Visitor Services Assistant
- Employer
- The University of Kansas
- Location
- Lawrence, KS
View more
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
The Visitor Services Assistant (VSA) reporting to the Public Education Coordinator, engages the public to provide an educational and memorable experience at the Dole Institute of Politics, on weekends and select weekday hours.
About the Dole Institute
The Dole Institute provides a wide variety of public programs to many visitors including K-12 students, families, and adults annually onsite, online, and through social studies outreach to both local and regional communities.
The VSA manages the front desk, stewards visitors to the museum, and is responsible for the building during weekend shifts. The Visitor Services Assistant should be reliable, accountable, demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, and a self-starter who is curious about history and politics with a willingness to learn. Other skills required for the position include strong written and oral communication, organization, and problem-solving. This position serves an important role in establishing and maintaining the public image of the Dole Institute.
The mission of the Dole Institute of Politics is to promote political and civic participation as well as civil discourse in a bi-partisan, philosophically balanced manner. By providing a forum for discussion of political and economic issues, fostering public service leadership and encouraging participation in the political process, we emphasize that politics is an honorable profession and provide opportunities for all to interact with political leaders, practitioners and authors. The Dole Institute also emphasizes that only through political and civic participation can citizens redirect the course of our nation.
Senator Bob Dole’s legacy at the University of Kansas was established in 1997 upon the gift of his papers to KU. The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics was dedicated in 2003 in KU’s West District and became home to the Senator Elizabeth Dole legacy upon the gift of her papers in 2017.
The Dole Institute is home to a museum dedicated to the legacies of Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole, featuring the largest stained-glass American flag in the world, a memory wall dedicated to Kansas veterans of WWII, and the newly renovated Elizabeth Dole Gallery and Reading Room.
The Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections department is responsible for collections, research, and exhibits at the Dole Institute. Both Senators’ personal papers and congressional materials are publicly available for research, attracting scholars from all over the world.
Job Description50% Front Desk and Building Management
The Visitor Services Assistant has many interactions with the public, so excellent customer service and people skills are necessary.
- Responsible to staff the front desk oneself and/or schedule student volunteers
- Train student volunteers of front desk responsibilities
- On-site building manager during weekend shifts, which includes opening and closing the building, answering phone, etc.
- Conduct regular walk-throughs of galleries and address or report issues.
- Guide tour groups and encourage self-guided group visits.
- Demonstrate wide range of knowledge about museum, Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole, and general US political history.
- Ensure quality visitor experience by interacting with guests, including a familiarity with the KU and Lawrence community
- Maintain a well-informed, working knowledge of the exhibits and services available and communicate that information in a style consistent with the mission of the Dole Institute of Politics.
- Track and record visitor data.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Assist Public Education Coordinator in developing enriching content and activities for visitors.
- Assist with Kansas Day, Discover with Dole, Easter Egg Roll and other public education programs.
- Participate and execute strategies to increase museum patronage and to improve the visitor experience through tourism initiatives.
Position Requirements
- This position requires working on-site.
- Frequent weekend hours may be required.
- Cover letter addressing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
- Resume.
- Contact information for three professional references (including at least one previous or current supervisor).
- Completion of the online application.
Application review begins Monday, May 9, 2022 and continues until a pool of qualified applicants is identified. Contact Information to ApplicantsAmber Wood, a663w284@ku.edu Advertised Salary Range$33,297 - $42,500 Work Schedule40 Hours Per week, Monday-Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Frequent weekend hours may be required. Application Review Begins09-May-2022 Anticipated Start Date06-Jun-2022
Organization
Working at the University of Kansas
Join the University of Kansas, and you’ll become part of a Jayhawk family that spans the globe. Wear your KU shirt in London, Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Nairobi or anywhere else, and you will likely hear a resounding “Rock Chalk!” from a stranger. Of course, the appropriate response is an enthusiastic “Jayhawk!” Because, after all, they’re not really strangers, they’re family.
The Jayhawk community is united by more than 150 years of tradition and by our commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge, transforming the academic experience, and creating solutions through innovative research. KU’s mission is to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world.
