Full-time Experience and Operations Coordinator

The Experience and Operations Coordinator is a supervisory role responsible for Hands On! Discovery Center’s day-to-day functionality and readiness, ensuring a dynamic, engaging, educational, and positive experience for the public with a visitor/guest first mindset. This position manages part-time Discovery Guides, volunteers, and interns, and assures proper scheduling. This position works closely with various departments to ensure operational success to fulfill HODC’s mission of fun and learning going hand in hand.

Position/Title: Experience and Operations Coordinator

Status:  Full-time, Non-exempt

Schedule: Typically Tuesday-Saturday day shift. Flexibility to work early mornings, evenings, Sundays, and Mondays on occasion.  Must work a minimum of 35 hours and no more than 39.5 hours per week.

Pay:  Salary range of $28,000-$30,000/yr. depending on education and experience.  Salary increase after 90 days and in good standing.

Benefits eligibility: Eligible for benefits after 90 days and in good standing including health, vision, dental, retirement plan with match, and permissive time off.

Reports to:  Director of Education

Location: On-site at Hands On! Discovery Center, 1212 Suncrest Drive, Gray, TN, 37615

WFH Eligible status:  Not eligible

Responsibilities:

• Ensure a welcoming, engaging, positive, and customer-first experience for the public, including visitors, partners, stakeholders, and funders, which aligns with HODC’s mission, purpose, and vision.
• Ensure a positive, proactive, and engaging staff culture to encourage naturally curious, life-long learners with a growth-mindset who are passionate about furthering HODC’s mission, vision, and impact.
• Serve as the primary floor staff member and floor supervisor. Fill in necessary gaps in floor coverage, programs, workshops, shows/tours, front desk, field trips, groups, events, rentals, etc., including for illness or emergency.
• Act as the on-site customer service liaison and point person for groups, parties, rentals, and events.
  Facilitate educational programs, educator professional development, and corporate team building.
• Assist with small- and large-scale programmatic and fundraising events.
• Manage all Discovery Guides, front-line staff, volunteers, and interns including, recruitment, hiring, onboarding, on-going training, program training, professional development, scheduling, performance reviews, employee relations, conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, performance management, adherence to policies and standards operating procedures, etc.
• Implement and enforce company policies and procedures set forth in new hire documents, employee guidebook, fiscal and financial policies, and ETSU policies per HODC’s lease and agreement.
• Ensure proper procedures for HODC’s opening and closing each day by completing daily checklists.
• Ensure the museum floor is presentable, filled in, and clean throughout each day and for each visitor
• Ensure opening/closing and cleaning checklists are completed in each area daily and signed off by staff.
• Complete continual walk-throughs and ensure end-of-day walk-throughs before staff exit for the day.
• Ensure the proper staffing of museum for daily operations, programs, events, groups, and rentals, etc.
• Maintain time sheets for staff to ensure accurate records for payroll processing.
• Ensure all areas are functional and supplies are filled daily. Immediately report exhibits in disrepair.
• Ensure new programs are prepped and ready for staff, and training has been provided to facilitators.
• Order/purchase needed supplies/materials for programs and exhibit consumables.
• Manage HODC’s gift shop merchandise and budget, including preparing and placing orders, ensuring proper display and merchandising with daily fill-in and continual remerchandising to maintain stock.
• Ensure professional, transparent communication with co-workers and HODC’s leadership team.
• Additional duties as necessary or assigned.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Associate’s degree or higher from an accredited college/university
• Ability to work a highly flexible schedule, including early mornings, nights, and weekends.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to deal with a variety of people, personalities, and abilities.
• Organized and attentive to detail while understanding big picture strategies and mission fulfillment.
• Understanding and dedication to the mission of HODC and its role in the community.
• Genuinely positive attitude and flexibility.
• Ability to multitask and be highly adaptable.
• Entrepreneurial and self-sufficient mindset.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for long periods of time and lift up to 25 lbs.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher from an accredited College or University in education, operations, or business management
• 1+ years in a non-profit, museum, science center, or other informal learning setting, school setting, or attraction
• 1+ years of leadership, supervisory, or management experience.

Please email cover letter and resume to: handson@visithandson.org. Clean background check and references required.  No phone calls, please.

Discovery Guide (Part-time)

Discovery Guide positions are open to individuals ages 18+ who are seeking a unique and exciting entry-level position in the museum/science center industry.  This opportunity provides exemplary and engaging interaction and experiences for guests and visitors to bring to life our mission of fun and learning going hand in hand.

Position/Title:  Part-time Discovery Guide

Status:  Part-time, Non-exempt

Hours:  Weekly hours are part-time and will vary based on the individual’s availability, performance, and experience level, as well as operational requirements and the ebb and flow of attendance seasonally.  No set number of hours guaranteed.

