Visitor Service Associate (Part-Time) - Art Museums

Who We Are

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is "that the future may learn from the past" through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia's colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.

Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 88 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.

Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today's evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

About the Position

The Visitor Services Associate ("VSA") greets and orients museum guests at the Museums' entrance desk in WOLF HALL and at the desk in the HURST GALLERY. Additionally, the VSA informs incoming guests of the Museums' admission policies as well as prohibited items, and where guests may store those items that are not permitted in the galleries. VSAs assist with opening and closing procedures according to museum polices.

• Welcomes arriving guests enthusiastically and professionally.
• Verifies valid admissions tickets and/or passes
• Offers general orientation to museums.
• Observes, responds to, and/or immediately reports security and safety issues, and
• Prepares for the daily activities and operations

Essential Functions:

• WOLF HALL station (specific) - Welcomes guests courteously, informs visitors of the Art Museums' admission policy, and directs museum guests where and how to obtain admission tickets and/or museum program tickets.
• HURST GALLERY station (specific) - Welcomes guests courteously and verifies that all guests entering the WILSON FAMILY GALLERY have valid admissions tickets or passes.
• All VSAs:
• Thoroughly observes every incoming guest to identify items that are prohibited in the galleries and direct guests to use the free lockers and to assist as needed.
• Request assistance from Art Museums' Public Safety officers as necessary for guests with prohibited items or who refuse to cooperate with museum policies.
• Provide brief orientation about museum exhibits and programs as needed or requested, while efficiently processing valid admission ticket holders
• Address general visitor questions about Colonial Williamsburg, the Historic Area, as well as dining and shopping opportunities.
• Address museum guests' concerns, guest-related situations, and successfully resolve problems. Contact the VSA Lead, Manager of Museum Operations, or Art Museums' Public Safety to assist.
• Attends required Colonial Williamsburg and Art Museums' training sessions, VSA meetings, and other called meetings to enhance knowledge of museums and CWF
• Facilitate productive working relationships with the VSA team, Museums' staff, and other CWF colleagues.

Required and Preferred Education and Experience:

Required: Generally gained through high school education or equivalent certification, plus a minimum of 1-2 years' experience in a position with public contact.

Preferred: Previous interpretive experience, previous customer service or visitor services experience at Colonial Williamsburg Foundation or another museum or historic site preferred.

Qualifications:

• Strong communications skills in the English language.
• Enthusiasm, and an interest in working directly with the public.
• Ability to learn a body of information, and accurately convey the information to visitors.
• Have an interest in Colonial Williamsburg history and the ability to learn historical information.
• Must demonstrate diplomacy, empathy, and problem-solving skills.
• Must be able to interact, engage, listen and speak clearly with the public for long periods of time.
• Dependability and initiative in applying Art Museums' policies and procedures.
• Must be able to work as part of a team.
• Ability to perform tasks without direct regular supervision.
• Must be willing to work morning and afternoon shifts, weekends and holidays as needed.
• Must be willing to work late evenings, as needed, for special events.
• Must have the flexibility to pivot due to sudden scheduling changes, and/or to adapt to different work assignments.