Visitor Engagement Coordinator

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: over 2 years ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 16 Aug 2021

Posting Details


Working Title Visitor Engagement Coordinator
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Research Professional Position No
Posting Number 202100836AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Prof/Indiv Contrib I
Number of Vacancies 1
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range 45,000-55,000
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
Desired Start Date
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 08/16/2021
Description of Work Unit
The Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising is a university teaching collection as well as a public museum of historically and culturally significant items of dress, textiles and interior artifacts representing regional, national, and international cultures. The Avenir Museum is housed in a 19,000 sq. ft. facility (opened in 2016) at 216 E Lake Street, adjacent to the University Center for the Arts, and includes three galleries, a large dedicated smart classroom and program space, expanded collections storage and work areas, extensive library/conference room, and conservation lab. 
 
The Avenir Museum’s home is within the CSU Department of Design and Merchandising, which offers B.S. degrees in Apparel and Merchandising (AM) and in Interior Architecture and Design (IAD), both of which are nationally accredited programs. The department also offers an M.S. in Design and Merchandising. 
The department has 17 full-time faculty as well as administrative professionals and staff who support approximately 600 undergraduate students and 20 graduate students. The department is housed in the Nancy Richardson Design Center, which features classrooms, computer labs, and fabrication labs designed to foster innovative teaching and learning, and in the neighboring Gifford Building, which features classrooms, computer labs, construction labs, and textile labs. To learn more about the Department of Design and Merchandising (DM), visit: https://www.chhs.colostate.edu/dm 
Applications are invited for the Visitor Engagement Coordinator position at the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising at Colorado State University. This is a 12-month position, reporting to the Avenir Museum’s Director of Operations and Engagement.
Position Summary
The primary responsibility of the Visitor Engagement Coordinator is to support and enhance the experience for all visitors – whether CSU student, faculty or researcher, community guest or out-of-town tourist – and to expand access to the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising as a singular university and regional community resource, both in the Museum setting and through related digital platforms. 
 
Ideal candidates for the position of Visitor Engagement Coordinator will have strong interpersonal skills, excellent customer service orientation and experience, be capable of managing multiple projects and deadlines, and will understand that working at the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising is a collaborative effort requiring the ability to work within a team, as well as across all areas of Colorado State University, to create a superior experience for all museum guests. This position is an opportunity to become a valued and integral team member at an academic museum. You will contribute to excellence in policy development, visitor services, operations, marketing and promotions strategies, and exhibitions in an elegant, state-of-the-art building and workplace setting. 
 
The Visitor Engagement Coordinator will be responsible for multi-faceted visitor services activities and experiences ranging from social media, marketing, promotions, and web content, to facilitating the in-person visitor experience, tour scheduling, creating and supporting a friendly and approachable environment, and providing visitor information in up-to-date print and digital formats. The Visitor Engagement Coordinator will generate analytics for ongoing audience engagement (e.g., exhibition evaluation, tracking visitor traffic numbers, and social media interactions, etc.). This position serves as the Avenir Museum on-site staff member on Saturdays. 
 
The regular work schedule for this position is 40 hours/week, Tuesday through Saturday; this work schedule corresponds to the public hours of the Avenir Museum. Flexible work hours will occasionally include later weekend and evening hours to support public programs and events. 
Required Job Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, Communications, Marketing, Graphic Design, Hospitality Management, Recreation/Park Interpretation, Anthropology, History, Art, Art History, or another related field. 
  • Minimum two years’ full-time employment in an office, business, gallery, academic museum, facility management, or very similar setting working in operations-related, customer-facing responsibilities. 
  • Demonstrated commitment to providing inclusive and accessible experiences for diverse museum visitors. 
  • Experience with digital engagement content and strategies including managing social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) for a museum or other business. 
  • Literacy with Microsoft Office Suite. 
  • Graphic design experience. 
  • Experience with a website content management system such as WordPress. 
  • Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date. 
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Excellent customer service skills and ability to work with museum staff and various CSU departments and administrative staff, as well as colleagues at other institutions, tour groups, civic leaders, educators, and students. 
  • Ability to supervise and train volunteers and student workers, and to work as part of a team with the Museum Director, Curator, and Collections Manager. 
  • Ability to work independently, sometimes as the only staff member in the building, often with frequent interruptions by visitor engagement opportunities. 
  • Ability to exercise discretion, confidentiality, and independent judgment. 
  • Knowledge of digital Audio-Visual presentation equipment/smart classroom technology and video conferencing software. 
  • Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign). 
  • Photography and videography skills. 
  • Excellent written communication skills including marketing and PR writing experience. 
  • Additional software familiarity: ScreenCloud; Traf-Sys VisiCount; Canva; Echo360. 
  • Experience in a higher education setting working with students and community volunteers. 
  • Prior employment in an academic museum setting. 
  • Prior experience organizing and running engagement events (lecture series, occasional weekend workshops, author talks, “hands-on” textile-related crafts, etc.) is a major plus. 
  • Demonstrated knowledge and ability to foster and work within culturally diverse communities. 
  • Bilingual Spanish/English speaking. 
Diversity Statement
Ability to advance the department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion through research, teaching and outreach with relevant programs, goals and activities.

