Back to jobs

Part-Time Visitor Experience Associate (VXA)

New York, NY

About The Shed

The Shed is a new cultural institution of and for the 21st century. We produce and welcome innovative art and ideas, across all forms of creativity, to build a shared understanding of our rapidly changing world and a more equitable society. In our highly adaptable building on Manhattan’s west side, The Shed brings together established and emerging artists to create new work in fields ranging from pop to classical music, painting to digital media, theater to literature, and sculpture to dance. We seek opportunities to collaborate with cultural peers and community organizations, work with like-minded partners, and provide unique spaces for private events. As an independent non-profit that values invention, equity, and generosity, we are committed to advancing art forms, addressing the urgent issues of our time, and making our work impactful, sustainable, and relevant to the local community, the cultural sector, New York City, and beyond.

About the Position

The Part-Time Visitor Experience Associate is a key member of the Visitor Experience team that will be responsible for creating a positive and memorable visitor experience at The Shed. Reporting to the supervisors of the Visitor Experience team, the Visitor Experience Associate will be cross-trained across all frontline roles including ticket/membership sales, ushering, wayfinding, general information, welcoming groups, acting as a gallery assistant, retail sales, and other duties as assigned. 

The ideal candidate has experience in customer-facing roles, using ticketing systems, front-of-house operations, and customer service in seated, general admission, and timed-ticketing environments. They have expertise in both the performing arts and visual arts, which is essential for the interdisciplinary nature of The Shed’s programming. They have customer service experience, a demonstrated enthusiasm for The Shed’s mission to advance contemporary culture, a strong interest in the arts, popular culture, science, and technology, and can work collaboratively with colleagues across a quickly growing organization. This position is a union role represented by UAW Local 2110.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Responsible for aligning customer service with The Shed’s mission to create a best-in-class audience experience that is welcoming to all
  • Quickly absorb information about The Shed’s programming, building, and organization in order to answer questions knowledgeably and represent The Shed
  • Proactively and empathetically engage with audience members
  • Responsible for the safety and well-being of the audience, including obtaining fire guard and first aid certification to be prepared to respond in the event of an emergency
  • Cross-trained across all frontline roles including ticket/membership sales, ushering, distributing programs, coat check, wayfinding, general information, welcoming groups, acting as a gallery assistant, retail sales, and other duties as assigned
  • Participate in morning updates and pre-show briefings to stay informed about operational updates
  • Follow a varied daily schedule with assigned posts and breaks
  • Responsible for accurate cash management and balancing a cash till
  • Act as an end user for the ticketing system (Tessitura)
  • Be responsible for service delivery through all channels: in person, chat, phone, and email
  • Responsible for accurate data collection on the frontline to help the organization make data-informed decisions
  • Maintain high data governance standards across the institution

Qualifications and Qualities

  • Two or more years of experience in customer-facing roles
  • Expertise in customer service for both the visual and performing arts preferred
  • Cash management experience
  • Experience using a ticketing system
  • Open to rethinking the audience experience using technology and new strategies
  • Friendly, welcoming, and warm demeanor towards colleagues and audience members
  • Exemplary verbal communication skills
  • Ability to stand for the duration of the shift
  • Resilient and able to handle high-pressure situations without burning out
  • Responds well to constructive feedback
  • Able to work a variable schedule including nights and weekends
  • This is union represented position

Technical Skills

  • Knowledge of ticketing systems (Tessitura preferred)
  • Ability to use an online scheduling system
  • Ability to troubleshoot issues with POS workstations, scanners, and ticket printers

Required Availability

  • The performing arts world is seasonal in nature, and because of this there will be times of the year that The Shed will be dark. At The Shed we typically expect to be dark in September and January, but every year will be unique. Expect very few scheduled shifts during these dark periods
  • This is a part-time role; the scheduled hours will vary from week to week based on the programming schedule at The Shed
  • The schedule will be published at least two weeks in advance
  • Must have availability for at least two days between Friday and Sunday, and two days between Monday and Thursday
  • There may be the option to pick up additional hours to work special events, such as galas and seated dinners
  • Holiday availability required

Compensation

Compensation is $20.25 per hour. 

Application Process

Interested candidates should complete an application and submit résumé and cover letter in a single Word or PDF document saved as candidate's first and last name through our Career Center. Only résumés and cover letters submitted in this format will be reviewed. 

The Shed is dedicated to building an equitable environment that is mixed across lines of difference and strongly encourages applications from Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, transgender, and nonbinary candidates. This position will remain open until filled and until a diverse and qualified pool of candidates is identified. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the arts field are strongly encouraged to apply. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...
Select...

U.S. Standard Demographic Questions

We invite applicants to share their demographic background. If you choose to complete this survey, your responses may be used to identify areas of improvement in our hiring process.
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in The Shed’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.