The Enhanced Experiences Guide is a vital part of the Enhanced Experiences department, which creates and leads exceptional programs that invite our guests to dive deeper into Academy research, history, and collections. This role will provide our audiences with excellent customer service by assisting with program bookings, work alongside a passionate team to plan large scale events, lead engaging guided tours and other experiences, and more. If you are passionate about curating unique experiences within science for people of all ages and backgrounds, this role may be just for you!
Organizational Culture
Join a team dedicated to the Academy’s mission, vision and values ! Currently, the Academy has a new strategic plan including three initiatives – Hope for Reefs, Thriving California, and Islands 2030 – that leverage biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement to regenerate fragile ecosystems around the world. Learn more at https://www.calacademy.org/about-us/major-initiatives .
We are committed to ensuring diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are intrinsic to Academy culture and operations, from recruitment and retention to science and advocacy.
We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. The mission of the California Academy of Sciences is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. The Academy is looking for candidates who do great work, and we know they may come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every one of the qualifications for the position.
This position is based in San Francisco, California. Staff in this role are currently expected to work from the Academy offices up to 4 shifts per week, which may fluctuate based on business needs. Please do not apply if you are not able to work onsite. Please do not apply if you are not able to work onsite. This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the Cal Academy Workers United. Candidates are required to have up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment, absent qualifying exemptions in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals receiving a conditional offer of employment from the California Academy of Sciences will be provided the full text of the vaccination policy. The California Academy of Sciences is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace, to protect its employees, volunteers and guests.
About The Enhanced Experiences Team
The Enhanced Experiences Team is a group of passionate professionals who are dedicated to creating and leading programs that enrich guest experiences at the Academy, including daily behind the scenes tours, birthday parties for families, sleepovers in our iconic exhibits, evening events, and more. Through these programs, the Enhanced Experiences team helps share the Academy’s mission to regenerate the natural world and major initiatives to guests of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences.
Key Responsibilities
Deliver engaging science-rich content to individual and group guests at the Academy, this includes the following:
Provide science content to guests of all ages
Use appropriate interpretive techniques to engage audiences
Conduct and run all aspects of Enhanced Experiences programs, including but not limited to tours, birthday parties, sleepovers, scavenger hunts, and virtual programs, with a high level of enthusiasm and customer service
Provide exceptional customer service to all guests before, during, and after programs and help coordinate events from start to finish
Partner with Academy departments to create content for new and existing programs which includes the following:
Assist with the creation of new programming through writing program outlines or schedules, compiling multi-sensory aids, collaborating with Academy departments to develop promotional materials, and take inventory of program supplies and materials.
Prepare content and materials for programs
Meet and interact with Academy VIP guests as requested
Assist with selling and booking Enhanced Experiences products in the Point of Sale (POS) and occasionally at the VIP Tour cart in the museum lobby and by any of the following methods:
Answer phone calls for guests inquiring about Academy programs
Monitor the department inbox and reply to guest inquiries
Create customer profiles in POS and book programs by collecting payment from guests
Adhere to all Academy and department policies and procedures regarding the care and safety of collections. Ensure that all guests understand and adhere to appropriate protocol and behavior within collection rooms and all areas of the Academy.
Continuously research, study, explore and learn more about the Academy, science, and conservation to stay current on what’s happening at the Academy
Adhere to the Enhanced Experiences dress code
Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Experience and Education:
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent work and education.
Demonstrated public speaking experience, tour guide, science interpreter, docent, or teaching experience required
Experience working with children - preferred
Experience working with POS systems and maintaining guest booking inquiries - preferred
Required
Skills and Abilities:
Ability to understand and connect basic biological concepts in order to interpret them to audiences
Ability to engage with audiences of all ages and group sizes for several hours at a time
Ability to provide excellent customer service
Ability to speak confidently in front of a live audience
Ability to deliver programs with high-energy, creativity, and enthusiasm while walking and engaging with guests throughout the museum grounds
Preferred
Ability to use Google Suite
Ability to operate tour headset technology, POS system, and other tools and software as required
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals
Ability to write reports and correspondence
Physical Environment
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Ability to transport up to 50 lbs. on wheeled carts
Ability to perform repetitive motions 50% of the time.
Ability to safely lead audiences of all ages and group sizes on both outdoor and indoor tour routes that may include stairs, uneven paths, and secure access areas.
Schedule: Part-Time, 16 hours a week
Application Deadline
Review of applications will begin on June 19, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.
Application Process
Please upload your resume, cover letter and complete the brief online application
The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).
We are committed to ensuring that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, placements, transfers, promotions, compensation, benefits, terminations, training, and social and recreational programs, will be on the basis of qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled. The Academy does not discriminate against qualified applicants or employees with respect to any terms or conditions of employment on account of any characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance. Read our full Equal Opportunity Statement here .
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Seniority level
Not Applicable
Employment type
Part-time
Job function
Management and Manufacturing
Industries
Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
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