About the Eames Institute

The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity is a nonprofit public charity dedicated to advancing the dynamic legacy of 20th-century designers Ray and Charles Eames. By sharing the things the Eameses made and loved, along with their joyful and rigorous approach to life and work, we seek to inspire creative problem-solving that positively shapes our world. 

With our vast collections, digital and print offerings, extensive program of events, and the Eames Ranch, we aim to demonstrate the enduring value of the Eameses’ philosophy and invite people to explore their own curiosity, ask questions, and implement creative solutions to the challenges of today.

About the Role

The Experience & Retail Associate role is a dynamic position that supports delightful guest experiences and meaningful interactions with the stories, exhibits, and objects of the Eames Institute. This role is ideal for someone who excels at providing excellent customer service through meaningful in-person interactions, and is equally talented at maintaining strong retail and tour operations. The Experience & Retail Associate will enhance guest experience by hosting tours, sharing knowledge about the Eames Collection, and promoting products to personalize enjoyable experiences for all guests. This role will also maintain a beautiful retail space, as well as contribute to event production and hosting that furthers the Eames Institute’s ability to host diverse audiences across a range of programming. 

The Experience & Retail Associate will primarily lead the day-to-day operations and visitor experience at the Eames Archives in Richmond, CA, and will contribute to a collaborative team that is growing the portfolio of events, guest programming, and retail opportunities for the Eames Institute.

In this role, you will…

Hosting & Visitor Engagement 

• Provide an enthusiastic and warm welcome to guests, ensuring a positive introduction to the Eames Institute’s unique space and tour experience.
• Answer questions for individual visitors and tour groups, providing information on what to expect when visiting the Eames Archives and sharing knowledge to enhance understanding and overall experience.
• Collaborate with the Chief Curator and Tour Associates to host engaging and informative tours, customizing content and approach to accommodate a wide range of individual guests and groups. 
• Be observant and responsive to changes or requests that arise in daily tour operations, providing attentive customer service by fulfilling guests’ needs.
• Maintain a friendly and approachable demeanor, serving as a representative of the Eames Institute that enhances engagement with the public. 

Retail Operations

• Efficiently and accurately process sales transactions, offering impeccable customer service and appropriate use of Point of Sale (POS) platform. 
• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Retail to actively maintain high standards of retail space presentation, including stocking shelves, setting up displays, and keeping the space organized and inviting
• Maintain inventory, including purchasing, tracking costs, organizing and re-stocking products, etc. 
• Help visitors select merchandise and providing information on products.
• Encourage guests to support the Eames institute through retail purchases, memberships, donations, and visiting other locations.

Administration & Coordination

• Maintain correspondence with guests via email and in-person communication, regarding reservations, cancellations, etc. 
• Operate and optimize technologies that support tours and clientele relationships, including Ticket Tailor and Hubspot.
• Assist in coordinating retail promotions, events, and marketing efforts to drive customer and audience engagement.
• Maintain a high level of communication to ensure that staff members across the organization are aware of events and tour schedules.
• Contribute accurate records of retail sales, inventory, and tour participation data to facilitate evidence-informed insights and decision-making. 

Organization & Culture 

• Participate in and contribute to the Institute’s culture of curiosity and learning
• Contribute to a wide range of conversations and efforts to explore and operationalize new programs, events, and guest services that expand the Eames Institute’s reach
• Work cross-functionally with multiple departments to provide a seamless experience across tours, events, retreats, and additional community touchpoints.
• Develop and contribute to systems to streamline event planning and execution
• Inject positive energy and outlook on a day-to-day basis, creating a welcoming and productive environment and a sense of belonging to all employees and guests

The ideal candidate has:

Required skills, abilities, competencies

• Passion for providing excellent customer service
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Outgoing and excited to engage with and host diverse guests and audiences
• Interest in arts and culture
• Ability to work in a fluid environment and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Works effectively with people of all backgrounds; treats all people with dignity and respect; demonstrates compassion, consideration, and care.

Education and Experience

• Undergraduate degree in art history, museum studies, or a related field a plus, or equivalent experience
• Prior experience in retail environment, customer service, or guiding tours is preferred
• Previous POS and inventory experience
• Proficiency or propensity to learn technologies that support various operations, including G-Suite, Asana, Shopify, Ticket Tailor, HubSpot, and Eventbrite 

Other duties:

Please note: this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

Work hours, working styles, and additional benefits: 

• This role requires the individual to be onsite at our Richmond location, Monday through Friday, generally between regular business hours with occasional evenings and weekends per event schedule.

What we offer: 

• The Eames Institute offers a competitive benefits package, including…
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, for which the organization covers 99% of the cost for employees and 75% of the cost for dependents
• Base salary range: $51,000 - $60,000
• 401k employer match up to 6%, commuting benefits, and parental leave
• Wellness benefit of $600 per year to spend on anything that contributes to your mental and physical wellness
• Professional development benefit up to $600 per year to support your continued learning and career development
• $500 match for charitable giving, for every year of service up to five years
• Unlimited paid time off policy in addition to fourteen paid holidays
• Sabbatical leave after five years of employment

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The Eames Institute values diversity, inclusion & belonging for all, and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We strive to create a workplace that empowers people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to feel respected, valued and able to contribute at the highest level. If you’re excited by this role but your professional experience doesn’t perfectly align with the qualifications listed, we still encourage you to apply.