Museum Assistant

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM), which is located in the Waterfront Center Building (formerly the Naval Reserve Building), opened its doors to the public in July 2000, with the unique mission to interpret the rich and diverse maritime history of the Santa Barbara Channel. SBMM is an interactive museum – a place where the public can experience maritime culture without leaving the harbor.

From the engaging exhibitions, visitors leave with a love for and better understanding of the Santa Barbara Channel – its abundant marine life, the multiple recreational activities it provides, and the people making a living on its waters.

The museum assistant supports SBMM’s mission by helping to ensure the smooth operation of the museum including providing a positive guest experience and excellent guest services as well as assistance with maintenance efforts. Additionally, this role helps to oversee museum events by aiding with set-up, vendor needs and inquiries, technical needs (such as audio/visual, lighting, and music), and works with coordinators and/or caterers as needed.

The museum assistant is an enthusiastic team member reporting to the SBMM operations manager.

Responsibilities include:

• Conducts hourly safety and clean-up/sanitation walk-throughs of museum.
• Makes sure events run smoothly including performing set-up and closing duties as assigned.
• Moves exhibits and performs set-up duties as needed.
• Notifies operations manager if damage is noticed in the museum and identifies and helps remedy safety issues.
• Reliably open, clean, secure, and close the museum.
• Responsible for supporting maintenance efforts of the museum’s building, exhibits, and equipment to ensure that the space is safe and functional.
• Ability to provide outstanding customer service support by creating a friendly, welcoming, and informative environment for all museum visitors including greeting guests, responding to questions, and providing information and answers to general questions about the museum and the waterfront.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to be productive and approachable while working in a public space.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Lift up to 50 pounds including moving heavy exhibits, chairs, and tables.
• Show up to work on time, well-groomed, and dressed professionally.
• Interact with staff and the public in a friendly manner.
• Work with audio/visual equipment.
• Work mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays as needed.
• Interest in maritime history and culture preferred.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

This is a part-time position with hours ranging from 5 to 20 per week. The starting salary is $18/hour. Benefits include overtime pay, sick pay, and SEP/IRA benefits. Please submit a cover letter and resume to SBMM Operations Manager Emmett Conner at econner@sbmm.org.