Watershed Visitor Assistant – Seasonal

The ICA Watershed Visitor Assistants are reliable, strong customer service-oriented individuals who combine the responsibilities of gallery safeguarding with museum information and exhibition interpretation. Seasonal Visitor Assistants are responsible for overseeing the gallery spaces and protecting the art while ensuring a positive museum experience by providing exemplary customer service and education. The part-time seasonal Visitor Assistant will have the opportunity to work as a key member of an education-oriented, visitor-centered staff. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the visitors’ experience of ICA exhibitions. This seasonal position runs from May 16—September 2, 2024 and requires weekend and holiday availability.

Please note:

• All ICA employees are required to reside in Massachusetts and within a reasonable commuting distance from our Seaport/Watershed locations as of their first day of work.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as a liaison to visitors while promoting safety of the museum, communicate clearly and consistently with visitors to ensure a positive museum experience while facilitating safe and engaging interactions with artwork
• Remain informed and up-to-date of artwork on view, enhance visitor experience through interpretation and engaging inquiry-based conversation
• Monitor visitors in gallery areas to provide smooth flow of visitation, prioritize artwork and visitor safety during regular museum hours, onsite programs, and special events
• Enforce museum guidelines in a clear and friendly manner
• Work in conjunction with gallery supervisors and security to respond to emergency situations
• Assist with use of educational resources and spaces and promote programs when applicable
• Assist in maintaining inventory of brochures, literature, and gallery resources for the public
• Engage with visitors to answer questions and resolve concerns, partner with gallery supervisors to share feedback and resolve visitor experience concerns
• Report artwork incidents to gallery supervisors
• Additional duties as directed by management

Qualifications:

• Six months or more customer service experience required, preferably in retail, hospitality, or cultural organizations
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced and diverse environment
• Experience with contemporary art, public speaking, and museum education a plus
• Experience with safety protocols is a plus
• Ability to be assertive if needed to enforce museum guidelines
• Solid interpersonal, problem solving and communication skills
• Ability to interact with individuals of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds
• Ability to identify, react to, and resolve visitor-related issues in the moment; strong decision-making skills required
• Bilingual or multilingual a plus
• Must be able to work a weekly set schedule, including some evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Must be available to work May 16—September 2, 2024 (training will be held at Seaport location May 16, 17, and 22)

Physical Requirements:

• Visitor Assistants must adhere to dress code and ICA policies
• Work for this position is performed in a museum setting and involves working with the public and all that entails
• Prolonged periods of remaining stationary, standing, and/or moving about throughout the galleries
• Staff in this position use and/or operate a hand-held radio for communication
• Must be able to exchange accurate information with visitors, staff, departments, and with diverse and multigenerational guests
• Travel to Watershed via water taxi requires traveling down a dock ramp and transferring to the boat (boarding boat requires stepping over/on and three steps down)

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While the above is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

Pay Rate: $18 per hour

Interested candidates should send letter of interest and resume to dpires@icaboston.org. When applying include “Watershed Visitor Assistant” in the subject line of email.