Jobs, Internships, Volunteering

The Guest Experience Associate is a multi-faceted position that requires an energetic and welcoming individual who thrives in a team environment providing The Nature Museum’s visitors and guests a dynamic experience during their visit to the Museum.

Desired Experience:

Previous customer service experience at a cultural institution such as a museum, art gallery, or theater.

Position Requirements and duties:

• Professional and engaging personality that promotes a spirit of positivity to guests and fellow teammates.
• Providing excellent customer service by centering diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and equity into each interaction
• Greeting guests, processing Museum visitor admission tickets and selling memberships.
• Working the register in the store selling items. As well as stocking, cleaning, and organizing the Museum Store.
• Monitoring our Butterfly Haven Exhibit (special training provided).
• Working the coat check window.
• Assisting with school group processing.
• Support Daily and Special Event program facilitation.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including weekends, evenings and holidays.
• Participating in on site and virtual training pertaining to Museum-relevant subjects
• Other customer service related duties as assigned

How to Apply:

Please send resume and cover letter to hr-geassociate@naturemuseum.org

Starting wage: $ 16.20 per hour

No phone calls please.

Only qualified candidates will be contacted. Please note, this job position is a union position

The Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences is hiring independent contractors to install and dismantle temporary exhibitions in the Special Exhibitions Gallery and for other events during the year on a temporary basis- generally winter, late spring, and early fall.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Requirements vary for each exhibition. Most contractors will be required, under direction of the Exhibit Production Supervisor and/or the Lead Exhibit Fabricator to:

• Assist in preparing the gallery (including new construction, and repainting).
• Assist the forklift operator loading and unloading trucks at the dock.
• Handle crates to and from the dock, the freight elevator and the 2^nd floor gallery.
• Pack and unpack exhibit components and move empty crates to and from storage.
• Distribute and assemble or disassemble components per provided instructions and drawings.
• Assist in hanging, moving, and focusing lighting instruments in the gallery.
• Clear and clean the gallery and the exhibition in preparation for opening.
• Ability to lift and hold up to 60 lbs.
• Familiarity with the safe use of hand and power tools, dock equipment and personal protective gear, and general carpentry/assembly experience are preferred.
• A positive attitude toward the work and the exhibition team, pleasant and professional conduct toward all museum staff and visitors, and self-motivation to complete assigned tasks are required.

Compensation: Compensation starts at $15 per hour working 6-10 hours per day.

Some evenings and/or weekends are required.

How to Apply:

Please send resume to CAScontractor@naturemuseum.org

No phone calls please. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of the organization. We strongly encourage applications from people of color and members of underrepresented groups.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the US. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment Visa at this time.

Reports to: Senior Director of Guest Experience and Engagement

The Opportunity

The Nature Museum seeks an organized and detail-oriented individual with strong communication skills to be the Private Events Specialist. This is a key role in the continued development of our private events capacity. They will lead all steps, start to finish, of the event planning process, for anything like birthdays, graduation parties, work events, weddings, and more. The Private Events Specialist will collaborate with guests and vendors to ensure a seamlessly planned and executed event. Experience in aquariums, zoos, museums, and/or other cultural institutions is desirable, but not essential.

The Ideal Candidate

• Enjoy being with, engaging, and adapting to children

• Positive and outgoing attitude

• Ability to adapt and operate in a dynamic and creative environment

• Excitement for nature

• Strong decision making skills

• Relate to Nature Museum mission and core values

• Ability to work successfully with and support a team and independently

• Customer service or hospitality background

Key Responsibilities of the Private Events Specialist include:

• Manages inquiries for all private events.

• Responsible for providing strategy and oversight of all Nature Museum private events, focusing on impact and efficiencies.

• Coordinates with the Museum team to ensure proper space usage, equipment usage, and staff supports.

• Develops a broad network of vendors for event needs.

• Coordinates with vendors for food, decor, dishware, etc.

• Communicates updates and processes with the guests and ensures a clear expectation of event needs.

• Manages all aspects of planning and executing private events for the Museum including scheduling, coordinating room set-ups, audio/visual coordination, all vendor/caterer coordination and communication, meals, billing and staffing to ensure events run smoothly from beginning to end.

• Ensures private event revenues are meeting monthly and yearly goals with thorough tracking.

• Acts the the primary on-site contact for private events.

• Collaborate with supervisor to identify opportunities to increase revenues and assists with marketing efforts.

• Support internal Museum events.

• Works cross-departmentally to keep the team informed of event needs.

• Stay up to date on best practices and trends in museum and non-museum private events.

• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• At least two years of managing events and vendor relationships or related experience.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

• Attention to detail.

• Comfortable working early mornings and late nights.

• Proven experience generating vendor relationships.

• Proven ability to analyze problems and solutions in a proactive, constructive, and creative manner.

• Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision.

• Curiosity and drive to stay ahead of trends in museum and non-museum private events.

• Ability to forge and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Comfort handling live animals and non-living specimens.

Nice to Have but not required:

• Bilingual Spanish

• Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE)

• Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP)

• Certified Event Planning Specialist (CEPS)

Schedule: Wednesday - Sunday

The Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of the organization. We strongly encourage applications from people of color and members of underrepresented groups.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental + Vision Plans

• Life + Disability Benefits

• 401(k) Savings Plan

• Paid Time Off

• Paid Sick Leave

• Ability to work up to 2 days a week from home depending on events.

Compensation: $40k-$45k yearly.

Please note, this job position is a union position

How to Apply:

Please send a resume and cover letter to hr-privateevents@naturemuseum.org to apply.

The Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of the organization. We strongly encourage applications from people of color and members of underrepresented groups.