Museum Experience Representative - Part Time

San Jose Museum of Art•San Jose, CA

About The Position

The San José Museum of Art (SJMA) is hiring a part-time Museum Experience Representative (MER) for its Museum Experience and Education department. The role is scheduled Tuesday through Sunday, for 10–24 hours per week, including evenings and holidays. MERs work as part of a small front-line team that facilitates engagement with the Museum, promotes a positive visitor experience, and shares information about art. The representative provides visitor service and orientation, helps maintain a safe and welcoming Museum environment, monitors assigned areas, and supports daily setups and special events. The position also documents observations and visitor engagement, contributes to constituency data collection, communicates with Museum departments, and responds to visitor concerns and emergencies. The hourly pay rate is $19.00. SJMA conducts pre-employment, post-offer background checks in accordance with state and federal law.

Requirements

Customer service experience.
Knowledge of art history and appreciation of art.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to listen actively to visitors and respond to their needs and expectations.
Ability to remain calm and positive in stressful circumstances and handle crowds.
Good judgment and on-the-spot problem-solving ability when working with Museum visitors.
Ability to work with people of differing abilities, backgrounds, nationalities, and cultures.
Ability to maintain a consistent professional manner with the public and Museum staff.
Ability to work with and communicate with multiple Museum departments.
Flexibility with last-minute changes.
Dependability and punctuality; report to work as scheduled, on time, and prepared to start.
Ability to stand for long periods and function in crowd settings.
Knowledge of CRM systems.
Ability to read, write, and speak English and effectively present information and respond to questions from visitors, staff, vendors, and volunteers.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.
Must be at least 18 years of age.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of Blackbaud ALTRU software.
Bilingual skills.
CPR training.

Responsibilities

Provide excellent customer service while ensuring the safety of visitors, staff, and artworks.
Maintain working knowledge of SJMA exhibitions, programs, facilities, and activities.
Summarize observations in Museum spaces to communicate front-line operational insights and support data reporting.
Support constituency data collection to develop a 360-degree view of visitors and businesses involved in SJMA’s success.
Write reports and assess visitor engagement as needed.
Greet and orient visitors in a welcoming, positive, and informative manner.
Communicate with visitors with diverse interests and abilities to enhance their understanding of art, artists, and the Museum.
Set up public spaces and special events; maintain supplies and oversee organizational health and safety measures.
Communicate Museum policies and procedures positively and calmly, and resolve visitor concerns effectively.
Monitor assigned posts to prevent theft, vandalism, artwork damage, or injury to visitors and staff.
Document and report violations or unusual activity to the Security and Exhibitions teams.
Coordinate with the Exhibitions Team regarding artwork concerns, accidental damage, and malfunctions.
Respond to emergencies, call for assistance with medical emergencies in galleries and the Lobby, and provide direction during emergencies, including evacuations.
Follow SJMA policies and instructions.
Attend and participate regularly in staff trainings and meetings.
Perform other duties as assigned.