Gallery Assistant at Smith College
Job Title: Gallery Assistant
Job Status: full-time
Location: Northampton, MA
If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at recruiting-u@smith.edu.
Job Description
Gallery Assistants are an essential part of SCMA’s visitor experience/front of house team. Gallery Assistants work in the museum galleries during all open hours in order to ensure accessibility, provide excellent customer service and to help protect the art on view. Gallery Assistants field visitor questions regarding exhibitions, artworks on display, visitor amenities and wayfinding, maintain the museum’s visitor guidelines, and support academic class visits in the galleries. Gallery Assistants work in a collaborative, team-based environment and coordinate closely with members of the museum’s Safety, front desk, Shop, and Education teams. Through their work in the galleries, Gallery Assistants support the museum’s core values and help create inclusive and dynamic spaces within the museum for learning and engaging with art. Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College’s efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.
Essential Functions
Visitor Experience 85%:
Contribute to a positive, welcoming, and inclusive environment for museum visitors and staff.Specific responsibilities include:
- Proactively address visitor questions about exhibitions, directions, museum amenities, and where to find artworks on view.
- Remain informed about artworks on view, museum programming, and visitor amenities and resources
- Help maintain supply of in-gallery interpretation materials, including brochures, feedback cards, etc.
- Support SCMA visitor guidelines and visitor experience policies.
- Observe and report safety incidents and concerns to museum Safety staff. Assist in evacuations and emergency response procedures.
- Commit to supporting museum core values and participate in training to center equity and inclusion in visitor experience operations and practices.
- Gallery Assistants will be trained to interact with diverse audiences, to foster connections between visitors and the works of art on view.
Administrative Duties 15%:
Participate in regular training, including training on customer service and evacuation and safety procedures. Attend regular SCMA all-staff meetings. Complete incident reports related to duties and share observations on visitor experience needs with Visitor Experience Manager, Safety Team and other departments in order to continually improve visitor experience at SCMA.
Other Functions
All employees are expected to participate in the College’s efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.
Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, Skills, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licenses)
High school diploma or equivalent with demonstrated experience building positive customer relations. Demonstrated desire to work with and support a diverse learning community. Ability to meet the physical requirements of this position. Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Preferred Qualifications
Bi-lingual or multi-lingual is a plus.
Skills
Proven record of excellent customer service and communication skills; exemplary interpersonal skills; consistent good judgment; ability to respond quickly, calmly and appropriately in emergency situations. Basic computer skills. Promptness, reliability and honesty are required in this position.
Additional Information
Regular weekend (Sunday) coverage and occasional evening hours are required of this position. Weekly hours worked will average 26-32 hours per week, depending on coverage needs. To help visitors identify staff in the museum, Gallery Assistants wear an ID badge and radio with an ear piece and abide by a dress code. Anticipated pay – $17.49 per hour. Please attach/upload a current resume and cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position.
Position Type: Regular
About Smith College
Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.Smith College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or veteran status in the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of any of its programs and activities, as specified by all applicable laws and regulations. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.