Director of Visitor Experience
To Apply For This Position
Please email resume, and the names and contact information for 3 references to:
Include the subject line “Director of Visitor Experience”
Applications should be made to the attention of:
Amanda Schmitt Piha, Associate Director for Operations and Philanthropy
Job Summary:
The position is responsible for overseeing all visitor services operations in the Museum of the Earth, ensuring efficient scheduling, training, and management of staff, and maintaining high standards of visitor interaction and facility upkeep.
Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
Perform duties of a Visitor Services Supervisor.
Schedule and supervise Visitor Services staff for various duties including front desk and Museum events programs.
Recruit and train Visitor Services staff, approve staff hours, and work at the front desk as needed.
Assist in inventory management for the Museum Store and operate the POS system for Admissions and the Museum Store.
Supervise the Retail Services Manager.
Collaborate with other staff in facility rental coordination, including occasional in-person management of rental events.
Collaborate with other staff to order supplies, manage Museum cleaning; organize monthly Museum upkeep.
Collaborate with Outreach/Education staff on Museum events and programs.
Attend and contribute to Staff and Outreach meetings.
Monitor and update Museum accessibility procedures and manage accessibility tools.
Support the Animal department in daily care tasks.
Skills:
Proficient in scheduling and staff management software.
Strong communication and organizational skills.
Ability to operate a POS system and manage inventory.
Competence in Canva for signage creation.
Experience in event coordination and customer service leadership.
Ability to multitask and adapt to unexpected conditions and events.
Education and Training Required:
Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
Training in visitor services management or similar.
Experience Required:
Minimum of 3 years in visitor services or a related field.
Physical Demands:
Ability to stand for extended periods.
Capability to lift and move inventory items.
Work Environment:
Museum and office environment with public interaction.
Occasional outdoor work for events and facility maintenance.
Salary: $52,000- $55,000/yr
Benefits: Dental, Medical, Vision, Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Volunteer Time, Employee Discounts
Job Type: Full Time
Location: In-person
PRI seeks to recruit a diverse group of talented individuals and create an environment in which they can effectively work to advance our mission and to support our vision without discrimination on the basis of an individual’s age, sex, race, creed, color, national origin, degree of disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or veteran status. We are committed to ensuring all our visitors, program participants, supporters, staff, and volunteers feel valued and respected.
The Paleontological Research Institution will require all persons hired as Assistant to the Director to show proof of having received a department of health approved Covid vaccine. This requirement is being instituted to protect the safety and health of PRI employees, and other persons that provide services to this operation and is designed to support the public health objectives of our community, provided this hiring requirement complies with NY State and Federal guidelines and directives
About the Paleontological Research Institution:
The Paleontological Research Institution pursues and integrates education and research, and interprets the history and systems of the Earth and its life, to increase knowledge, educate society, and encourage wise stewardship of the Earth.
The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) was founded in 1932 by Gilbert D. Harris, a professor of geology at Cornell University. Today, PRI houses a collection of more than 7 million fossil specimens, one of the largest in the nation, and publishes scholarly and popular books and periodicals, including the oldest paleontological periodical in the western hemisphere (Bulletins of American Paleontology, begun in 1895). It has active educational outreach programs in Earth and environmental science that serve thousands of students, teachers, and the general public throughout the United States. PRI scientific staff conduct original research in paleontology, geology, evolutionary and marine biology, and science education.
PRI operates two public educational venues, all located on the west side of Cayuga Lake, north of the city of Ithaca, New York: the Museum of the Earth, an 18,000 square foot facility which opened in 2003; the Cayuga Nature Center, which uses its 120 acre site and historic main lodge to provide exhibits and programs that connect visitors to the living natural world and encourage wise stewardship of the Earth.
PRI is an independent not‑for‑profit 501(c)3 organization chartered by the State of New York in 1936. PRI is formally affiliated with, but separate from, Cornell University.