Description
ABOUT US
The Oregon Historical Society is dedicated to making Oregon’s long, rich history visible and accessible to all. For more than a century, the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of artifacts, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and rich as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view.
OHS practices and promotes inclusiveness. We honor the diverse strengths, needs, voices, and backgrounds of all members of our community and are committed to the equitable treatment of all people and the elimination of discrimination in all its forms. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and strongly encourage applications from diverse candidates.
HOW TO APPLY:
Submit the following materials at: Oregon Historical Society - Job Opportunities (paylocity.com)
· Cover letter addressing how your personal and professional experiences have prepared you for this position
· Resume
Employment is contingent on passing a background check.
SUMMARY
The Visitor Experience Associate (VEA) is responsible for creating a positive and welcoming environment for museum and research library visitors, members, donors, school groups, museum store shoppers, and program participants. An integral part of the OHS visitor experience team, the VEA is a flexible, adaptable, positive team player that has the ability to move seamlessly between the admissions desk and museum store.
A key part of the museum store’s retail team, the VEA possesses an in-depth knowledge of the various product lines carried in the museum store to assist customers in making product selections and processing sales transactions. The VEA is responsible for maintaining an extensive knowledge of OHS operations in order to effectively promote membership, programs, exhibitions, library services, and cultivate a positive experience for guests from all backgrounds in support of the Oregon Historical Society’s mission. This is an on-call, as needed position.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Serves as the first point of contact for visitors to the Oregon Historical Society’s museum, research library, administration offices, and museum store. Displays exemplary communication and customer service skills when interacting with customers in person, by phone, or via email. Eagerly and promptly greets visitors and customers to make them feel welcome.
2. Demonstrates an aptitude for learning and adapting to new technology, including various point of sale (POS) systems and internal databases. Accurately records admissions and museum store sales through respective POS interfaces and maintains a sharp attention to detail to ensure tills match daily transaction revenue.
3. Supports the Senior Visitor Experience Manager (SVEM) in facilitating group visits and Traveling Trunk rentals. Welcomes and orients non-school group visits as needed.
4. Serves as a vital extension of OHS’s membership team, increasing financial operating support for the organization through member acquisition and retention, admission sales, and product sales.
JOB DUTIES
The Oregon Historical Society’s visitor experience team supports museum admissions, the museum store, and provides crucial support to the membership team. The Visitor Experience Associate is expected to work at both the Oregon Historical Society’s museum admission desk and in the museum store.
ADMISSIONS DESK RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Welcomes and orients all visitors and serves as an ambassador for the Oregon Historical Society, including by knowing its history, current and upcoming programs, exhibitions, library services, membership, donations, education programs, and visitor policies.
· Addresses visitor questions and concerns in a courteous and inclusive manner. Remains calm under pressure and resolves visitor issues or elevates to the SVEM as appropriate.
· Records museum admissions, memberships, and other sales transactions accurately in the admissions point of sale system.
· Works as an extension of the membership team by promoting admission and membership sales, stuffing large renewal mailings and thank you letters, and processing membership renewals or change of address information in person and over the phone. Maintains complete discretion in all communications about membership and other data to which the position may have access.
· Collaborates with security to enforce and report health and safety issues affecting OHS guests, volunteers, and staff in accordance with current OHS policies and procedures.
· Answers inquiries about group visits and Traveling Trunks and processes related sales utilizing point of sale system.
· Performs additional duties as requested by manager to support the visitor experience, membership, marketing, and events teams in order to achieve organizational goals.
MUSEUM STORE RESPONSIBILITIES:
· As an integral part of the museum store team, the VEA collaborates with SVEM and buyers to identify, set, and achieve sales and customer service goals.
· Assists with the daily in-store accounting for store sales and transmittal of summary sales reports and daily cash receipts to the finance department.
· Assists the SVEM in developing merchandising displays, proper signage, and ensuring that shelves are kept clean and well stocked.
· Helps perform periodic physical inventory counts in addition to providing support during the annual inventory.
· Provides sales and support at special events, such as Hatfield lectures, author appearances, and Holiday Cheer, as requested by manager.
· Helps maintain accurate product information in the museum store’s inventory software as directed by the SVEM.
· Accurately processes sales via the museum store POS maintaining transaction documentation and accounting of the cash in the register.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Maintains an exceptional level of communication with managers and colleagues to ensure timely and efficient exchange of information using email, voicemail, and/or in person meetings.
· Maintains punctual, regular, and predictable attendance.
· Works collaboratively in a team environment with a spirit of cooperation with all OHS staff, volunteers, and interns/volunteers.
· Displays excellent organizational and communication skills including presentation, persuasion, and negotiation skills required in a leadership role working with vendors, coworkers, visitors, and volunteers, including the ability to communicate effectively and remain calm and courteous under pressure.
· Respectfully takes direction from supervisor and collaborates with supervisor on departmental innovations and improvements.
· Has the availability and desire to take on call-shifts as they are available if set schedule does not exceed 40 hours per week.
· Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS
Ability to perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of employee or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
High School graduate. Minimum 2-3 years related experience in retail sales, customer service, guest/member services, or equivalent combination of education or experience. Proven ability to communicate both orally and in writing with a wide variety of individuals. Excellent customer service skills. Demonstrated desire to work with the public. Familiarity with Oregon, Pacific Northwest, and U.S. history is strongly preferred.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
COMPUTER SKILLS
Has moderate computer job skills including logging on to systems, ability to communicate by email, ability to compose documents, enter database information, create presentations, download forms, and preserve/backup important data. Basic knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office Suite is essential. Comfort with learning new technology and an ability to quickly learn and adapt to new software and POS systems.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; climb or balance; and stop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds; regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds; and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds unassisted. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Care and handling of fragile and/or large objects may be required.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to fumes or airborne particles such as dust. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. This position requires extended work hours at busy times of the year. Must be willing and able to work a variable schedule to meet the demands of the position. Required to share office space and equipment with other employees or volunteers of the organization.
COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT
The OHS has adopted a policy where all employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Employees may request an exception from vaccination because of a disability or sincerely held religious beliefs from the HR department. New employees must submit proof of vaccination or a valid exception request by their first day of work.
Salary Description
$18 - $19 hour
