Retail Associate Part-time

Position Summary

The Retail Sales Associate strives to foster a welcoming and engaging environment to ensure guests of all backgrounds and abilities can make personal connections to history. Associates are almost always the first and/or last people visitors meet and have the important responsibility and opportunity as the face of the institution to plug visitors into all the Missouri Historical Society has to offer. The primary goal of each visitor interaction is to create a meaningful experience that encourages repeat visits, excitement about the history of St. Louis and, in turn, a desire to support the work of the Missouri Historical Society via gift shop purchases, membership, donation, or volunteering.

Scheduled shifts may vary weekly depending on the Museum's programs, private rentals, and events. The Museum is closed on Mondays. This position will be expected to regularly work a variable schedule including evenings and weekends.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Assist in daily shop operations - assist with cleaning, organizing products, restocking products, making sales, maintaining shop displays, filling orders, and managing customer holds and requests.
• Complete retail sales, membership, and donation transactions via the shop's point of sale systems.
• Work individually and as a team to foster a welcoming and engaging environment so all guests can make personal connections to history.
• Proactively interact with guests at many points during their visit, from the moment they enter the doors through the moment they head back out into Forest Park.
• Stay current on all MHS exhibitions, events, and programs.
• Assist visitors with wayfinding through the Museum and Forest Park.
• Follow best practices in accessibility to ensure that visitors of all backgrounds and abilities experience facilities and exhibits.
• Assist inter-departmental staff in facilitating our signature events and programs by helping with traffic flow and activities, communicating with other staff to ensure safety of visitors and proper use of facilities, and aiding with other duties as assigned.
• All other duties as assigned.

Skills:

• A desire for and enjoyment of conversation and interactions with the visiting public.
• Ability to handle occasional high stress situations with the public, anticipating and addressing problems with professionalism and empathy.
• Ability to inclusively work with diverse audiences including making accommodations for people with disabilities.
• A team player.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to comfortably use or learn to use Windows-based computers, tablets and laptop devices and software associated with the role, including TAM retail software, Altru, and Outlook.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment in which schedules and details are often changing.
• A passion for St. Louis, its history, and its people.

Education and Experience:

• High School diploma or GED.
• An adaptable, engaging, and welcoming presence with a visitor-centered mindset.
• Flexible schedule allowing for weekend and evenings hours.
• Experience working in a cultural attraction or retail experience is preferred but not required.