Join our staff as a Visitor Experience Associate | Mingei International Museum

Visitor Experience Associate

WHO WE ARE

Founded in 1978, Mingei International Museum collects, preserves and exhibits “art of the world, art of the people,” including folk art, craft, and design from all eras and cultures. Located in San Diego’s iconic Balboa Park, our highly respected museum offers stunning exhibitions and diverse educational programs to more than 200,000 visitors each year. The Museum is a nonprofit organization.

Mingei has a deep commitment to creating a space where people are inspired to see their own world through new eyes and, in turn, rediscover, embrace, and nurture their own creativity. The recently transformed Museum is a place where all are welcome, where the community can gather, and where individuals can rest and find creative inspiration.

POSITION SUMMARY

Visitor Experience (VE) Associates play an active role in inspiring a welcoming and engaging experience for visitors throughout the Museum. Cross-trained in three areas—visitor orientation and ticketing, in-gallery experience, and the Museum store—Associates are front-line staff and the first point of contact for Museum visitors. As ambassadors of the Museum’s high standards of hospitality, they are knowledgeable and passionate about Mingei’s mission, collection and exhibitions, store products, and events.

At Mingei, we strive to offer a memorable and meaningful experience to our audience, and this is only possible with the hard work and dedication of a passionate and creative team. Ideal candidates share our values of creativity, teamwork, inclusion, tolerance, and the open exchange of ideas and worldviews.

This position reports to the Visitor Experience Assistant Manager.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Provide exceptional customer service to every Museum guest, ensuring visitors are warmly greeted and assisted during their visit.
  • Stay informed on all aspects of Museum exhibitions and events, providing orientation and information to guests.
  • Assist with wayfinding and communicate core messages and Museum mission to visitors.
  • Ensure safety of exhibited objects, inform and guide visitors, and facilitate interactions between visitors and exhibits.
  • Encourage visitors’ interest and engagement in the Museum and store to promote merchandise, ticket, and membership sales.
  • Handle sales, point of sale operations, admission records, and daily deposits.
  • Assist with Museum store upkeep, restocking and organizing back-stock.
  • Regularly interact and communicate with security staff, docents, volunteers, visitors, and special guests.
  • Collect feedback from guests, passing on to supervisors and other museum departments as appropriate.

HOW YOU CAN BE EXCELLENT AT THIS JOB:

  • Believe in and be committed to the core values of Mingei International Museum, as well as the mission and vision of the organization.
  • Be able to improvise, multitask, and maintain a calm, welcoming presence in a busy environment.
  • Be familiar and knowledgeable about store merchandise, exhibitions, and general knowledge of folk art, craft, and design.
  • Ensure visitors adhere to Museum guidelines, which includes not touching or damaging the artwork.
  • Be detail-oriented and organized.
  • Attend and participate in Visitor Experience team meetings, All Staff meetings, and ongoing training.

YOU’RE A GREAT FIT FOR THIS JOB IF YOU:

  • Have enthusiastic interpersonal skills and a passion for customer service; sales experience a plus
  • Have an interest in folk art, craft, and design
  • Have basic PC computer skills; point of sale system experience a plus
  • Are comfortable handling cash transactions and daily reports using a point of sale system
  • Are available for weekend and evening hours, as needed
  • Are able to move around the galleries for an extended period of time while monitoring exhibits
  • Are proficient in a language other than English, Spanish preferred.
  • Previous art handling experience a plus

Applicants of all races, genders, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, ages, and all other characteristics that make us different are encouraged to apply.

TERM AND COMPENSATION

This position is a part-time nonexempt position, paid at $19.50 per hour, working in Balboa Park. Benefits include paid time off, paid sick time and a 401k plan with a company match. Must be available Friday evenings and weekends.