Gallery Assistant

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

Job Summary

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, engage with visitors, promote engagement with artworks on view and to assist in protecting artworks. Gallery Assistants field visitor questions regarding exhibitions, artworks on display, visitor amenities, wayfinding, maintain the museum's visitor guidelines, and support academic class visits at SCMA. Gallery Assistants work in a collaborative, team-based environment. They coordinate closely with members of the museum's Safety, Visitor Services, Shop, and Educational teams. Through their work in the galleries, Gallery Assistants support the museum's core values by promoting inclusive, dynamic and safe spaces within the museum for learning. Hours for this position are weekends, Saturday and/or Sunday 10:30-4:15, occasional evening events during the week may also be possible.

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

This is a Casual, non-benefitted position.

Essential Functions

Visitor Experience (85%):

Contribute to a positive, welcoming, and inclusive environment for museum visitors and staff.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Proactively and respectfully address visitor questions about exhibitions, museum amenities, and where to find artworks on view by engaging directly, enthusiastically, and meaningfully with all visitors.
• Remain informed about current and upcoming exhibitions, artworks on view, museum programming, and visitor amenities and resources available.
• 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 Team 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.
• 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.

All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications Required:

• 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 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 (Saturday or Sunday) coverage and occasional evening hours are required of this position.
• Weekly hours worked will average 6-12 per week Saturday and/or Sunday, depending on coverage needs.
• To help visitors identify staff in the museum, Gallery Assistants wear an ID badge, radio with an ear piece and abide by a casual dress code.

Anticipated base pay - $17.49 per hour

Position Type

Please attach BOTH a current resume and a cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position. Be sure you have provided all attachments before submitting your application.

Review of applications will begin

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.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty. The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.