(P/T) Visitor Services Associate at The Swiss Institute
Job Title: Visitor Services Associate
Job Status: Part-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $25.00
Description
Organization Summary
Swiss Institute (“SI”) is an independent non-profit contemporary art institution dedicated to promoting forward-thinking and experimental art making through innovative exhibitions, education, and programs. Committed to the highest standards of curatorial and educational excellence, SI serves as a platform for emerging artists, catalyzes new perspectives on celebrated work, and fosters appreciation for under-recognized positions. Open to the public free-of-charge, SI is committed to being an organization that is diverse, equitable, and accessible in its work, structure, and programming.
Job Summary
SI seeks an enthusiastic and outgoing Visitor Services Associate (VSA) to provide excellent customer service to gallery visitors. The Visitor Services Associate (VSA) helps manage all aspects of visitor experience at SI as the first contact our visitors have with the institution. They serve as both welcoming and engaged ambassadors for SI and as guardians of the artworks on display. The VSA plays a multifaced yet indispensable role, responsible for fielding general inquiries from the public, tracking and recording visitor numbers, filing incident reports, and facilitating the coordination of Gallery Attendant and Security staff daily routines. The VSA plays the most public facing role at SI and will receive training in communication about the art on view as well as safety procedures and New York State security regulations. Candidates must be committed to ongoing professional development as part of their role. The VSA will report to the Visitor Services Coordinator.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Interact with the public and staff in a positive, enthusiastic and welcoming manner
- Act as a proactive ambassador and liaison for SI and the community, supporting SI’s artists, exhibitions, and public programs and being available to answer visitors’ questions
- Ensure the safety of artworks in accordance with established security procedures including, but not limited to: keeping visitors at prescribed distances from artwork; monitoring the flow of visitors in the galleries; and report any incident involving visitors touching or damaging artwork
- Enforce security and safety procedures and protocols in all public spaces of SI, encompassing gallery spaces and roof deck, including but not limited to assisting with evacuation during emergencies, and reporting problems, suspicious activity and safety hazards to a supervisor
- Conduct building opening and closing procedures and report any building issues to the Visitor Services Coordinator and Head of Gallery Operations
- Manage Gallery Attendants, oversee daily GA team meetings and remain current on exhibition or building updates
- Complete all required ongoing training, including but not limited to security training, de-escalation training, and customer service training
- Assist with AV inventory and visitor counter software monitoring
- Act as a liaison between Printed Matter St Mark’s store manager and SI
- Help with other projects as assigned, collaborating with the other full-time employees at SI
- Versatility in assisting other departments when necessary
- Become knowledgeable of SI’s history and mission, including the organization’s ongoing connections to downtown New York
- Communicate with the Visitor Services Coordinator, Head of Gallery Operations, and Facilities staff frequently, as well as other VSAs
- Ongoing maintenance of a well-organized work area at the front desk
Requirements
Qualifications
- Knowledge of contemporary art and comfortable working with the public
- Minimum 2-years’ experience in a visitor-facing role at a cultural institution
- Experience in hospitality, retail, attractions, or cultural organizations preferred
- Foreign language skills a plus
- Ability to work with individuals from a wide variety of ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds
- Ability to identify and positively resolve visitor issues in the moment, with strong decision-making skills
- Effective and persuasive communications skills; able to write and speak clearly and present information to a wide variety of individuals
- Familiarity with Macs and the G-Suite.
- Knowledge of graphic design and the Adobe Suite a plus
- Must be able to work evenings and weekends, as well as special events
Physical Requirements
Must be able to stand and move around SI’s public areas for extended periods of time. Reasonable accommodation will be made for qualified candidates with disabilities.
Schedule
The VSA is a part-time position (15-28 hours per week). They will cover the front desk and other gallery areas as needed during SI’s operating hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 1:30pm-8:00pm, Saturday 11:30pm-8:00pm, and Sunday 11:30pm-6:00pm (hours will vary during install periods). Additional hours will be scheduled for special events.
Compensation
The rate for VSA is $25 per hour, with 40 hours paid sick time per year.
Additional Requirements
Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory background and reference check, which will include verifications of employment and educational records. You must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer.
To Apply
Please submit your resume and letter of interest to jobs@swissinstitute.net with the subject line “Visitor Services Associate”. We will only contact candidates selected for further consideration. No phone inquiries please.
SI is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from BIPOC, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented applicants. SI considers all candidates for employment regardless of race or color, religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, sexual and reproductive health decisions, or any other characteristic protected by law.