Visitor Service Associate

Position description

The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) is a nonprofit institution that engages audiences in an ongoing dialogue, in which people of all backgrounds are able to see American history and society through a critical lens, to reflect on their own experiences, and to make meaningful connections between the past and the present, the global and the local, themselves and others. MOCA celebrates the living history of the Chinese experience in America by preserving and presenting the two century-long history, heritage, culture, and diverse experiences of American communities of Chinese descent. As one of "America's Cultural Treasures," MOCA is devoted to educating the public on this important history and to inspiring meaningful intercultural dialogues through exhibitions, education, and public programs. Since its founding in 1980, MOCA has evolved from a Chinatown history project in New York City into an ambitious reflection of the whole of Chinese American history, becoming the country’s leading museum of Chinese American history and a global destination.

Reporting to the Venue Manager, the Visitor Service Associate will assist in providing a welcoming experience for MOCA’s diverse audiences. As a person who is the first point of contact for our visitors, the Associate is an ambassador for the Museum and should represent the Museum in the best light possible by being friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and engaging. This is a part-time, hourly, non-exempt position. The Visitor Service Associates are typically scheduled for 8 to 24 hours (1 – 3 days) per week. The salary is $20/hour.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the daily operations of the admissions desk with a focus on visitor service
• Ensuring adherence to admission procedures, that outgoing information is current and accurate
• Maintain a well-informed, working knowledge of the exhibitions, programs, and services available at MOCA; handle public relations responsibilities by providing information about MOCA, its services, programs, and initiatives
• Serve as an advocate for the visitor while simultaneously promoting the welfare of MOCA; communicate with a variety of visitors with diverse interests and abilities to ensure a positive museum experience
• Work with the Education and Public Programs department in staffing the front desk, programs, and events including weekends and some evenings and holidays
• Work with security personnel to maintain orderly and safe flow of visitors
• Keep accurate maintenance of cash drawer and donation box during their shift
• Assist with daily opening and closing procedures
• Assist with general administrative and clerical work, including filing, photocopying, and mailing 
• Perform other duties within the Operations and Programming departments, as needed

Requirements/Qualifications

• High School or Equivalency Diploma required. Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• Experience with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. Knowledge of database management is a plus
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; self-confident and articulate; motivated self-starter
• Strong writing abilities and fluency in speaking English a must; additional fluency in Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) desired but not required
• An interest in working with the public, with the ability to interact pleasantly and professionally with local and international visitors, members, patrons, and Museum staff
• Experience with visitor services principles, practices, and procedures; knowledge of arts/culture audiences a plus
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment; handle multiple tasks simultaneously and prioritize accordingly; adhere to deadlines; and flexibility to handle shifting demands
• Ability to enforce museum policies and procedures while maintaining superior customer service
• Ability to troubleshoot customer service and technological issues; assessing when to escalate to management
• Must be able to work in a collaborative team environment, but also independently as needed
• Weekend availability required, some holiday and special after-hours event availability necessary

The Museum of Chinese in America is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Candidates who advance to interviews will be contacted directly.

We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role.

Application instructions

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