What are the responsibilities and job description for the Museum Shop & Foundation Associate position at New Jersey State Museum Foundation?
DESCRIPTION
The New Jersey State Museum Foundation is seeking a new team member for the position of Museum Shop & Foundation Associate. This individual will facilitate retail operations and deliver high-level visitor services within the State Museum environment.
Initial scheduling obligations prioritize consistent weekend availability from 11:00 AM to 4:15 PM; however, a third weekly shift may be integrated as the Foundation’s strategic operational needs continue to expand and evolve.
Responsibilities encompass precise point-of-sale management, internal financial auditing, and sophisticated visual merchandising. This hybrid role further integrates support for digital marketing initiatives, institutional event coordination, and essential administrative workflows critical to the Foundation's broader organizational goals.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Proactively welcome guests, identify their interests, and provide tailored assistance to facilitate retail sales.
• Manage point-of-sale transactions with precision, encompassing meticulous money handling and internal financial record-keeping.
• Maintain an orderly Shop environment through regular cleaning, organization, pricing, and replenishment of inventory.
• Contribute to the Foundation’s annual comprehensive inventory audit and reporting.
• Enhance the visitor experience through engaging visual merchandising and dynamic product displays.
• Advocate for Museum programming and exhibitions while driving digital membership acquisition (remote eligible tasks).
• Provide ongoing support for Foundation-specific workflows and strategic goals.
FOUNDATION SUPPORT AND ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Beyond retail operations, this position provides essential support to the New Jersey State Museum Foundation through the following key initiatives:
• Assist with logistics of on-site donor-centric gatherings.
• Assist with the Foundation’s routine administrative and operational workflows.
• Facilitate institutional outreach and community engagement projects.
• Contribute to development activities, including the administration of membership renewals.
• Support digital communication strategies via email marketing and social media platforms (eligible for remote work).
EXPERIENCE & SKILLS
• Experience utilizing Lightspeed Point-of-Sale or similar platforms; a dedicated commitment to mastering our specific internal systems.
• Prior professional engagement in public-facing or hospitality roles, particularly within cultural or tourism-focused environments, is highly valued.
• Maintains a vibrant, professional presence with exceptional communication abilities to effectively advocate for the Foundation and Museum.
• Proven aptitude for adopting service benchmarks, technical point-of-sale operations, and comprehensive merchandise details.
KNOWLEDGE & EDUCATION
• Possesses a strong interest in or background within history, museums, sales, marketing, or business.
• High school diploma required; some college experience preferred.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
• Capacity to remain standing for the duration of a shift.
• Capable of lifting and transporting inventory weighing up to 10 lbs.
• Professional ease within a bustling, public-facing sales setting.
SCHEDULE
Saturday and Sunday shifts from 11:00 AM to 4:15 PM to provide essential Shop coverage, on-site.
TO APPLY
Please submit your résumé, a statement of intent, and a minimum of one professional reference to shop.manager@njsmfoundation.org. Ensure the specific job title is included in the subject line of your email.