museum experience associate
(part-time)
National Children’s Museum is a world-class institution dedicated to sparking children’s imaginations and encouraging them to dream big. Located steps off the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue, National Children’s Museum celebrates the joy of childhood through playful science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) exhibits and programs. As a Museum Experience Associate, you will help realize this vision for hundreds of thousands of in-person and virtual visitors who engage with the Museum each year.
what you’ll do
As a Museum Experience Associate (MEA), reporting to the Visitor Experience Coordinator, you will be a critical member of the team. You will make the Museum come to life by playing and interacting with our guests, supporting Museum educational activities, programs, and events, and making the Museum a welcome, exciting, and accessible space for all guests.
Promote a welcoming environment by engaging with children and families to maximize learning and enjoyment in the Museum;
Provide excellent customer service and a fun experience for all guests;
Provide guests with information regarding Museum exhibits, programs, and services;
Attend and participate in regularly scheduled staff meetings and trainings;
Perform exhibit start up and shut down as assigned on the daily staff schedule;
Clean, sanitize, and tidy exhibit areas throughout the day;
Lead onsite pop-up programs and birthday parties for a variety of audiences;
Support educators during field trips, family programs, and special events, and assist with crowd control;
Adhere to Museum policies and procedures;
Encourage compliance with and enforce COVID-19 specific guest policies; and
Welcome other tasks and responsibilities as needed to ensure the Museum’s success.
what we believe are important experiences + traits for this role
Comfortable working with children and their caregivers;
Previous experience with young children and their families in recreational settings or experience in retail, sales or customer service preferred;
Ability to work well with a diverse group of staff and guests;
Exhibit patience, professional demeanor, and even temper in stressful and changing situations;
Ability to communicate and interact with children, adults, and large groups in a fast-paced, high-volume environment;
Ability to observe and learn from visitor feedback and behavior;
High school diploma or equivalent experience;
Fluency in a second language, a plus; and
Must be able to pass a criminal background check.
physical demands + working environment
Ability to remain in stationary position for long periods, move up to 50 lbs., and position self to interact with children in our exhibits, including a three-story climber and slide;
Occasional work outdoors;
Fast-paced, highly-sensory, stimulating work environment due to constant interaction with other staff and visitors, which includes children;
Punctuality and attendance are required for all assigned shifts;
Availability on weekends, evenings, and holidays, especially during peak seasons; and
Uniform/dress code (masks are optional for guests and staff).
hours
Part-time position located at National Children’s Museum @ 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW. The workweek for this position is Wednesday-Monday. The Museum is closed to the public on Tuesdays. The position offers up to 32 hours per week. Schedule to be determined with supervisor based on availability and Museum needs. Working special events, evenings, and holidays will be necessary.
compensation
$18.50/hour
Interested candidates should complete this short questionnaire to submit alongside a resumé and cover letter. All materials should be sent to [email protected] with the subject line: Museum Experience Associate.
what we value
Our mission is to inspire children to care about and change the world. The Museum is an innovative institution that sparks curiosity and wonder and a space where children feel valued. In order to do this well, we need a team that reflects the dynamic and diverse communities that we serve and brings a variety of perspectives, abilities, and skills. We embrace that this work is critical to our mission and never finished. The more inclusive we are, the stronger our Museum.