Pay:  Starting pay is $8-10/hr. depeding on education and experience.  Pay increase provided after a 90-day introductory period (employee must be in good standing).  Opportunities for additional growth and pay increases with our self-paced Discovery Guide tier structure.

Reports to:  Experience and Operations Coordinator (Floor Supervisor when Coordinator not present.)

Location:  Hands On! Discovery Center (on-site) and occasional travel to off-site outreach programs (mileage reimbursed at federal rate).

WFH Eligible status:  Not eligible

Benefits eligibility:  Not eligible

Essential Functions:

• The most important role of a Discovery Guide is greeting and interacting with HODC guests and visitors to provide exemplary and engaging experiences with programs, exhibits, and events, to make positive life-long memories and encourage repeat visitation and membership.
• Facilitation of interactive exhibit content including with walk-in visitors, field trips, groups, special event attendees, rental attendees, and more.
• Engage in direct instruction of regularly scheduled daily programs (Discovery Lab and Art Studio), pop-up programs, workshops, Homeschool Days programming, summer camps, and special event programs.
• Providing engaging and scientifically accurate Paleontology Tours of the Gray Fossil Site.
• Providing engaging and scientifically accurate Tesla Experience shows with the Tesla Coil.
• Facilitating STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathmatics) programs for guests and visitors including for groups, field trips, and birthday parties
• Ensuring each visitor to HODC and the Gray Fossil Site has an exemplary experience
• Facilitating birthday parties as the attendant
• Front desk/cash register operations including welcoming visitors, selling admission tickets, taking payment, counting cash drawers, selling gift shop items, and answering phone calls, being a point person for visitors, etc.
• Assist with special events (large-scale events, rentals, fundraisers, etc.) including some which occur after regular business hours or on days closed to the public
• On occasion, represent HODC in the community at area events, festivals, and outreach programs. (Paid drive time w/mileage reimbursement.)
• Ensure HODC is adequately cleaned and presentable throughout the day by completing daily tidying and cleaning, designated deep cleaning tasks, and other cleaning tasks as assigned and ensuring sign-off of all completed tasks on appropriate checklist(s).  General disinfection, wiping down surfaces, sweeping, mopping, trash emptying, etc.
• Other duties as assigned

Ideal Candidates:

• Outgoing, charismatic, and genuine people person who thrives on being around others
• Positive attitude with solutions oriented mindset
• Highly self-motivated and takes pride in work and providing exemplary visitor/guest service
• Highly adaptable and nimble
• Comfortable continually talking with visitors throughout the day
• Comfortable leading and teaching large groups (up to 200 people) of people of all-ages, including children and adults
• Naturally curious about the world around them and how it works
• Life-long learner with growth mindset
• Attentive to detail and continuity in operational effectiveness
• Highly organized with appreciation for tidyness and cleanliness
• Creative mindset
• Prompt and timely, consistently in attendance with little to no missed workdays
• Passion for STEM/STEAM and informal education
• Able to follow verbal and written instructions effectively and accurately
• Abilty to work without constant support or supervision
• Professional and respectful in communications and actions

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and crouch for long periods of time in a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces
• Ability to navigate across concrete, tile, carpet, hardwood, soil, stairs, elevators, ramps, and uneven terrain of outdoor spaces including garden and fossil site
• Abilty to lift, push, and pull up to 50 lbs
• Ability to be in exposed outdoor spaces such as garden, fossil site, outdoor classroom, etc. and in the weather elements such as sun, rain, snow, sleet, wind, etc.
• Visual acuity (with or without correction) sufficient to read tickets, monitor galleries, and identify safety hazards. 
• Ability to hear (with or without correction) and distinguish in-person speech in busy, reverberant or noisy spaces to communicate clearly with the public.
• Ability to speak continuously for extended periods (such as during guided tours or educational programs) and be heard loudly and clearly.

Please email completed applications to: handson@visithandson.org. Clean background check and references required.  No phone calls, please.

Hands On! Discovery Center is an equal opportunity employer.

Become a Volunteer

There are many volunteer opportunities are available at Hands On! Discovery Center!  From just a few hours to several times a week. Volunteers can be help in a variety of areas including:

• Child and/or Adult Education and Programs (with clear background check)
• Field Trip Guide
• Discovery Garden
• Cleaning
• Special Events
• Clerical/Administrative
• Exhibit Maintenance
• Facility Maintenance

A background check may be required.  Adults 18+ may volunteer in any of the above areas. Limited volunteer opportunities available for ages 16-17.  Please fill out the volunteer application for review.

Completed applications may be returned to handson@visithandson.org

The Center for Excellence in Paleontology accepts summer volunteers to work during the dig season.  Click here for more information.