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Risd Museum Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The RISD Museum, formerly the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, is the art museum of the Rhode Island School of Design, a private art school in Providence, Rhode Island, co-founded with ...

Risd Museum information

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$31.5K

$44.2K

$56K

How much do risd museum jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for risd museum in the United States is $44,195.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,500.00 and $48,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the RISD Museum?

The RISD Museum is the art museum of the Rhode Island School of Design, located in Providence, Rhode Island. It houses a diverse collection of over 100,000 works of art, ranging from ancient to contemporary pieces. The museum serves as a resource for students, educators, and the public by offering exhibitions, educational programs, and community events. Its mission is to inspire creativity and foster a deeper understanding of art and design through its collections and programming.

How do professionals at the RISD Museum typically collaborate across departments to create exhibitions and educational programs?

At the RISD Museum, collaboration among curators, educators, designers, and collections staff is essential for developing exhibitions and educational programs. Team members regularly participate in planning meetings, share research, and coordinate logistics to ensure exhibitions are engaging and accessible to diverse audiences. This collaborative environment encourages creative problem-solving and allows staff to learn from one another, which is especially valuable for those looking to broaden their professional skills and advance within the museum field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a RISD Museum professional, and why are they important?

To excel in a Risd Museum role, you generally need a background in art history, museum studies, or a related field, often with experience in curation, education, or collections management. Familiarity with museum collections management systems, digital archiving tools, and possibly certifications in museum practices are typical requirements. Strong communication, attention to detail, and public engagement skills help professionals stand out in this environment. These competencies are crucial for preserving collections, creating impactful exhibitions, and fostering community engagement with the museum’s mission.

What is the difference between Risd Museum vs Museum Educator?

AspectRisd MuseumMuseum Educator
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in art, education, or related field; experience in museum settingsBachelor's degree in education, art, or related field; experience in educational program delivery
Work EnvironmentPublic museum spaces, galleries, and exhibitionsEducational programs, workshops, and visitor engagement areas within museums
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by museums to describe the institution itselfUsed by professionals delivering educational content in museums
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

The Risd Museum refers to the institution itself, focusing on managing exhibits and collections. A Museum Educator, on the other hand, is a professional responsible for creating and delivering educational programs within the museum. While both roles require similar educational backgrounds, the Risd Museum is the employer, and the Museum Educator is the role focused on visitor engagement and education.

More about Risd Museum jobs

What cities are hiring for Risd Museum jobs?

Cities with the most Risd Museum job openings:

What states have the most Risd Museum jobs?

States with the most job openings for Risd Museum jobs include:

Infographic showing various Risd Museum job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Part Time, and 33% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $44,195 per year, or $21.2 per hour.

Visitor Services Supervisor, RISD Museum

Providence, RI • On-site

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools • 1 - 5K employees

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago


Rhode Island School Of Design rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

The RISD Museum is actively seeking Visitor Services Desk Shift Supervisor to join its Visitor Services team. This is a unique opportunity for an equity-minded individual with a passion for community and the arts to bring their leadership, customer service, and strong communication skills to this exciting new role.

JOB SUMMARY (OVERVIEW)
The Visitor Services Desk Shift Supervisor ensures effective daily operations of the museum's front desk activities and staff, including leading in essential functions such as ensuring and promoting a positive visitor experience by welcoming and greeting a wide variety of clientele, including but not limited to students, general visitors, tour groups, parents, RISD Staff, and/or alumni. Directs, trains and gives timely and appropriate feedback to employees. Sets the example for customer service orientation Contributes to staff performance evaluations by providing formal feedback of employees' performance to the Manager. Creates weekly staffing schedules to be approved by the Manager. Processes transactions such as issuing memberships, admissions tickets, event registrations, and group sales; collecting payments and distributing the appropriate change, information, and collateral material. Act as a resource and as a point of escalation for the Visitor Services Desk Attendants in responding to routine questions about the Museum, the RISD community and greater Providence, promoting Museum programs, classes and events, and actively soliciting museum membership sales. Maintains a safe, welcoming and informative visitor environment upholding RISD's values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in accordance with the RISD Museum's SEI action plan and college-wide initiatives. Serves as liaison to a variety of internal departments and external agencies, including Museum Security Staff, Museum Education, Conferences and Events Services, RISD faculty, students, and staff, and museum visitors.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/DUTIES:

  • Oversees the day to day general operations of the RISD Museum front desk during museum operating hours on weekdays and weekends under the direction of the Manager, Visitor Services.

