Employment

Contact Executive Director Paul Muir at director@theredmill.org

Visitor Services/Gift Shop Assistant

The Red Mill Museum Village in Clinton, NJ, seeks individuals for part time, seasonal positions as tour guide and workshop leaders for our main visitor season in spring and summer. Position Responsibilities:
  • Lead tours of museum grounds and historic buildings describing the history of site; must be able to customize to various groups including elementary school children, Scouts, senior citizen groups, adult groups, and general museum visitors.  Tour guide manual including historic information will be provided.
  • Lead students in hands-on historic workshops. Colonial-era costume is required and will be provided by the Museum.
Position requirements:
  • Training will be provided for all aspects of tours and workshops so that the tour guide/workshop leader can provide coverage wherever needed.
  • Must be able to work within a tight time-frame and keep up with tour schedule.
  • Ability to stand and walk for duration of tour required (some breaks are built into tour schedule). Tours take place outdoors and inside buildings without climate control.
  • Occasional weekends and evenings may be required.
  • Must be able to communicate tour information and answer visitor questions effectively.
  • Friendly and polite manner required – tour guides and workshop leaders are the face of the museum to the public.
  • A love of history and desire to share it with museum visitors is most important – this is an opportunity to be a part of the legacy of a Hunterdon County historic gem.
  • Reports to Assistant Director who will assign calendar dates and communicate schedule to tour guides and workshop leaders prior to tours.
*Please note: this is not an appropriate position for teachers seeking summer employment as our primary need is in the spring for school tours.

Part Time Seasonal Tour Guide/Workshop Leaders

The Red Mill Museum Village hires volunteer (weekday) and paid (weekend) Visitor Services/Gift Shop Assistants to serve as the first point of contact for all visitors. The assistants are responsible for the successful daily operations of all aspects of the visitor experience, including collecting admission, providing information about the museum, selling memberships and gift shop items and generally providing excellent customer service.

Detailed responsibilities include:

  • Greet, orient and direct visitors.
  • Sell admission and program tickets. Record pertinent information on admission sheets.
  • Sell memberships.
  • Provide information on current exhibits and programs.
  • Provide information on the history of the Red Mill and other buildings.
  • Remind visitors of policies when relevant, including no smoking, no pets, etc.
  • In order to provide the above information, become familiar with the materials provided in the Visitor Services and Gift Shop Manual.
  • Assist visitors with local information.
  • Promote the sale of gift shop merchandise.
  • Process all gift shop sales through integrated Point of sale system.
  • Alert office staff of visitors with appointments or questions that require additional assistance.
  • Answer phone.
  • Daily housekeeping, including straightening of merchandise, neatening desk area.
  • Identify yourself to visitors by wearing a name tag or museum-logo shirt.
  • On weekends, open all museum buildings. Disarm and arm security system.

 

Necessary skills/abilities include:

  • Dependability, flexibility, and adaptability.
  • Ability to provide excellent customer service in a friendly, yet authoritative manner.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with individuals of varying social and cultural backgrounds.
  • Ability to understand and follow operating procedures.
  • Ability to read, understand, and complete written and verbal requests and work assignments.
  • Ability to represent the museum with a high level of integrity and professionalism, adhere to museum policies, and support management decisions in a positive manner.
  • Ability to sit and/or stand for long periods of time and stay alert in a quiet environment.
  • Ability to remain calm in stressful situations and help resolve customer complaints with tact and courtesy. 
  • Ability to work well with others and take constructive criticism in a team environment.
  • Ability to handle some physical labor and work in indoor and outdoor environments.
  • Customer service experience desirable.