Essential Duties


Job Duty Category Visitor Services Coordination
Duty/Responsibility
• Emphasize exceptional customer service, organization, and efficiency. 
• Maintain clean and professional appearance of the Avenir Museum lobby, reception desk, and other public areas. 
• Provide welcoming, hospitable greeting and orientation to all visitors. 
• Maintain presence in the museum’s public spaces, directly observing the quality of the guest experience, and developing insights on services and amenities on behalf of both student and community visitor constituents. 
• Stay abreast of Colorado State University and community/regional activities and interests, to share knowledgeably with guests. 
• Provide visitor information in up-to-date print and digital formats. 
• Supervise university student hourly workers occasionally, as required for events or programs. 
• Stay current with visitor services trends and best practices in the museum field. 
• Collaborate with Avenir Museum staff to ensure emergency readiness on behalf of visitors, the artifact collection, and the building. 
• Oversee set-up and take-down activities for internal and external events on the Avenir Museum premises. 
• Secure, lock, and alarm all Avenir Museum spaces, zones, and the building after event concludes. 
• Work with Director of Operations and Engagement to coordinate CSU Facilities/Custodial Services/Access Services/CSU Police on preparation for special events, and day to day as needed. 
Percentage Of Time 45%
Job Duty Category Print/Digital Content Coordination
Duty/Responsibility
• Working within CSU graphic standards and branding resources, collaborate with Avenir Museum staff and university communications teams to design text/graphics for exhibition panels, building and facility wayfinding, advertising copy, branded Avenir Museum merchandise, etc. 
• Integrate the above across both print and digital applications. 
• Augment and maintain best practices and strategy for Avenir Museum social media presence, in concert with the Department of Design and Merchandising, the College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS), and under the umbrella of CSU’s Social and Digital Media team. 
• Work with Avenir staff to develop a collaborative plan to amplify a strategic, current presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to promote the Avenir Museum brand. 
• Design, assemble, and maintain current exhibit script print notebooks for each Avenir Museum exhibition (5-6 annually), as an accessibility/inclusion service for visitors. 
• Assist Director of Operations and Engagement with generating and disseminating Avenir Museum quarterly digital newsletter, and campus/regional advertising endeavors. 
• Serve as the Avenir Museum’s liaison to the College of Health and Human Sciences Social Media and Communications team. 
Percentage Of Time 45%
Job Duty Category Additional Coordination Resposibilities
Duty/Responsibility
• Assist with researching, implementing, and managing volunteer hours tracking database. 
• Maintain personable and appreciative relationship with museum stakeholders, maximizing individual strengths and skills to opportunities. 
• Work effectively and personably with students, volunteers, donors, university partners, press and media. 
• Assist other Avenir Museum staff members when “all hands-on deck” tasks are necessary (e.g., with exhibits installation/strike) as required. 
Percentage Of Time 10%

Special Instructions to Applicants
For full consideration, please upload a resume or CV, portfolio, and cover letter addressing how your experiences align with the required and preferred qualifications. 
  • Portfolio (examples of social media strategies and/or postings, examples of graphic design work, examples of photography and/or videography, writing sample).


References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), Valid Driver’s License
Search Contact Megan Osborn, [email protected]
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy and will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] .
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836.
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

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