  • Provide direction, supervision and leadership to Visitor Services staff. Responsible for directing and delegating to staff during shifts. Provide timely and appropriate feedback to employees during shifts. Partners with the manager to facilitate necessary follow-up conversations regarding employee performance or opportunities for improvement. Contribute to staff performance evaluations by providing formal feedback of employees' performance to the Manager. Create weekly staffing schedules and manage vacation requests to be submitted to the Manager for review and final approval. Ensures staff are following department and museum policies and procedures. Supports daily Visitor Services Desk Attendants by providing break coverage and leadership support at the desk.

  • Responds to visitor concerns and feedback as appropriate, and makes decisions based on museum policy, professional judgement, and previous experience. Sets the example of appropriate customer service orientation and expectations for other staff.

  • Receives and greets incoming guests, visitors, tour groups, parents, alumni, and corporate members.

  • Orients self-guided groups to the space, welcoming them to the museum, and setting them up for their visit on behalf of the Education department.

  • Processes financial transactions for visitors including but not limited to admissions, membership sales, special events and Museum courses. Accepts payments using the museum database system and issues appropriate receipts and/or change. Facilitates and completes payment for group visits, as required. Uses museum systems to complete the group check-in and payment process.

  • Cross-trains on and develops a comprehensive understanding of Visitor Services accounts payable functions to serve as back-up in the absences of department accounts payable staff. This includes but is not limited to completing opening and closing cash drawer procedures including counting and balancing drawer daily, overseeing final cash handling tasks at the end of the day, and approving end of week cash handling reports.

  • Utilizes knowledge of RISD Museum, RISD community and Providence area to help answer routine customer service questions via phone, email, or in person, as well as and visitor inquiries regarding Museum events, exhibition and gallery locations, RISD campus events and local attractions. Serves as a point of escalation for other staff providing customer service.

  • Actively promotes Museum programs, classes and events.

  • Actively solicits museum membership sales by explaining benefits, program details, additional opportunities, discounts and incentive options and overall structure.

  • Maintains desk supplies stock and coordinates ordering necessary supplies/equipment as needed.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS/SPECIFICATIONS
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
  • High school diploma or equivalent.

  • A minimum of two years of responsible customer service experience in a business, public, or non-profit setting.

  • Strong customer service orientation.

  • Experience implementing and delivering training programs and initiatives and imparting job knowledge to others.

  • Ability to work ethically with culturally and socially diverse populations and promote and foster a culture of inclusivity.

  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate respectfully and effectively verbally and in writing.

  • Demonstrated ability to solve problems and to cultivate a calm and welcoming environment.

  • Experience and proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other reporting platforms.

Preferred:
  • Minimum of Associate's degree.

  • Knowledge and understanding of finance management from a retail setting.

  • Experience working in a cultural organization or museum environment preferred.

Union

No

Work Schedule

30 hours/week; 12 months per year. Anticipated days of work are Thursday-Sunday.

Employment Status

Full-Time; Non-Exempt

Grade

815NE

Documents Needed to Apply

Resume (required)

Cover Letter (required)

Salary Grade Structure

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please upload all required documents.


The successful candidate will be required to meet our pre-employment background screening requirements.


RISD recognizes inclusion and belonging as fundamental to its learning and working community and integral to an art and design education. We welcome candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to this community and to our commitment to excellence. RISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.


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