Position: Visitor Services Representative

Reports to: Lead Visitor Services Representative

Direct Reports: 0

Division: Learning & Engagement

FLSA Status: Part-Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt

Compensation: $22.66/hour

Work Hours: 6 - 14 hours per week: Wednesday and Thursdays (Approximately 10:30am – 5:00 pm, with occasional evening and weekend shifts)

Position Summary

The Frye Art Museum seeks a positive, dynamic, and adaptable team player to join our Learning & Engagement team as a part-time Visitor Services Representative (VSR). In this role, the VSR will play a pivotal role in creating an exceptional customer experience for museum visitors, including first time guests, members and donors, and program participants. The VSR will actively contribute to fostering a welcoming environment and ensuring a positive museum experience for diverse audiences, promote a broad range of museum programs, and serve as a frontline representative for the museum.

The Learning & Engagement team is dedicated to active, reciprocal engagement with artists, students, teachers, and community members. Our myriad programs include Creative Aging, Field Trip to the Frye, and interdisciplinary public concerts and talks that promote accessibility, intergenerational exchange, and lifelong learning. We prioritize creative partnerships that advance social, racial, and environmental justice, particularly with systemically marginalized communities. In 2024, we integrated Visitor Services to enhance the holistic visitor experience at the Frye.

About Frye Art Museum

Founded in 1952, the Frye is Seattle’s only free art museum, bringing together art and new ideas within a stunning Olson Sundberg Kundig-designed building in historic First Hill. A foundation collection of turn-of-the-century oil paintings is bolstered by a wide range of modern and contemporary art holdings, reflecting our region’s evolving identity and a commitment to exploring the art of our time. Learn more at fryemuseum.org.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Welcome and engage museum visitors, serving as a knowledgeable ambassador by providing information about the museum’s history, architecture, current and upcoming exhibitions, learning and engagement programs, amenities including Museum Store and Café, membership, donations, and museum policies.
• Address visitor questions and concerns with courtesy, inclusivity, and sensitivity in alignment with Frye’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB).
• Resolve visitor issues independently or elevate them to appropriate departments as necessary.
• Support collection of visitor demographic information and audience evaluation initiatives.
• Understand and effectively convey museum protocols, messages, and safety policies, coordinating as needed with Learning & Engagement, Security, Communications, and other departments.
• Respond to visitor, member, and donor inquiries in person, over the phone, and via email, coordinating or forwarding queries as required to colleagues in Learning & Engagement and other departments.
• Promote and facilitate patron registrations, new membership acquisitions, renewals, upgrades, and donations.
• Maintain the visitor services desk in a visually appealing and organized manner, replenishing brochures, exhibition guides, and other materials as needed.
• Participate in museum-wide DEIAB trainings to contribute to an inclusive environment for visitors and implement relevant strategies and best practices in this role.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the overall goals, events, and activities of Learning & Engagement.

Desired Qualifications, Knowledge, and Skills

• Flexibility to accommodate a varied weekly schedule, including some evenings and weekends, while maintaining reliability and punctuality.
• Effective listening and excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
• Capacity to work independently while maintaining a commitment to teamwork and collaboration.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills. Aptitude for quickly and thoughtfully prioritizing tasks.
• Demonstrated experience in managing stress while remaining focused, composed, and friendly.
• Fluency in English, with proficiency in additional languages desirable.
• Experience working in visitor services or similar roles within a museum environment is preferred.

Required Education/Experience

• Customer service experience with demonstrated ability to make people feel seen, respected, warmly welcomed, and comfortable.
• High School diploma or equivalent experience preferred.

Benefits

• ORCA Card benefits
• Paid vacation & sick hours accrual after 90 days of employment
• 20% museum store discount
• 15% cafe discount
• Reciprocal museum membership

How to Apply

Candidates should submit a resume that outlines past experience and a cover letter by March 28, 2024. In the cover letter, please address the following questions:

• Why are you drawn to work at the Frye?
• What about this role appeals to you?
• Why is this opportunity relevant and important to you at this moment in your career?

The position is open until filled. No emails or phone calls please. Due to the high volume of applications received, we can only contact candidates whose skills and backgrounds best fit the needs of the open positions. We will contact you by email or phone if we wish to arrange a phone screen. 

COVID-19 Considerations

Note that all employees are asked to adhere to museum guidance and policy for COVID-19, which may change over time. 

Work Conditions

Work areas are inside, in a climate-controlled environment with light background noise. Work is occasionally performed at other indoor and outdoor event sites. Shift times may vary to meet the museum's requirement to staff the facilities at all hours. Work may require weekend hours and extended periods of attendance at museum events.

Physical Activities Required to Perform Essential Functions

• Remaining in a stationary location, standing or sitting, and occasionally moving through the museum.
• Frequently move and transport objects weighing up to 50 pounds. This may require positioning self to move and remove objects from low shelves.
• Constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery such as phones and printers.
• The person in this role communicates with colleagues and guests and must be able to converse and exchange information.

EEOC Statement

We recognize that a successful candidate will meet many of the requirements in this job description but may only meet some of the qualifications. We encourage applicants to apply if much of this job description describes them.

As part of our commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, we invest in building teams with various backgrounds, identities, and experiences. The Frye is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, marital or veteran status, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law.