Museum Experience Specialist

Job Number:

4805

Job Type:

Temporary Full-Time

Vacancy Reason:

Backfill

Temp Contract Length:

This contract is expected to end on January 1, 2027.

Location:

10 Huron Rd - Doon - Museum

Job Category:

Arts

Number of Positions: 1

Department:

Programming

Division:

Planning, Development and Legislative Services

Hours of Work:

35, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Work Schedule:

Sunday - Thursday

Union:

CUPE 1883

Grade:

CUPE 1883 Grade 008

Salary Range:

$33.25 - $37.64 per hour

About Us

The Region of Waterloo is a thriving, diverse community committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations. Waterloo Region is part of the Dish with One Spoon wampum, a treaty guiding our commitment to:

Taking only what we need

Leaving some for others

Keeping the dish clean

This agreement underpins our vision, mission, and core value, and reinforces our dedication to meaningful reconciliation and equity.

Waterloo Region is home to over 674,000 residents and expected to grow to nearly one million by 2051. Guided by our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, "Growing with Care", we prioritize homes for all, climate aligned growth, equitable services and opportunities and a resilient and future ready organization. Our mission is to provide essential services that enhance the quality of life for all residents, while our core value emphasizes caring for people and the land we share. Join us and be part of a team dedicated to making a meaningful difference in our community.

The Role Brings stories to life in a dynamic, thought-provoking way, under the supervision of the Heads of Content and Experience and in collaboration with community partners. Acts as a primary frontline staff member to interpret relevant, inclusive, innovative, and visitor-centred museum experiences for diverse audiences that support and further the values of the Region of Waterloo.

Duties/Responsibilities

Presents programs to school students, community organizations, and the public, on and off-site, under the guidance of the Education Coordinator. Assists with program bookings and summer camp programming and delivery, where applicable.

Provides historic interpretation for the public and tour groups, occasionally in costume. Delivers school programs in historic house and exhibit galleries.

Assists with and/or performs daily opening and closing of site(s); event/program preparation, set up and clean up; purchasing materials/supplies; basic housekeeping and security (as required); and the care and custody of program materials, artifacts (including historic buildings and attributes), and costumes.

Acts as a weekend "Coordinator on Duty" on assigned weekends to act as a resource to and coordinate the work of part-time staff and students and leads morning meetings (applicable to full-time Museum Experience Specialists only).

Assists to orient and train students, volunteers, and seasonal staff.

Supports guest services, as required (e.g., greets/orients groups, processes payments, answers phones).

Provides exceptional customer service and informs supervisor of issues that require immediate attention or follow-up.

Participates in promotional activities (e.g., occasionally creating Instagram stories to promote upcoming events/programming, attending outreach activities, delivering flyers).

Assists to cultivate and promote a respectful, harmonious environment for learning and discovery that inspires curiosity, exploration, dialogue, and trust; encourages and enables a diverse population of museum visitors to explore meaningful connections between past, present and future; and fosters a loyal museum visitor base. Assists in creating dynamic community conversations and deconstructing history to better reflect our community.

Occasionally supports the museum and archives leadership team in the development of programs, events, and hands-on experiences, to connect objects and stories stewarded by the museums to contemporary issues in the community, in line with the Museum’s strategic and interpretive plans.

Supports museum strategic planning, and as part of a cross-functional team, supports the development of exhibits and associated programs.

Provides timely, meaningful feedback to supervisor to assist with evaluating programs and methodologies, based on objectives set out at the program design stage.

Refers complex and unusual issues to supervisor for guidance and direction.

Occasionally seeks out and connects with community members, under the supervision of immediate supervisor, to broaden the perspectives reflected in museum content and programming.