The University of Kansas is the state’s flagship university and one of just 66 invited members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). We consistently earn high rankings for academics and recognition as a premier research university.
KU faculty and staff embrace our role as the state’s flagship university, AAU member and R1 institution that serves the state, nation and world. We celebrate the energy and compassion that infuse the Jayhawk spirit; and, we remain true to KU’s historic values: the elevating force of education, the transformative power of research and the healing power of service.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
The University of Kansas is committed to a learning and workplace environment that is representative of our nation and global society, accepts and values everyone, appreciates our common humanity and understands that our multiple differences are the cornerstone of academic preparation, professional excellence and distinction. KU must be a place where all people feel they belong and have access to resources and support that help them attain their educational and professional goals.
We recognize there are inequalities and privileges generated by historical and persistent intersecting differences by race, ethnicity, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, abilities, religion, regional background, veteran status, citizenship status and nationality. And we hold ourselves accountable for policies, processes and programs that appreciate these and other differences and create more fair, safe and just learning, working and living environments for KU students, faculty and staff.
Instruction
KU offers a broad array of undergraduate and graduate study programs, and we fulfill our mission through academic and research programs of international distinction, coupled with outstanding libraries, teaching museums and information technology. These resources enrich the academic experience for students from all 50 states and 112 countries, and provide enrichment resources for KU faculty and staff.
Research
The university attains high levels of research productivity and recognizes that faculty are part of a network of scholars and academicians that shape a discipline as well as teach it. KU staff are integral to our research success, participating in and supporting discoveries that expand knowledge and improve lives.
Service
The university and our employees serve society through research, teaching and the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. KU's academic programs, arts facilities and public programs provide cultural enrichment opportunities for the larger community. And, KU offers educational, research and service programs throughout the state. KU employees are encouraged to participate in and serve the campus and surrounding communities in a way that is meaningful to them.
International Dimension
KU offers more than 100 programs of international study and cooperative research for KU students and faculty at sites around the world. The university offers teaching and research that draw upon and contribute to the most advanced developments throughout the United States and abroad. At the same time, KU's extensive international ties support economic development in Kansas.
Values
The University of Kansas, our students and employees are committed to excellence. We foster a multicultural, inclusive environment in which the dignity and rights of individuals are respected. Intellectual diversity, integrity and disciplined inquiry in the search for knowledge are of paramount importance.
Our City and State
KU sits atop Mt. Oread in the center of Lawrence, a town full of natural beauty and culture. In fact, Rolling Stone magazine named Lawrence one of the best college towns in the United States. Lawrence is home to more than 100,000 people, and has a charming, Midwestern friendliness that welcomes visitors and celebrates diversity. In addition to KU, Lawrence is home to Haskell Indian Nations University, the premiere tribal university in the United States.
Lawrence’s historic and thriving downtown features restaurants, nightlife and local shops offering unique finds that you won’t find anywhere else. The town has more than 50 parks, an encompassing mixed-use trail, and quick access to biking/hiking trails along the Kansas River and around Clinton Lake. A five-minute drive from Lawrence, Clinton Lake offers fishing, boating, beaches, camping and other outdoor activities.
Located just 40 minutes west of Kansas City, Lawrence offers the appeal of a mid-size, suburban town with quick access to the amenities of a large city, including an international airport. The Kansas City metro area is home to world-class museums and cultural activities, Jazz clubs and other nightlife venues, expansive shopping options, and exciting professional sports with the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals and Sporting KC.
Kansas is in the center of the country, making it convenient and cost effective to fly or drive to destinations throughout the United States. Far from flat, the Flint Hills, just 90 minutes from Lawrence, offer panoramic vistas that showcase the breathtaking beauty of America.
Making KU Your Home
Something about Lawrence is magnetic. Long-time residents are never surprised when a KU student or employee from out of state decides to make Lawrence their permanent home. And, even those who do leave often find themselves returning to “the nest” at some point in the future. In fact, Lawrence has been named by several publications as one of the best places to retire.
At the University of Kansas, you’ll join a global Jayhawk family and find a place to call home.
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