Position Opening:
Visitor Services Coordinator

The Spurlock Museum in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is searching for two Visitor Services Coordinators that will be are responsible for ensuring positive visitor experiences. They are ambassadors of the Museum and promote the Museum's mission and vision to the public. They coordinate front-of-house operations and events and assist with programs, exhibitions, and other projects. They train and supervise student workers.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Visitor Services Coordination:
  • Coordinates the museum’s visitor services and welcomes all visitors and groups to the Museum. Answer questions about collections, events, exhibitions, programs, procedures, and policies. Aid visitors with special needs.
  • Lead tours of exhibits and spaces.
  • Maintain knowledge of current Museum exhibits and programs.
  • Provides backup support for the Manager of Visitor Services and Events and the Senior Assistant Director of Operations, which could include attendance at meetings and assistance with F&S issues.
  • Trains and supervises students employed in the visitor services section.
  • Coordinates the flow of visitors and guests throughout the Museum.
  • Maintain a neat and orderly environment for exhibits and facilities use, ensuring accessibility for the public. Monitors galleries for safety concerns to people, collections, and exhibits.
  • Ensure that special visitor needs, issues, or incidents are addressed appropriately and in a timely manner.
  • Assist with emergency preparedness.
  • Monitors building alarms and opens and closes Museum. Along with other staff, serve on the call list, responding to alarms during and after business hours.
• Events Coordination:
  • Coordinate the planning, execution, performance, and closure of events and programs.
  • Assist museum staff and collaborators with all needs related to event production and planning.
  • Train and supervise student staff members assisting with events.
  • Coordinate, set up and trouble shoot the Museum’s event-related technology (projectors, sound, microphones, computers, etc.) and assist with maintenance.
• Organizational Support:
  • Answer phones and respond to email inquiries. Take messages and route inquiries to appropriate staff.
  • Assisting with special projects.
  • Create reports on Museum activities.
  • Collect, organize, and analyze visitor data through surveys and database reports.
  • Accept and process fees and donations.
  • Support exhibit care and maintenance, including exhibit technology and hands-on interactive elements.
  • Manage deliveries.
  • Other duties as assigned that support the mission of the Spurlock Museum.
• Participation in museum section and museum-wide initiatives and other professional activities that contribute to the missions of the Museum and the University of Illinois:
  • In collaboration with the Assistant Director of Operations and Manager of Visitor Services and Events, actively participate in section goal setting.
  • Under the direction of the Manager of Visitor Services and Events, develop and refine training manuals, communications, and other materials that outline section operations, expectations, and procedures in cultivating a welcoming atmosphere.
  • Attend staff meetings and participate in planning and evaluation of the Museum.
  • Actively participate in creating and reviewing Museum policies and procedures.
  • Serve on Museum working groups and committees.
  • Actively participate in training activities and assist in training new staff members.
  • Actively participate in training about the Museum’s history, exhibitions, mission, programs, and events.
  • May serve on community or campus committees, working groups, or participate in other advisory groups.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in art history, history, anthropology, communications, museum studies, business, hospitality management, or related field.
• Experience working in a Museum, Library, or Arts and Culture organization.
• A total of one (1) year (12 months) in education, training and/or work experience in visitor/guest/client services.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Event planning or staffing experience
• Supervision of student/hourly staff experience
• First Aid/CPR certification

Successful candidates will have:

• knowledge of visitor services and museum best practices, policies, and procedures,
• ability to build rapport and establish effective working relationships with co-workers and stakeholders,
• demonstrated effective communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills,
• commitment to creating an inclusive environment,
• ability to assume responsibility and to work independently with minimum guidance,
• diplomatic, highly ethical and solid integrity,
• ability to work collaboratively,
• ability to be self-motivated, prioritize tasks, and exercise good judgment, and
• ability to lift and move up to 30 pounds with tools and as a member of a team.

Work Schedule

Flexible depending on museum events; nights and weekends required.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 5002 - Program Coordinator position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the deadline date. The budgeted salary range for the position is $43,000–$45,000. We strive to provide a competitive salary, considering factors such as available market data, internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. The final salary offer will be determined through a thorough assessment of these elements. This position will be expected to work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus on a full-time basis per the University of Illinois workplace flexibility guidelines (external link). Sponsorship for Work authorization is not available for this position.

For more information on Civil Service classifications (external link), please visit the SUCSS website.