Play Specialist

*Job Opening: *Play Specialist *Reports to:* Visitor Engagement Coordinator *Status:* Part Time (16-25 hours/wk.
) *Location: *Springfield, Il *Start Date: *As Soon As Possible *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.
*Position 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 part-time position with varied hours including holidays and evenings.
Kidzeum will only be open to the public on the weekends after the summer season ends.
Successful candidates must be able to work both Saturdays and Sundays weekly.
* *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 _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:* Visitor Engagement Coordinator *Location: *Springfield, IL *Application Deadline:* Open until filled *Compensation & Benefits:* $14/hr *Schedule: *This position is indicative of Kidzeum's operating hours which changes with the season.
*Currently, this position requires full-day shifts on Saturdays and Sundays.
However, we are looking to expand our open hours and are looking for employees who are available for additional hours.
* *About Kidzeum: *Kidzeum is a wonderful new 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 501(c)3 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.
*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 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.
*TLDR; While this position involves working at the Admissions Desk, it is not considered a "desk job.
" VEAs changes posts from ticketing, to overseeing the exhibit galleries, to maintaining the public spaces' cleanliness.
* This is a part-time position with varied hours including holidays, evenings and weekends.
Saturday and Sunday availability is required.
Weekday afternoons and evenings availability is preferred.
*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 * 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 (removing lodged items, etc.
) * 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 · 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 · Must enjoy working with children; Previous experience working with children preferred · 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 · Theatre experience a plus *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.
_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.
_ Job Type: Part-time Pay: From $14.
00 per hour Benefits: * Employee discount * Professional development assistance Schedule: * 4 hour shift * 8 hour shift * Day shift * Evening shift * Weekends only Application Question(s): * Are you willing to undergo a criminal background check prior to beginning this position? * Kidzeum staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Do you meet this requirement? * When Kidzeum staff are sick, they must be tested for COVID-19 before returning to work and wear a mask in the building when they are sick.
Are you comfortable with these requirements? * Are you available to work some, if not all, shorter shifts during weekday afternoons/evenings? * Do you enjoy engaging with children and adults? * Operational staff are expected to work Saturdays and Sundays each weekend with some exceptions.
Are you available to work on the weekend? * Do you have experience working with children? Please explain.
* Briefly, please describe an activity you think would be fun to do at the museum with visitors.
* Why do you want to work at Kidzeum? * Are you comfortable working in loud and busy environments? Shift availability: * Day Shift (Required) Work Location: In person