Guest Services Associate

We are hiring a Part-Time Guest Services Associate to support the mission of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley by assisting all guests with directions, accurate information and assistance regarding the site while providing exceptional hospitality services in an attentive, friendly and efficient manner to all guests during their entire visit.

Associates provide front-line customer service in the Lobby, Museum Store, Gate House, The Garden Shop, and on the phone; process museum admission and store sales; provide online program registration to callers; direct all incoming phone calls; and disseminate general information to the public. The Guest Services team works under the general daily supervision of the Guest Services and Museum Store Managers as part of the Guest Services Department.

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications and skills:

• A keen interest in providing excellence in customer service to the public.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with the public and MSV colleagues, interacting with a diverse group of people.
• Comfort with general technology applications including Microsoft Office and telephone operations, point of sale systems and membership database.
• Knowledge of computer systems and telephone operations required.
• Prior experience with pointofsale systems and membership database a plus.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and math skills.
• Knowledge of retail operations preferred. Prior retail experience a plus.
• Interest in and/or knowledge of history, decorative arts, gardening, horticulture, and fine arts.
• Sensitivity to the nature of the museum collections, exhibitions, house, and gardens.
• Ability to multitask in a highvolume environment required.
• While performing this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• Employee is frequently required to stand; use hands to finger, feel, and handle, and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee will regularly lift up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision requirements include close vision and the ability to adjust focus

Duties, Responsibilities, and Objectives:

• Serve as first and last point of contact for guests, serving as the “face” of the organization.
• Greet visitors, collect admissions, and provide brief orientation to the MSV.
• Provide a friendly, helpful, and welcoming atmosphere through engaging service, working knowledge of all our products, and an enthusiasm for our institution.
• Initiate, process, and complete sales transactions for admissions, programs, events, and store sales as needed in a timely fashion.
• Properly handle daily receipts, including opening and closing procedures, reconciling daily sales and charges, and use of safe.
• Coordinate with the Manager on Duty the opening and closing out of the cash registers at the end of each day.
• Maintain store’s appearance, including restocking, displaying merchandise, cleaning, and assisting with inventory as required.
• Maintain familiarity with merchandise and be able to answer questions about items related to MSV exhibitions, the permanent collection, events, programs and procedures.
• Provide information about the MSV, its campus and visitor amenities and have working knowledge of regional attractions.
• Assist with or provide monthly reports with statistics on visitation, use of discount coupons, and recording of volunteer hours as requested.
• Maintains up to date records of all required passwords and usernames required to perform daily functions on both Patron Manager and Counterpoint.
• Maintains current access to MSV email address for work related correspondence.
• Maintains familiarity with all technology required to accomplish daily tasks including, but not limited to: PC's, credit card machines, authentication keys, printers, admission scanners, and telephones.
• Check institutional calendar daily for site activities and events.
• Record guest services activity each day and report issues and concerns.
• Assist with special needs of guests.
• Assist with community and education programs, and special events as requested.
• Alert Security staff to emergencies and site issues as needed.
• Attend meetings and trainings sessions as required.
• Have working knowledge of museum guidelines, policies, and emergency procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Position and Hours: This is a part-time position with flexible work hours including daytime shifts, evenings, holidays, and weekends as needed. The museum does not provide medical insurance, life, disability or retirement benefits. A paid ½ hour for lunch on site is allowed as well as needed breaks. This is a non-exempt position as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

About Glass-Glen Burnie Museum Inc

The mission of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley is to preserve and enrich the cultural life and heritage of the Valley. The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) believes in a society that is inclusive in practice and where equal opportunities and equitable outcomes are hallmarks. The MSV is committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive community, where the common goal is to create and foster a sense of belonging. This inclusive approach provides the MSV the foundation to enriching the cultural life and heritage of the Valley while preserving our robustly diverse history. These are the values in which the MSV thrives: Accessibility, Collaboration/Engagement, Community, Diversity, Education, Equity, Excellence, Fun, Preservation, and Respect.