Temporary Sales Associate

SUMMARY

Responsible for providing exceptional sales and customer service throughout the retail shops. Position requires the ability to engage our diverse Museum Shop customer by communicating the features and benefits of our unique merchandise. This position will also provide excellent front-line service to MFA visitors by answering Museum-related questions and enthusiastically promoting the Museum.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Use register to ring in basic transactions including regular sales and membership sales including asking each customer if they have a membership. At point of sale, offer to prepare customer’s purchase with protective materials (tissue, bubble wrap, boxes) to ensure customer can safely carry their merchandise away. Complete any training updates of P.O.S system offered.

Register shortages and overages are not to exceed $5.00 per month on average in a 3-month period.

Greet all customers warmly, enthusiastically and sincerely at the register and on the selling floor. Always wear and be approachable to customers while on the selling floor. Engage customers to help them when needed.

Adapt quickly to changing business needs and process large volumes of customers and transactions expeditiously and accurately, while maintaining a consistently high level of service. Will work in three different shops; occasionally all three, at different times, in one day.

Communicate features and benefits of items which may be of interest to the customer. Ask questions to determine their needs. Work with customers to find product to fulfill their needs. Suggest complimentary items. Mention specials or promotional products.

Answer routine and higher level questions. Employ the help of a supervisor if you cannot answer the question. Keep a customer list, call customers looking for new items or item that come back into stock. Take phone orders.

Help check in and put away merchandise. Restock floor. Fill in merchandise in all areas of the store.

Assist the Floor Merchandisers in stocking and re-merchandising as necessary. Use merchandising skills to create displays and integrate new merchandise under direction the Floor Merchandiser.

Fill in supplies at the beginning of shift. Keep work area neat. Straighten merchandise when there are no customers. Straighten store at end of day. Maintain store standards by cleaning glass, dusting shelves, straightening and filling in merchandise.

Know the general areas of the store. Know which merchandise is located in each area. Know which products directly relate to the Museum’s collection. Be able to communicate features and benefits of the product lines to the customer.

Know store and Museum hours. Direct visitors to popular areas in the Museum. Have knowledge of admission policies, pricing, etc. Have knowledge of special exhibitions, gallery locations, etc. Know how to properly “hand-off” a visitor to another staff person or department when necessary. Ability to take a “hand-off” from another associate in the store or other department of the Museum. If asked, suggest “can’t miss” pieces of the collection. Relate specific pieces in the collection to our product where appropriate.

Basic art history knowledge.

Organize and prepare for inventory. Instruct newer associates on inventory prep procedures.

Maintain a clean, organized back stock and stock room area.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to work nights and weekends.

Associate must be outgoing, enthusiastic and must enjoy sales and customer service. Must be able to maintain high sales productivity levels, have strong interpersonal and closing skills, and be organized and knowledgeable about the products they are selling. Must be a supportive ally in support of the Museum’s efforts and commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA). Must be able to interact with a diverse audiences, in terms of age, economic status, and cultural background. The associate must also be strong on making add-on sales and selling MFA memberships.

High School diploma, college degree preferred, plus to two to three years of related experience.

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or associates of the organization.

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, tax, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The associate is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The associate must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

SALARY AND SCHEDULE

The Shops are open from 10 am - 5 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and from 10 am - 10 pm on Thursday and Friday. Candidates must be able to work two to four shifts per week for 15-25 hours, including weekend and/or evening shifts.

May begin as early as 9/2/2026 and conclude as late as 12/6/2026.

Temporary Hourly, $21.84 per hour

15-25 hours per week

The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military statu s, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.