Downtown Gallery Assistant (Part-Time)

About the role

Job Description Department: Museum Community and Visitor Engagement - JM Pay Rate Type: Hourly Employee Type: Job Summary: The downtown gallery assistant position at Colby College Museum of Art provides a positive and welcoming presence for visitors of all ages at the museum's Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery, located in the Paul J. Schupf Art Center, located in downtown Waterville, Maine. In addition to being the museum's primary day-to-day presence in the space to welcome and support public visitors to the gallery, the downtown gallery assistant is also responsible for ensuring smooth logistical and administrative operations as well as effective adherence to security and safety protocols in the space. The successful candidate will work under the direction of the Museum's Learning and Engagement Coordinator and also will work closely with the museum security manager and members of the engagement team. This position is up to 20 hours per week that will require work on weekends and evenings, reflective of operating and programmatic hours. The ideal candidate will be punctual, friendly, detail oriented, and adaptable to changing situations. This person should feel comfortable asking questions in order to prioritize a wide variety of tasks. THE MUSEUM AND ITS MISSION Located in Waterville, Maine, the Colby Museum opens access to art and artists for the Colby community, for Maine residents and visitors, and for audiences beyond, creating a forum for experimentation, research, dialogue, and connection. We grow and use our stellar collection in ways that activate the power of art to expand imagination and forge new connections, fostering a more open, creative, and compassionate society. We teach to inspire and open possibilities, so that students at Colby and other visitors can become more curious, nimble, and able to contribute within a changing world, in keeping with Colby's dynamic liberal arts mission. We incubate art scholarship and practice in ways that explore and expand how the idea of America is understood and how art is made, interpreted, and shared. We do so by supporting new research, providing mentorship, and convening a diversity of people and perspectives. The Lunder Institute for American Art and our exhibitions, programs, and publications facilitate field-wide impact. We are committed to our audiences, including the Colby College community, residents of Waterville and the broader Maine region, national and international visitors, and the artists, scholars, and partners with whom we collaborate. Essential Functions To perform successfully in this position, an individual must be able to perform essential duties satisfactorily as well as possess education/experience, employ the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed in representative fashion. Colby College actively supports the Americans with Disabilities Act and will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. This listing of essential duties is not all-inclusive, but representative; other duties may be assigned. Offer a positive and welcoming presence for visitors of all ages at the museum's Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery of Art, providing excellent customer service and informational assistance related to exhibitions and programs in the museum's gallery and the Schupf Art Center. Monitor activity in the gallery and ensure that all visitors adhere to museum protocols and policies. Maintain an alertness for unusual or suspicious activity and deal with various levels of incidents as necessary, including first response in an emergency; report security violations and write incident reports when necessary. Serve as a liaison and primary point of contact to the Schupf Art Center's building manager to ensure smooth operation of gallery space and report any facility-related needs or emergencies, keeping the museum's security manager and deputy director informed and/or seeking additional guidance when issues arise. Work closely with learning and engagement staff on logistics for public and academic programs in downtown gallery, communicating and sharing information with internal stakeholders; preparing resources; and tracking visitor information. Assist in program execution by providing logistical support as needed towards setting up event spaces and communicating with guests, visitors, and colleagues. This includes evening and weekend events. Contribute to a hospitable environment for guest speakers, tour groups, and pre K-12 groups by assisting with logistical arrangements, and attending to speakers; and school visit needs during their visit to the gallery. Provide logistical support for downtown programs, workshops, and training sessions that involve community members , students, teaching artists, interns, and other student workers. Participate in regular meetings with engagement colleagues at the museum and Waterville Creates partners downtown to maintain effect