Visitor Services Associate - Full Time (1 position available)

Paleontological Research Institution; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 25,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Paleontological Research Institution seeks a friendly Visitor Services Associate to greet and assist guests, sell tickets and memberships, and support retail operations.

You will engage with visitors, share knowledge of exhibits, and help ensure a positive, informative experience at the Museum of the Earth. The role requires reliability, independence, and evening/weekend availability.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Professionalism, patience, and good manners with diverse populations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Reliable form of transportation.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Interact directly with the public to deliver high-quality customer service.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of museum programming, exhibits, membership benefits and events.
• Open and close exhibits and the museum; operate POS.
• Receive store inventory and process online orders; compile visitor data for research.

Skills

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Independence

Transportation

Evenings/Weekends

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job Summary:

Are you outgoing? Do you enjoy meeting and interacting with people?

Read on . . this may be the position for you!!

Paleontological Research Institution is looking for a dynamic individual to provide our guests with a high level of customer service. The position is responsible for a broad range of activities including selling tickets and memberships, engaging with guests, supporting retail operations, and daily upkeep of Museum of the Earth.

Visitor Services Associates are an integral part of the Paleontological Research Institution. As ambassadors, associates are PRI’s connection to over 30,000 visitors per year. You will have the opportunity to gain knowledge on a wide variety of topics through our temporary exhibitions and public programming, meet and converse with interesting people and be a part of a world renowned institution.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Directly interact with the public, providing exceptional customer service
• Maintain up to date knowledge of museum programming, temporary and permanent
• exhibitions, membership benefits and events, and all operational changes
• Open and close exhibits and the museum
• Operate POS
• Receive store inventory and process online orders
• Compile visitor data for demographic evaluation and research
• Staff facility events and present museum programs

Qualified Applicants:

• Possess professionalism, patience, and manners with diverse populations from around
• the world
• Have excellent communication and inter­personal skills
• Must be able to work independently
• Must have a reliable form of transportation
• Have flexibility with availability including working evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Have a High School Diploma or equivalent

Department: Visitor Services

Reporting to: Director of Visitor Services

Pay: $18.00-20.00/hour

Job Type: Full Time

Location: In-person

PRI seeks to recruit a diverse group of talented individuals and create an environment in which they can effectively work to advance our mission and to support our vision without discrimination on the basis of an individual’s age, sex, race, creed, color, national origin, degree of disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or veteran status. We are committed to ensuring all our visitors, program participants, supporters, staff, and volunteers feel valued and respected.

The Paleontological Research Institution will require all persons hired as Assistant to the Director to show proof of having received a department of health approved Covid vaccine. This requirement is being instituted to protect the safety and health of PRI employees, and other persons that provide services to this operation and is designed to support the public health objectives of our community, provided this hiring requirement complies with NY State and Federal guidelines and directives

About the Paleontological Research Institution:

The Paleontological Research Institution pursues and integrates education and research, and interprets the history and systems of the Earth and its life, to increase knowledge, educate society, and encourage wise stewardship of the Earth.

The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) was founded in 1932 by Gilbert D. Harris, a professor of geology at Cornell University. Today, PRI houses a collection of more than 7 million fossil specimens, one of the largest in the nation, and publishes scholarly and popular books and periodicals, including the oldest paleontological periodical in the western hemisphere (Bulletins of American Paleontology, begun in 1895). It has active educational outreach programs in Earth and environmental science that serve thousands of students, teachers, and the general public throughout the United States. PRI scientific staff conduct original research in paleontology, geology, evolutionary and marine biology, and science education.

PRI operates two public educational venues, all located on the west side of Cayuga Lake, north of the city of Ithaca, New York: the Museum of the Earth, an 18,000 square foot facility which opened in 2003; the Cayuga Nature Center, which uses its 120 acre site and historic main lodge to provide exhibits and programs that connect visitors to the living natural world and encourage wise stewardship of the Earth.

PRI is an independent not‑for‑profit 501(c)3 organization chartered by the State of New York in 1936. PRI is formally affiliated with, but separate from, Cornell University.