POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
Visitor Experience Associate
In Lowell Observatory’s Astronomy Discovery Center, the visitor experience team helps inspire visitors’ wonder and interest in astronomy and other STEM related topics. Visitor Experience Associates have an enthusiastic approach to greeting and helping visitors to the observatory that will result in increased store sales, membership recruitment and positive visitor feedback.
Lowell Observatory (LO) is an independent, non-profit research institution founded in 1894 by Boston mathematician Percival Lowell. We are located atop a mesa overlooking downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, where we are steadily growing and carrying out our dual mission of astronomical research and communication of our discoveries to the public. We strive to be a fun, collegial, dynamic place where we inspire incredible people to do remarkable work.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Enthusiastically welcome and greet visitors to Lowell Observatory
Possess a positive attitude towards Lowell’s visitors providing them superior service.
Understand and promote Lowell Observatory’s mission to pursue the study of astronomy, maintain quality public education and outreach programs and bring the results of astronomical research to the general public.
Attend and educate oneself on programming to become an informed resource for visitors.
Inform and recruit visitors about Lowell’s membership program
Learn Lowell’s sales software systems and be able to ring in admissions, gift shop sales, memberships any other register transactions.
Become knowledgeable about all products we carry i.e. telescope, binoculars, book, etc.
Able to learn product physical locations and restock merchandise on a daily basis as well as throughout the day as needed.
Maintain cleanliness of visitor center lobby.
Disinfect high touch surfaces between guest groups in the giftshop and lobby.
Perform tasks necessary to open and close the gift shop and visitor center, counting cash, turning registers on and off and resetting store product, etc.
Check email, website and daily task lists in order to have complete understanding of public program-related activities going on at Lowell Observatory
Communicate information about daily public program happenings to visitors and staff
Answer phone and be able to answer caller’s questions or direct them to the correct person and/or provide contact information
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS
Ability to work varied hours/days and must be able to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Demonstrate effective sales techniques
Demonstrate a high level of integrity in the proper processing of customer transactions
Candidates must possess basic math skills
Demonstrate cash handling experience
Willingness and ability to learn
Must enjoy interacting with people
Strong communication abilities
Strong attention to detail
Reliability
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
High school diploma or general education degree (GED) is required. Prefer one-year excellent guest service and one-year cash handling, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
WORKING CONDITIONS
This position requires long periods of standing, bending, stretching, and reaching. Speaking and listening, both in person and while using the telephone. Ability to lift boxes of merchandise up to forty pounds onto a wheeled device for moving from building to building. Some work on displays may require a ladder with 2-4 steps. Moving throughout the campus, on sometimes uneven terrain, sometimes in low light. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Status: Part-Time/Hourly
Hours: 20-25 hours per week
Compensation: $20.90/hour DOE
FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt
Benefit Eligible: See below
Location: Lowell Observatory’s Mars Hill Campus- Flagstaff, AZ
To Apply: Please visit https://lowell.edu/about/career-opportunities/ for instructions on how to apply.
Review of applications will begin on March 27th. Position is open until filled.
Part Time employees will receive sick time accrual according to AZ state law. After 6 months of employment, part time employees are eligible to participate in a 5% match if they contribute 5% or more to their retirement plan, as well as 2 paid personal days per year.
Employment is subject to passing a background check
Lowell Observatory is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. Lowell Observatory has always been, and always will be, committed to diversity and inclusion. We seek individuals from all backgrounds to join our teams, and we encourage our employees to bring their authentic, original, and best selves to work.
Lowell Observatory sits at the base of one of the mountains sacred to indigenous tribes throughout the region. We honor their past, present, and future generations, who have lived here for millennia and will forever call this place home.
Lowell Observatory is committed to providing access, and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. Our non-smoking campus is at an elevation of 7,200ft/2200m, and the LDT is 40 miles south of Flagstaff at an elevation of 7,800 ft/2370m. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources office for assistance.
Version March 2025/HR
