Visitor Assistant Supporting USCG Museum

Ruchman and Associates, Inc.•New London, CT

20h

About The Position

Ruchman and Associates, Inc. (RAI) is seeking a Visitor Assistant to support gallery operations at the National Coast Guard Museum. Positioned throughout the galleries, the Visitor Assistant serves as a safety steward, informal educator, and customer service representative, helping protect museum collections while providing visitors with a welcoming, accessible, and engaging experience. The role includes maintaining a visible presence in assigned galleries, monitoring for safety and exhibit issues, assisting visitors with wayfinding and questions, supporting educational activities, and helping manage crowds. The Visitor Assistant also supports accessibility, responds to emergencies in accordance with museum procedures, performs opening and closing sweeps, documents incidents, and assists with special-event logistics as assigned.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least one year of experience in a customer-facing position in tourism, hospitality, retail, museums, visitor services, or a similar environment.
Ability to stand and walk on gallery floors for the duration of a four- to eight-hour shift.
Ability to quickly learn and clearly communicate historical narratives, exhibit highlights, and Coast Guard missions using approved information.
Strong customer-service, public-speaking, wayfinding, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to manage school groups and diverse crowds with patience, professionalism, and sound judgment.
Ability to complete required training in emergency evacuation, medical response, asset protection, incident reporting, and visitor safety.
Ability to assist visitors with physical, visual, sensory, and other accessibility needs.

Nice To Haves

An associate or bachelor’s degree.
Direct knowledge of Coast Guard history or maritime operations.
Experience with soft-security techniques, de-escalation, incident observation, and facility-issue reporting.

Responsibilities

Maintain an attentive physical presence in assigned galleries to help protect artifacts and exhibits from accidental or intentional damage.
Monitor galleries and report exhibit malfunctions, spills, property damage, environmental concerns, safety hazards, and other unusual conditions through established procedures.
Regulate visitor volume and movement to prevent overcrowding in sensitive areas and support safe, orderly gallery operations.
Provide wayfinding assistance using gallery maps and help visitors locate collections, exhibits, restrooms, exits, and accessible routes.
Answer visitor questions using Government-approved information and lead brief, informal discussions about Coast Guard history, missions, and museum exhibits.
Tactfully remind visitors of museum rules, including artifact-protection and no-touch requirements.
Support school groups, families, and diverse crowds with patience, professionalism, and appropriate crowd-management techniques.
Assist visitors with physical, visual, sensory, or other accessibility needs and direct them to available accommodations and services.
Support Volunteer and Education teams with gallery-based activities, scavenger hunts, and approved interpretive programs.
Direct and assist visitors during emergencies, medical incidents, evacuations, and other safety events in accordance with museum procedures.
Perform opening and closing sweeps of assigned gallery spaces and document visitor complaints, unusual incidents, security concerns, and safety near misses.
Provide approved information about museum programs, events, and authorized membership or support opportunities.
Assist with special-event logistics as assigned.