Play Specialist - SEASONAL

Job Opening: Play Specialist

Reports to: Visitor Engagement Coordinator

Status: Part Time (16-25 hours/wk.)

Location: Springfield, Il

Start Date: May

Application Deadline: Open until filled

Compensation & Benefits: $14/hour

About Kidzeum: Kidzeum is a wonderful family destination in the heart of historic downtown Springfield, IL., whose mission is to serve as a place of learning and discovery through play for children of ALL abilities. Kidzeum is a nonprofit committed to nurturing health and wellness, promoting science education, and to developing environmental and global awareness through innovative programs and exhibits. Learn more at www.kidzeum.org.

Description: Play Specialists are the first point of contact for visitors and are responsible for providing a high-quality experience throughout the entire museum property. Play Specialists focus on FUN by engaging with visitors on multiple customer service levels, including ticketing, live demonstrations, and educational programing. This position will augment the visitor experience with additional information, by creating informal in-gallery activities. Play Specialists will work collaboratively with other staff to brainstorm ideas, prepare and execute programs. Additionally, Play Specialists will maintain a safe, clean, educationally sound, hospitable, and aesthetically pleasing environment at the museum by doing light cleaning throughout their shift, such as resetting and disinfecting exhibit props, and hosting, cleaning and resetting birthday parties and their spaces.

This is a seasonal, part-time position with varied hours including weekends, holidays and evenings. Kidzeum will be open 7 days a week for the summer season. Onboarding and training will begin in May. This position will end in August.

Duties and Responsibilities: Play Specialists are essential to the visitor experience, so enthusiasm while performing tasks is critical. Play Specialists will:

Project a positive image, serving as an ambassador for Kidzeum
Facilitate and initiate interactions with adults and children to deepen their learning experiences during exhibit play and through the facilitation of programs
Be responsible for floor operations, visitor safety, and exhibit/program readiness
Complete all transactions through the Point-of-Sale system accurately and efficiently
Be responsible for daily sanitizing, including restocking restroom
Perform minor exhibit troubleshooting and complete weekly safety checks
Provide excellent customer service including providing information to visitors, assisting visitors during incidents and complaints in a professional and polite manner, and deferring situations to the manager-on-duty (MOD) or senior staff as needed
Book rentals and group sales reservations, following up with clients
Demonstrate a thorough understanding of Kidzeum’s mission, philosophy, policies and procedures
Actively participate in all provided training classes and properly implement newly learned skills
Recognize, appreciate and mentor volunteers; advocate for the volunteer experience
Be responsible for following proper opening and closing procedures for museum floor, as assigned
Perform group orientations and follow-up procedures, as assigned
Ensure that the Kidzeum’s rules and safety protocols are followed by all guests entering the museum
Adhere to appropriate dress code
Encourage communication and enhance team support/spirit among the Kidzeum staff
Other duties as assigned

Secondary Responsibilities:

Assist Visitor Services, Education/Programs, or Building/Exhibit Maintenance staff, as needed
Serve on cross-departmental committees as designated by supervisor

Qualifications, Skills and Abilities:

Must enjoy working with children! Previous experience working with children preferred.
1+ year of customer service experience required
Must be 18 or older
Public speaking or theater experience preferred
Have an outgoing personality and be enthused to interact with guests of all ages and colleagues
Be open to multiple points of view and avenues for problem solving
Degree in, or in pursuit of, Early Childhood and/or Elementary Education, or related field, a plus.
Verbal communication skills
Able to work with and around people of diverse backgrounds
Must be able to walk, stand, and interact with the public for long periods of time
Be well organized and have a close attention to detail
Must be able to work a flexible schedule to include weekends, holidays, and special events
The following abilities are required for the position: (a) Visually keep track of visitors, materials and exhibit functioning on the museum floor; (b) Comprehend and speak English extensively and clearly with the public; (c) Hear children’s voices; (d) Assist visitors in emergency situations; (e) Display dexterity necessary to maintain exhibits and exhibit environments; (f) Manipulate exhibit components and facility operating/maintenance equipment; (g) Stand, kneel and move among exhibits for extended periods of time; (h) Climb up and down stairs or use an elevator daily (i) Bend, kneel, climb and reach; (j) Display rapid response times; (k) Lift 25 pounds; (l) Tolerate noise and dust in the environment and handle disinfectant and cleaning materials
Clearance of a criminal background check
Fluency in other languages aside from English, a plus
Other duties as assigned

Physical Demands & Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Physical requirements may include stooping, kneeling, bending, standing. Lifting and transporting of moderately heavy objects, such as equipment, boxes, etc. may be included.

Application Process: Please submit a resume and two references to Kaitlyn Miller, Assistant Director, at kaitlyn.miller@kidzeum.org.

Kidzeum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Additionally, we strive to make the Kidzeum community – staff, visitor base, programs, and exhibitions – representative of the diversity of the city of Springfield and Central Illinois, and to carry forth the spirit of access, inclusion, and equity in all we do. If you need an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at: info@kidzeum.org.

