Reports to: Tier 1 Manager
Department: Museum Business Services
Position Type:  Part-time, Hourly (20-29 hours per week), Non-Exempt
Salary: $13.50/hr
Benefits:  Not Eligible

Summary of Position

Tacoma Art Museum (TAM) seeks energetic and approachable team members to fulfill various customer service and security oriented duties. Ideal candidates will have a background in customer service, be able to maintain a positive attitude under stress, and have an enthusiastic and amiable demeanor to provide a positive museum experience for visitors.

Primary duties include fulfilling gallery monitor functions to protect the art on display, assisting in resolving emergency situations, demonstrating proactive problem-solving resolutions of visitor issues, and maintaining the appearance, tidiness, and functionality of the public spaces.

Other duties include working cross-departmentally to assist with after-hours events and assisting with set-up and take down, monitoring control room security cameras, and fulfilling customer service duties as necessary.

This position will work closely with and report to the Tier I Manager daily.

Responsibilities

Customer Service

• Providing information to visitors in galleries about artwork on display and information about the museum
• Perform creative and proactive problem-solving and resolutions of visitor issues
• Identify and perform duties to maintain the appearance of public spaces
• Attend planned Museum Business Services meetings, as well as with other departments such as Education, Curatorial, Marketing, or Development

Safety and Security

• Roam gallery spaces and approach visitors to enforce gallery guidelines while graciously educating visitors about the appropriate care of the works
• Monitor control room cameras to ensure safety and security of museum spaces and artwork
• Work with Museum Business Managers to dynamically assess and report threats to museum property and art on display
• Follow protocol and procedure during art incidents and medical emergencies

Cross Departmental Duties

• Provide support for catering and after hours’ events, including setup and breakdown of furniture and customer service duties.

Perform other duties as assigned.  

Qualifications

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule from week to week including evening and weekends
• Ability to deliver positive, friendly, and engaging customer service
• Commitment to team approach and ability to collaborate openly
• At least one year of customer service, retail, hospitality or similar experience
• Solid organization and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication skills (written, oral, visual)
• An interest in studio art, art history, or museum field preferred
• Catering, events-staff, or similar experience preferred

To Apply

• Please email a completed job application,   with a cover letter and resume to HR@TacomaArtMuseum.org.
• Include “MBS_Tier1: First Name_Last Name” in subject line.
• No phone inquiries, please.

Resume review will begin immediately.   Position is open until filled.

Tacoma Art Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Tacoma Art Museum strongly encourages applicants from members of groups underrepresented in careers related to museums and the visual arts.

About Tacoma Art Museum

Tacoma Art Museum is a public-spirited institution with nationally recognized exhibitions and innovative educational programs. Named by  USA Today  as one of the “Top 10 Great Places to See Art in Smaller Cities,” the museum has developed a reputation for presenting art in a thought-provoking yet accessible manner with a strong commitment to Northwest art through its acquisition and exhibition programs. Founded in 1935, the museum has strong roots in the community and anchors Tacoma’s lively downtown university and museum district.

Completed in November 2014, an additional $15.5-million building project has added approximately 16,000 square feet, and houses the  Haub Family Collection of Western American Art. This collection establishes TAM as the only major museum of Western American art of this caliber in the Northwest. It also enables the museum to fully explore the art history of the West while integrating its Western and Northwest collections.

Another significant gift announced on January 14, 2016 is the gift of the  Rebecca and Jack Benaroya Collection. The Benaroyas carefully assembled over their 70 years of marriage a collection that  includes Northwestern and international studio art glass along with important paintings and sculptures by renowned regional artists. The gift, announced on Mrs. Benaroya’s 93^rd  birthday, includes a contribution for the construction of a new 7,390 square-foot gallery addition in which to present the collection.  The new wing has been designed by award-winning architect Tom Kundig of Seattle-based Olson Kundig and opened in January 2019.

It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Tacoma Art Museum family!

About Tacoma

Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Tacoma is known as the City of Destiny, a city that has always marched to the beat of its own drum. Close enough to Seattle to take advantage of everything a major metropolis offers, Tacoma is its own distinctly unique and actively engaged community with a clear love of the arts.

Diverse individuals and families continue to invest in Tacoma for its charming historic neighborhoods, schools, parks, waterfront, and amenities. You’ll find the beaches and forests of Puget Sound ideal to bike, run, hike, and paddle – including the nearby Mount Rainier. In addition to sports, theater and other cultural offerings, Tacoma is home to a growing restaurant and pub scene that’s made national press. The thriving Tacoma Museum District lines the downtown core and showcases some of the nation’s best collections. Tacoma is a great place to call home.