Able to work in and navigate a confined location for up to eight hours
  • Able to work with a large volume of visitors in a consistently fast-paced environment, sometimes outdoors if needed
  • Able to move items up to 20 pounds
  • Must be comfortable working in an environment with variable indoor temperatures and occasional outdoor tasks
  • Adhere to a business casual dress code, maintaining a professional appearance appropriate for the workplace
  • Communicate needs and concerns professionally and respectfully to foster effective collaboration
• Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job

Institutional Requirements

• Upholds the professional standards of the field, always acts in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the museum and protects and enhances its reputation and standing within the community of museums
• Adheres to the museum’s code of ethics and Employee Handbook and avoids any real or perceived conflicts of interest
• Shows respect for co-workers and visitors and an understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of the museum’s staff, volunteers, and audiences
• Maintains confidentiality
• Adheres to all museum protocols, procedures, rules, and policies

Application Timeline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage candidates to apply early as the position will close once we have a robust applicant pool or a candidate has been selected.

What We Offer

Our employees are at the center of the museum. As an employee, you will have access to numerous museum perks including, but not limited to:

• Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family
• Discounted guest tickets for admission
• Discounts on gift memberships
• Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teams
• Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores

We offer a comprehensive benefits package for employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Fully paid short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance
• Health savings or flexible spending account program
• Retirement savings program with museum match
• Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays
• Eligibility for certain benefits is based on a variety of factors including the employee’s regular schedule and tenure