GALLERY ASSOCIATE

Job Title: Gallery Associate

Department: Visitor Experience

Reports To: Director of Visitor Experience

Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

Base Pay rate: $14.00/hour

FLSA Status: non-exempt (full-time, part-time, contingent)

Work schedule: Variable including evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays

Prepared/Revised Date: 02/12/2024 ______________________________________________________________________

Job Summary: Gallery Associates at the Columbus Museum of Art (CMA) support the Visitor Experience Department by interacting with guests both in the galleries and at the Welcome Desk. Gallery Associates serve a dual role ensuring a positive visitor experience while maintaining the safety of both people and art. Candidates for this position must enjoy interacting with and helping people. Candidates must be able to uphold a variety of organizational policies while promoting the philosophies and values of CMA. Candidates must also be able to engage guests in conversation, verbally reinforce Museum rules, and provide positive interpersonal interactions.

Candidates must possess a flexible schedule, including weekday, weekend, and evening hours.

Availability on Thursday evenings from 5pm-9pm and Sundays from 10am to 5pm is a must. Associates are expected to work at both CMA locations (the Columbus Museum of Art on Broad St. and the Pizzuti Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art on Park St.)

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Create a first impression of welcome and warmth to all the Museum’s visitors, setting the mood and tone for each guest’s experience.
• Project an attitude of openness and access to all visitors.
• Initiate conversations with visitors and answer questions to promote a friendly and engaged gallery experience.
• Maintain safety of people and art in museum galleries and spaces:
  • Ensure that visitors comply with Museum policies, by proactively communicating those policies in a direct, friendly, and respectful manner.
  • Approach, engage, and if needed, redirect visitors as appropriate while respecting boundaries and personal space, thoughtfully monitoring body language and facial expression, and always communicating in a respectful and professional manner.
• Answer multi-extension telephone system, responding effectively and efficiently to all questions and requests for information, including basic visitor information, website information, programs, tour options, and processing payments. Maintain knowledge of museum departments and staff members, their programs and ongoing work, to expedite connection of callers to the appropriate staff.
• Handle cash transactions in an effective and efficient manner.
• Participate in regular professional development workshops about museum safety procedures, CMA philosophies, learning, visitor engagement and conversational strategies, professional behavior, customer service, and art and exhibition content.
• Communicates and collaborates regularly with colleagues across multiple departments to improve team effectiveness.
• Use computer-based programs ticketing systems, phone system, CCTV, fire panel to fulfill all necessary responsibilities.

Qualifications:

• Excellent interpersonal and conversational skills, with specific attention to both verbal and nonverbal communication.
• Willingness and capacity to acquire new skills and knowledge; intellectually curious.
• Ability to assert oneself to enforce policies; can manage crowds and lines in a polite and professional manner.
• Responsible, dependable, trustworthy, cooperative, flexible, and self-motivated; friendly, empathetic, and positive attitude.
• Must maintain a high level of confidentiality, regarding the museum’s policies and procedures, employees, events, clients and all related matters regarding such parties.
• Can handle multiple tasks simultaneously, including phone and radio communication, monitoring access control systems, CCTV surveillance, and accurate data entry.
• Ability to self-manage time and focus to get things done.
• Capacity to exercise critical thinking and good judgement.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas is a strong plus: educational/teaching, hospitality, security, retail, visitor/customer service.
• Able to work Thursday evenings from 5pm-9pm and Sundays from 10am to 5pm, and additional day, evening, and weekend hours.

Uniform Requirements: This position does require maintaining a dress code and a clean, professional personal appearance.

Physical Demands: Staff members must be able to stand, walk, and be attentive and engaged for long periods of time while monitoring gallery spaces. Must be able to use a full range of body movement to assist visitors and ensure safety. Must be able to walk on flat or incline surfaces (up and down) and go up and down stairs, especially in emergency situations. May occasionally have to climb or balance. Must be able to see, smell, hear, talk, read, and comprehend. Must be able to lift 25 lbs. Must be able to understand and follow verbal and written instructions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment: Expect a cooperative, team-focused environment working directly with visitors of all ages and backgrounds. CMA galleries experience a full range of activity from quiet and slow paced to loud and crowded. All work is focused on providing a positive visitor experience while also promoting CMA mission and values.