Join the Visitor Experience Team!

MAJOR DUTIES:
• Serves as part of a team of ambassadors, to provide a welcoming, personalized experience for all visitors and members.
• VEAs enthusiastically encourages engagement of Cooper Hewitt exhibitions, programs, and interactive visitor technologies.
• Opportunity to work at multiple VE workstations including ticketing/admissions, interactive stations, coat check, historic garden and entrance and other central stations identified and changed depending on the needs of the museum that day.
Stations may change frequently/daily.
• Greets and orients visitors to all the Museum’s activities; including up to date information about the Museum, exhibitions, programs, and events. Maintains and resets supplies at the VE workstations.
• Participates in regular briefings to stay informed of current/upcoming exhibitions, events, and programs. Demonstrates enthusiasm for design and technology by staying engaged in Cooper Hewitt’s invigorated visitor experience with interactive technologies.
• Helps to coordinate the successful use of the members’ benefits that retains and keeps this constituency loyal and involved. Opportunity to increase membership enrollment by offering visitors membership information.
• Participates in the day to day responsibility for cash drawers and cash handling. Strong cashing handling required.
• Follows all cash control policies and procedures implemented by Head of Visitor Experience. Participates in all aspects of end-of-day revenue reconciliations and including gathering attendance and admissions information from all sources to create the daily report.
• Develops a high level of proficiency with the POS system for admissions and ticketing as well as all digital and interactive technologies used by museum visitors.
• Handles visitors concerns, comments, and complaints in a highly respectful and diplomatic manner.
• Manages visitor helpdesk/enquiry system.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
• One year of experience serving in a visitor experience role (or equivalent) providing a welcoming, professional and personalized experience to the general public.
• Ability to participate and contribute to a positive working environment to help fellow team members. Team player is essential.
• Knowledge/experience/interest in art, design, museum education, theater or business/hospitality administration preferred.
• Working knowledge and strong interest in digital technology to engage the public with Cooper Hewitt’s immersion technologies such as the Immersion Room
• Good organization skills in order to monitor and maintain on going supplies for the VE workstations.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate diplomatically with the public and resolve complaints quickly and effectively. Overall interest in helping people is a must.
• Experience with MAC and/or MS Office products, including Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Experience with a Tessitura ticketing system, or similar complex CRM ticketing system. Strong cash and collecting payment skill required.
• Ability to stand and sit for long periods of time.
• Bi-lingual is highly preferred.
• Passion and love of arts and design is a must!

Additional Requirements:
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule to include weekends, holidays, and special events with limited notice.
• Essential position – must be able to report to duty (Cooper Hewitt located at 2 East 91st Street, NY, NY) during inclement weather conditions if the museum is open
• Punctuality is a required for this position.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States

SALARY: $16.81 to $17.37 per hour
The Smithsonian uses the General Schedule (GS) pay scale for Trust and Federally funded positions. This is a Trust funded position at Grade 03, steps 1 to 2.

COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS:
401k (TIAA)
Health Insurance (Carefirst – Blue Cross Blue Shield)
Dental (Delta Dental)
Vision Care (Vision Services Care)
Life Insurance (Prudential)
Voluntary Accidental Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Commuter Benefits or Commuter Bicycle Reimbursement Program
Paid Time Off
Paid Sick Leave
Family Friendly Leave
Family Friendly Workplace
Historic and landmark museum, offices and garden
Smithsonian Networking
Employee Discounts
Entrance to Museums and Galleries (New York)
Research/Design Library
Employee Assistance Program/Counseling
Health Screenings (onsite)

TEMPORARY TRUST APPOINTMENT:
One-year full-time appointment that may be extended beyond the one year (based on performance and budget).

DUTY STATION:
• The permanent duty station is 2 East 91st Street, New York, NY 10128

TELEWORK
• Not available for this position

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Please submit cover letter and resume (addressing qualification requirements) to HRvea@si.edu

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION:
The Smithsonian Institution ensures its employees (federal and trust), applicants, and affiliated persons (interns, research associates, fellows, and volunteers) are protected from discrimination and unfair treatment in the workplace regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, gender stereotyping, pregnancy, and sexual orientation), age, disability, genetic information, marital status, parental status, or political affiliation and are free from reprisal against protected activities. In addition, other Smithsonian policy prohibits discrimination based on membership in an employee organization or other non-merit factors, and political affiliation.

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