Smithsonian Institution · 3 weeks ago
Visitor Services Assistant (IS- 0303-07)
Amado, AZ
Full-time
Onsite
Entry Level
$51K/yr - $66K/yr
1+ years expThe Smithsonian Institution is a renowned center for scientific exploration, and they are seeking a Visitor Services Assistant at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory. This role involves providing consistent support to the Science Center, coordinating outreach activities, and ensuring smooth operations for visitors and tour groups.
ArtEducationLegalMuseums and Historical Sites
Responsibilities
Assist in coordinating outreach activities, such as community meetings, informational sessions, or public events
Respond to routine inquiries from the public (received in person, phone, or email), providing accurate information about programs, services, or upcoming events
Maintain contact lists of volunteers, community partners, and participants to support ongoing engagement efforts
Collect and record feedback from outreach activities to help evaluate effectiveness and identify areas for improvement
Serves as a point of contact for visitors, providing information on programs, facilities, and services
Prepare data for reporting and presentations as requested by the FLWO Public Affairs Officer
Coordinate organization for outreach events, including scheduling and arranging necessary supplies
Ensure compliance with agency policies and procedures when conducting outreach activities
Provides day‑to‑day operational support for the Science Center, ensuring smooth delivery of services to the public, tour groups, and special event participants
Coordinates scheduling and organization for guided tours, including reservations, group assignments, and preparation of informational materials
Responds to inquiries from visitors, offering accurate information about programs, facilities, and tour operations
Monitors Science Center facilities and tour routes to identify and report maintenance or safety concerns, ensuring compliance with established standards
Collects and compiles visitor feedback, attendance data, and operational statistics to support program evaluation and reporting
Provides administrative support including recordkeeping, correspondence, and coordination with internal staff and external partners to facilitate visitor services
Contributes to special projects and events by assisting with organization and on‑site support, ensuring positive visits
Assists with scheduling and training volunteers, assisting with volunteer field trips and providing input to volunteer enrichment, engagement, and recruitment
Serve as back-up tour guide when volunteers are unavailable
Assist FLWO Public Affairs Officer in running retail operations, including independently opening and closing the retail storefront, handling both cash and credit transactions at the register, and interfacing with the public
Performs other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
One year of full-time experience at the grade 5 level that is close or similar to the work of this position
1 full year of graduate level education in a related field or Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.). SAA is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership
A combination of education and experience may be used to meet the basic qualifications
Knowledge of visitor services operations, event coordination, and administrative procedures
Ability to apply agency policies, communication techniques, and customer service practices to resolve routine issues
Skill in customer service to interact with volunteers and the public
Ability to disseminate learned information to the public in a clear and concise manner
Ability to manage/handle cash and credit card transactions, including operating a cash register
General math skills to perform routine calculations needed for visitor services, retail operations, and inventory
Ability to communicate effectively with customers to provide sales assistance and information, to answer questions, and to solve problems
Ability to understand written and verbal instructions and to follow procedures and processes that have multiple steps
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
Benefits
Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Transit/Commuter Benefits
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
Annual and Sick Leave
Family Friendly Leave
403b Retirement Plan
Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships
Museum Stores and Restaurants
Credit Union
Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care)
Company
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution is a group of museums and research centers administered by the United States government.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Smithsonian Institution has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (11)
2024 (11)
2023 (5)
2022 (7)
2021 (7)
2020 (12)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$0.05MKey Investors
Bezos Earth Fund
2025-05-21Grant· $0.05M
Leadership Team
E
Elizabeth Ziebarth
Visitor Accessibility, Smithsonian Institution
Ellen Stofan
Under Secretary for Science and Research
Recent News
The Philadelphia Inquirer
2025-12-21
Business Standard India
2025-10-19
2025-10-09
Company data provided by crunchbase