The Visitor Experience Associate will join the Visitor Experience team at an especially exciting time at the Center, as we open Anne Frank: The Exhibition, a major new work from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, and Ruth’s Bookstore, our newly constructed gift shop. Under the supervision of the Manager of Visitor Experience, the Associate will play an integral role in welcoming thousands of new visitors through our doors, and ensuring the highest level of service for museumgoers, researchers, staff, and other guests.

Responsibilities

• Welcome all visitors to the Center at the front desk.
• Provide information to visitors on exhibitions, programs, the Reading Room and Genealogy Institute, membership and donations, the bookstore, space rentals, and other Center and partner offerings.
• Answer phone and email inquiries, and direct calls and emails to appropriate staff.
• Sell exhibition tickets on eTix in person, and reserve slots for group visits over the phone and email.
• Resolve problems in a professional and timely manner to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Greet guests of employees and inform employees of their guests' arrivals.
• Maintain a well-informed, working knowledge of current and upcoming exhibitions and programs.
• Assist with general administrative tasks including visitor statistic tracking, restocking supplies and print materials, and keeping the front desk organized and tidy.
• Sort and distribute incoming mail and prepare outgoing mail for Center and partner staff.
• Look up and update membership statuses on Blackbaud NXT.
• Support ticketing, coat check, and bookstore staff as needed.
• Direct traffic in the Lobby as needed, ensuring the efficient and safe flow of visitors.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in customer service or visitor experience.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with visitors, team members, and stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to use computer software with ease and comfortability learning new software.
• Ability to remain calm and make effective decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• A passion for assisting members of the public and providing outstanding visitor support.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by front desk needs.

• Experience in a museum or cultural institution front desk or visitor experience role.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Knowledge of visitor experience trends, technologies, and best practices.
• Special interest in museums, cultural institutions, history, and/or Jewish culture.
• Familiarity with Blackbaud or other donor CRM software.

Physical Demands

The employee will need to sit or stand in one place for extended periods of time, use a computer, and communicate verbally. The front desk is wheelchair accessible, as are all floors and most restrooms in the building.

The Center for Jewish History is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to diversity and inclusion. Qualified individuals who bring diverse perspectives to the workplace are especially encouraged to apply.

To apply, please send cover letter and resume to hr@cjh.org. No phone calls please.

In today’s competitive retail environment, superb customer service and staff who are intimately familiar with the product they are selling are critical to achieving the Retail Strategic Objectives. Friendliness, composure, the ability to work as a team, and open-mindedness are qualities all Ruth’s Bookstore staff should possess. They must be professional, results oriented, and knowledgeable about the merchandise, and able to communicate this information to the customer. In addition, the Store staff must have a demonstrated sales ability, a facility with computers, and a comfort with financial transactions. An appreciation for maintaining a visually inspiring store at all times will be part of every staff member’s profile.

In their role as floor staff, they form an important link in the feedback loop of communication to the Retail Manager regarding Shop visitors’ comments, criticisms, and suggestions.

Role Overview

Sales Associates report directly to the Retail/Floor Manager and represent the Center for Jewish History by providing excellent customer service and maintaining courtesy toward visitors. They greet and assist customers in a friendly, professional manner as outlined in the Store Training Manual. Sales Associates must be knowledgeable about the products and relevant background information to help customers appreciate the value of the items offered. As frontline staff at the Center for Jewish History, Sales Associates should be fluent in the services the Center provides and promote the Center’s mission, exhibitions, educational and public programs, special events, and membership sales.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to

• Assisting Floor Manager with all sales floor initiatives.
• Supporting the opening and closing of the store, and the handling of the end of day reconciliations.
• Performing accurate sales transactions to ensure cash handling and inventory control.
• Being knowledgeable of store sales goals and actively participate in the achievement of sales goals.
• Providing exceptional customer service, including greeting visitors, processing transactions, wrapping purchases, and sharing product knowledge.
• Answer product questions knowledgeably and educate Shop visitors on the materials and processes involved in the making of the artist-made merchandise in order to assist customers in appreciating the value of the merchandise presented.
• Being knowledgeable in the procedures for special orders, as well as the shipping policies and procedures of the Shop.
• The maintenance, upkeep, and re-stocking of the sales floor.
• Being responsible for maintaining the high visual standards of the Store through restocking and the overall upkeep of the sales floor.
• Answering product questions and educating visitors about the materials and processes behind the merchandise.
• Packing and gift-wrapping purchases in alignment with the Store and Center’s image as specified by the Director of Retail Operations.
• Understanding procedures for special orders, shipping policies, and other store operations.
• Maintaining high visual standards through restocking and ensuring the sales floor is tidy.
• Responsible for maintaining clear consistent levels of customer service on the sales floor  that reflects favorably on the Center and the Bookstore, including greeting visitors, efficient transaction processing and wrapping at the register, product knowledge, and coordinating staff breaks and lunches as scheduled.
• Building an ongoing and loyal clientele through the delivery of consistent levels of customer service that reflect favorably on the Museum and store.
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with visitors, team members, and stakeholders at all levels
• Proficiency in computer applications
• Ability to remain calm and make effective decisions in a fast-paced environment
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by Store schedule.
• Knowledge of trends, technologies, and best practices in the retail field.
• Interest in and knowledge of Jewish history and culture.

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 stand, move around the Center building (all floors accessible by elevator). The employee is occasionally required to lift weight boxes (up to 30 lbs.) and furniture (rolling tables, chairs, etc.).

The Center for Jewish History is committed to diversity and inclusion. Qualified individuals who bring diverse perspectives to the workplace are especially encouraged to apply.

The Center for Jewish History is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please submit a cover letter and resume to hr@cjh.org. No phone calls please.