Location: Richmond,VA, USA
Position: Visitor Experience Associate
Employee Class: Part-time Hourly / Part-time Student Worker
Anticipated Hiring Range: $15
Anticipated Hours/Week: 10 - 29, M-F
The Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU is seeking friendly, motivated, and outgoing individuals to assist in strengthening the ICA's mission to deepen relationships with the community. Visitor Experience Associates (VEAs) are responsible for welcoming visitors; engaging with visitors in conversations about the ICA, exhibitions, and programs; ensuring the safety and security of both art and guests within the galleries; fulfilling orders and sales of retail items and preparing and selling food and beverages at the ICA Shop and Cafe; and providing day-of support to public programs, events, and facility rentals; processing membership enrollment, ticketing, and visitor feedback. All VEAs are expected to provide a high level of customer service while engaging with the public and ensuring guests adhere to ICA visitor policies, as well as maintain a strong understanding of exhibition content, programs, and events.
Priority consideration is given to candidates who are able to work the daytime shift on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Responsibilities:
Provide excellent customer service as a primary point of contact of the ICA by greeting, orienting, and assisting visitors, while also providing general security of the art on display and ensuring guests adhere to ICA Visitor Policies
Contribute as needed to ICA interdepartmental tasks for visitor access to exhibition materials
Fulfill orders and sales of retail items, prepare and sell food and beverages
Maintain knowledge of ICA exhibitions, programs, events, and overall mission.
Receive and respond to phone inquiries
Greet and orient incoming tour groups
Act as a liaison between front-of-house and ICA staff
Assist with setup and breakdown of ICA public events and programs, and private facility rentals
Assist with showing the facility to prospective clients and provide fee and facility use guidelines
Process Memberships, ticket sales, and visitor feedback via front desk desktops and mobile devices.
Required Qualifications:
Must pass a pre-employment background check
Must possess excellent customer service skills and a welcoming demeanor in order to successfully engage and interact with a diverse audience.
An ability to calmly and effectively direct large crowds.
Ability to work weekends, evenings, and some holidays.
Ability to stand for long periods of time.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, members of the VCU community, and the public.
Ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy in discussing cultural diversity issues with the public.
Preferred Qualifications:
Customer service experience in hospitality, retail, or museum setting
Enthusiasm for contemporary art and culture
First Aid/CPR certification
Experience operating point of sale systems
Experience with CRM and ticketing software
Experience operating a two-way radio
Proficiency in Google Suite and/or Microsoft Office