Job Opening: Visitor Experience Associate – Part-Time

Reports to: Assistant Director

Location: Springfield, IL

Application Deadline: Open until filled

Compensation & Benefits: $14/hr

Position Description: Visitor Experience Associates (VEAs) are the first point of contact for visitors and are responsible for providing a high-quality experience throughout the entire Kidzeum property. VEAs will engage with visitors on multiple customer service levels, including ticketing, gallery interactions, handling birthday party reservations and educational programing. VEAs are expected to augment the visitor experience with additional information and informal in-gallery activities. Like all positions at Kidzeum, VEAs also work collaboratively with other departments on various tasks where needed. In addition, VEAs are responsible for maintaining a safe, clean, educationally sound, hospitable, and aesthetically pleasing environment at the museum. The ideal candidate for this position must understand that Kidzeum is a nonprofit, which often requires all staff to be assisting across departments to ensure we are serving our community.

Visitor Experience Associates (VEAs) are the first point of contact for visitors and are responsible for providing a high-quality experience throughout the entire museum. VEAs will engage with visitors on multiple customer service levels, including ticketing, gallery interactions, and educational programing. VEAs are expected to augment the visitor experience with additional information and informal in-gallery activities. This position also works collaboratively with other staff to ensure a warm, welcoming approach to visitors. In addition, VEAs are responsible for maintaining a safe, clean, educationally sound, hospitable, and aesthetically pleasing environment at the museum. This position includes general cleaning throughout the shift, such as disinfecting, restocking bathroom supplies and dusting.

Because Kidzeum is a small nonprofit, it is essential that staff are cross-trained and that they are comfortable doing some tasks that might fall outside of their primary duties, but which are important to the operation of the museum. This may include directly interacting with children! It is, therefore, REQUIRED that all Kidzeum staff members in public-facing roles enjoy working with children and are also comfortable being around children who may expose them to germs circulating in the community.

This is a part-time position with varied hours including holidays and evenings. Kidzeum is currently only open to the public on the weekends. Successful candidates must be able to work both Saturdays and Sundays.

This is a part-time position with varied hours including holidays, evenings and weekends. Weekend availability is required.

This position is seasonal, beginning in May through the start of September. Exceptions for students returning to school are permitted.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide high quality customer service to all visitors
Work with a service mindset, helping Kidzeum deliver its core mission
Project a positive image, serving as an ambassador for Kidzeum
Maintain proper cashier operations by following policies and procedures; reporting
needed changes
Complete all transactions through the Point-of-Sale system accurately and efficiently
Facilitate and initiate interactions with adults and children to deepen their learning experiences during exhibit play and through the facilitation of programs
Relay accurate information about planned programs and events to guests
Be responsible for daily sanitizing, including restocking and spot-cleaning restrooms
Lead or assist special programs and activities within the museum
Be friendly and outgoing
Book rentals and group sales reservations, following up with clients
Handle customer service issues and questions in a professional, polite, and positive manner
Actively participate in all provided training classes and properly implement newly learned skills
Ensure that the Kidzeum’s rules and safety protocols are followed by all guests entering the museum
Perform basic exhibit maintenance and complete weekly safety checks
Ability and willingness to be cross-trained to assist in other areas of the museum
Other duties as assigned

Qualifications, Skills and Abilities:

1+ year of customer service experience
Must be 18 or older
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and communicate effectively with visitors in both conveying information and listening to their questions and complaints
Have an outgoing personality and be enthused to interact with guests and colleagues
Be open to multiple points of view and avenues for problem solving
Experience working with children
Able to work with and around people of diverse backgrounds
Must be able to walk, stand, and interact with the public for long periods of time
Be well organized and have a close attention to detail
Comfortable with serving people of all backgrounds
Must be able to work a flexible schedule to include weekends, holidays, and special events
The following abilities are required for the position: (a) Visually keep track of visitors, materials and exhibit functioning on the museum floor; (b) Comprehend and speak English extensively and clearly with the public; (c) Hear children’s voices; (d) Assist visitors in emergency situations; (e) Display dexterity necessary to maintain exhibits and exhibit environments; (f) Manipulate exhibit components and facility operating/maintenance equipment; (g) Stand, kneel and move among exhibits for extended periods of time; (h) Climb up and down stairs or use an elevator daily (i) Bend, kneel, climb and reach; (j) Display rapid response times; (k) Lift 25 pounds; (l) Tolerate noise and dust in the environment and handle disinfectant and cleaning materials
Clearance of a criminal background check
Fluency in other languages aside from English, a plus
Theatre experience a plus

Application Process: Please send a resume and two references to Kaitlyn Miller, Assistant Director at Kaitlyn.Miller@kidzeum.org

Kidzeum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Additionally, we strive to make the Kidzeum community – staff, visitor base, programs, and exhibitions – representative of the diversity of the city of Springfield and Central Illinois, and to carry forth the spirit of access, inclusion, and equity in all we do. If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at info@kidzeum.org.

Play Specialist - SEASONAL

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