Create an accountThe Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.
Join our team of dedicated Visitor and Gallery Assistants (VGAs) at the premier Museum of 20th and 21st Century American Art. As the customer service representatives of the Visitor and Member Experience team, VGAs engage visitors on their journey throughout the Museum.
VGAs promote the Whitney’s broad program and ensure that visitors understand and abide by the Museum’s visitor policies in a warm, welcoming, and professional manner. You will play an integral role in keeping our Museum community safe by ensuring visitors understand visitor policies, and follow current health and safety protocols. VGAs partner with Membership to increase museum revenue by implementing onsite fundraising strategies. Team members are expected to provide excellent customer service and deliver a memorable experience for our visitors and members
Your Safety:
At the Whitney, the safety and security of our staff and visitors are our top priority. Our operational plans are in line with CDC and often exceed public health guidance for reducing the transmission of COVID-19 and are reviewed on an ongoing basis with an outside medical expert. Public-facing staff are issued PPE daily.
General Responsibilities:
- Provide excellent customer service to members and visitors by adhering to the guidelines provided in the Visitor Experience Principles
- Act as an Ambassador for the Museum. Promote offerings like the Shop, membership program, and the overall exhibition program.
- Maintain the health and safety of the entire Museum community by ensuring visitors understand and abide by current health and safety protocols.
- Execute daily logistical operations
- Protect the art by engaging with visitors about prohibited items
- Provide support during after–hours events and programs
SUPPORTING DAILY OPERATIONS:
- Entry validation (ticket scanning) and line management (indoor and outdoor)
- Staff coat check as a part of daily operations and events
- Perform daily duties such as stanchion setup, stocking, tour signs, and other duties as required
- Facilitate and process admissions and membership transactions as needed
- Observe all cash management policies and procedures
- Utilize onsite software systems including accesso–Siriusware (Point-of-Sales ticketing system), Outlook (email), Slack (internal communication platform), and Zendesk (cloud-based customer support software)
IN THE GALLERIES:
- Initiate conversations with visitors, anticipate visitor needs, and respond to visitor questions
- Maintain the integrity of the Whitney’s galleries by ensuring that visitors understand appropriate onsite conduct and the Museum’s visitor policies. Deliver that message in a way that ensures visitors feel welcome
- Keep an open line of communication with colleagues in Security, Facilities, Engineers, AV, Exhibitions, Education, and Retail
- Uphold high standards of customer service and professionalism at all times. Go the extra mile to ensure visitors have an exemplary onsite experience
