Position Summary:  

The Front Desk Associate is the first point of contact for visitors to the Lutz Children's Museum. This role requires a friendly and welcoming demeanor to create a positive first impression. The ideal candidate will be responsible for greeting visitors, answering inquiries, and providing information about the museum's exhibits, programs, and events. Additionally, the Front Desk Associate will handle general administrative tasks, such as managing visitor information and processing admissions.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Maintain a clean and organized front desk area, ensuring all necessary supplies are readily available.
• Greet visitors warmly and professionally, providing information about museum exhibits, programs, and events.
• Answer incoming calls, respond to inquiries, and direct calls as needed.
• Receive and distribute incoming mail and packages.
• Process outgoing mail, including membership and donation requests.
• Sell museum memberships, event tickets, and gift shop items.
• Manage reservations for classes, summer camp, and birthday parties.
• Handle cash and credit card transactions, maintain accurate records, and balance the cash drawer at the end of each shift.
• Check, sort, and forward front desk emails.
• Assist with administrative tasks, such as scheduling, record-keeping, and inventory management.
• Serve as a spokesperson for the museum's exhibits, interacting with visitors to provide information, and answer questions.
• Develops, maintains, and facilitates positive relationships with and between staff, volunteers, and colleagues at all levels of the organization.
• Pursues training opportunities that support the work of the Lutz Children’s Museum and enhances personal and professional growth.
• Flexibility to work weekends, holidays, and evenings as needed for special events or animal care requirements.
• Attends all mandatory meetings and training sessions.
• Travel between program sites, or between program sites and the museum is required. 

Experience, Education, and Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred. 
• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience in a similar role, preferably in a museum, zoo, or educational institution.
• Strong ability to engage diverse audiences, adapt to different learning styles, and create positive and inclusive learning environments.
• Demonstrates excellent planning, organization, time management, and attention to detail.
• Possess and demonstrate excellent customer service, decision-making, problem solving, team focus, and critical thinking.
• Possesses a general knowledge and understanding of the Lutz Children’s Museum and its mission.
• A valid driver's license and a clean driving record is required.

Trainings & Certifications:

• Must complete First Aid & CPR training. 
• Must complete Sexual Harassment training. 
• Must complete Child Abuse Prevention and Mandated Reporter training.

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to type, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Comfortable working in environments that may include exposure to animal dander, odors, and allergens.

Work Environment:

This job operates in animal habitats, outdoor and/or an office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. At times, employees may be exposed to undesirable working conditions, communicable infectious diseases, and risk of injury from others including animals. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.