J-1 Summer Cultural Exchange Role

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation•Medora, ND

6d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is a supplemental, part-time opportunity for participants in the J-1 Summer Work Travel (SWT) Program who are primarily employed with another approved J-1 host employer. The role is designed to provide additional structured exposure to hospitality, guest services, and event operations in a cultural and tourism-driven environment. Assignments are scheduled in coordination with a participant’s primary placement to ensure full compliance with all J-1 sponsor requirements, including total weekly hour limitations and work authorization. This position supports TRPLF operations during peak seasonal demand and is intended to supplement—not replace—core staffing needs. Participants will gain exposure to multiple areas of guest-facing operations, including café service support, culinary and kitchen assistance, visitor services and guest engagement, retail operations support, and events and catering support. Assignments are based on operational need and participant availability, and all duties remain within approved J-1 program and sponsor guidelines. Associates rotate through key functional areas to build a well-rounded skill set: Café Operations (support daily café operations while developing customer service and multitasking skills, learn beverage preparation, point-of-sale systems, and delivery of a high-quality guest experience), Culinary / Kitchen Operations (build foundational culinary knowledge and food safety practices, gain experience in food preparation, kitchen workflows, and maintaining quality and consistency in a fast-paced environment), Visitor Experience & Retail (engage directly with guests by providing information, welcoming visitors, and supporting retail operations, develop public-facing communication skills and the ability to create positive guest interactions), and Events & Catering (participate in event execution from setup through service and breakdown, gain exposure to event logistics, teamwork under pressure, and hospitality in dynamic environments). Across all rotations, Associates focus on building critical competencies: Professional Communication, Customer & Guest Experience, Team Collaboration, Time Management & Prioritization, Adaptability & Resilience, Problem Solving, Attention to Detail, and Operational Awareness. By the end of the program, Associates will have developed a versatile skill set applicable across industries including hospitality, business operations, customer experience, and event management. Participants will be better prepared to enter the workforce with confidence, communicate effectively in professional environments, adapt quickly to new roles and responsibilities, and contribute meaningfully to team-based organizations.

Requirements

Current participant in a J-1 Summer Work Travel program
Sponsor approval for secondary employment
Availability for part-time hours aligned with primary placement
Must be able to repetitively lift 20 lbs
Ability to stand and remain on your feet for extended periods, up to 8-hour shifts, with scheduled breaks
Strong communication and willingness to engage with guests
Reliability and accountability
Ability to adapt to changing environments
Team-oriented mindset
Willingness to learn and take feedback

Responsibilities

Support daily café operations
Learn beverage preparation, point-of-sale systems, and delivery of a high-quality guest experience
Build foundational culinary knowledge and food safety practices
Gain experience in food preparation, kitchen workflows, and maintaining quality and consistency in a fast-paced environment
Engage directly with guests by providing information and welcoming visitors
Support retail operations
Develop public-facing communication skills and the ability to create positive guest interactions
Participate in event execution from setup through service and breakdown
Gain exposure to event logistics, teamwork under pressure, and hospitality in dynamic environments