A little bit about us…

The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia (BHMVA) is located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia and serves patrons of all ages. Founded by Carroll Anderson in 1981, BHMVA celebrates the rich culture and moving histories of African American people in Virginia and their contributions to our magnificent country. The museum's mission is to provide, develop, and partner in the creation of educational resources, services, and opportunities to promote and advance understanding of the history and culture of Black people and African Americans in the Commonwealth of Virginia. For the last 40 years, BHMVA has achieved its mission by telling untold, and often forgotten, inspirational stories in the full context of American history so that there is a greater understanding of our history, leading to a more diverse and inclusive society.

A little bit about the role…

The Front Desk Attendant is the first point of contact and the “heart and soul” of the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia. This role is responsible for welcoming visitors, overseeing daily museum operations, and ensuring that the visitor experience is smooth, welcoming, and aligned with the museum's mission. The associate will manage the front desk, provide support for gift shop and rental operations, and supervise a small group of volunteers. This position requires multitasking, a customer service mindset, and the ability to maintain order in a busy and dynamic environment.

The Front Desk Attendant is responsible for…

• Opening and preparing the museum daily for visitors.
• Managing front desk reception, ensuring a welcoming, professional, and visitor-centered environment.
• Overseeing gift shop operations, including merchandising and point-of-sale transactions (experience with any POS system required; museum uses Blackbaud/Altru).
• Monitoring attendance, tracking data and sharing reporting with leadership.
• Providing calendar management support, including sharing the Altru calendar.
• Assisting with communication and coordination with vendors.
• Supporting facility upkeep, ensuring public-facing spaces are neat and tidy.
• Supervising and coordinating volunteers.
• Monitoring and supporting rental operations.
• Providing event support as needed.
• Partnering with security to ensure safety of staff, volunteers, and guests.

Along with a demonstrable passion for BHMVA's mission, the strongest candidates will bring many of the professional experiences, knowledge and skills outlined below:

• Strong interpersonal and receptionist skills – warm, approachable, and professional.
• Reliable and punctual; able to arrive before museum opening.
• Customer service experience required; experience in museums, hospitality, or cultural spaces a plus.
• Experience with point-of-sale systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Strong organizational skills; comfortable working with systems and processes.
• Team-oriented mindset; willing to step in wherever needed.
• Ability to multitask and remain calm in busy or challenging situations.
• Commitment to and alignment with BHMVA's mission and values, including celebrating and honoring Black history and culture.

You will receive bonus points for having…

• Experience working in a museum, cultural center or historical site setting.
• Cultural knowledge of regional and African American history.
• Experience with or interest in event management.

BHMVA North Star Principles:

Balance

• Inclusive Representation & Partnerships: Foster opportunities for diverse voices to be heard and included, ensuring every story is represented and every community has a seat at the table.

Presence

• In-House Programming & Community Engagement: Establish a robust presence through

dynamic in-house programming, active participation in steering committees, and serving as connectors within the community.

Premiere & Exclusivity

• Strategic Collaborations & Partnerships: Cultivate premier collaborations, exclusive partnerships, and influential committees that elevate our mission and broaden our impact.

Storytelling, Truth, and Narration

• Innovative Storytelling: Utilize creative and innovative methods to uncover and share undertold stories. Amplify our collections through social media campaigns and curate continuous, themed local exhibitions to educate and inspire.

Programming

• Community-Driven Programs: Develop and implement programs that resonate with and are driven by the Virginia community, ensuring relevance and engagement.

Call to Action

• Active Community Involvement: Encourage and sustain continuous community involvement, inviting everyone to contribute to and benefit from our initiatives.

Direct Impact

• Engagement & Support: Focus on retaining members, increasing subscriptions, and optimizing rental opportunities to ensure our sustainability and direct impact on the community.

Sandbox and BHMVA are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, physical and mental disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/assignment, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, protected veteran status, or any other status prohibited by applicable national, federal, state or local law.

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every. single. qualification. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and just workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with 100% of the qualifications listed, we encourage you to still apply. Our hiring philosophy looks to weed people INTO our process, not weed them out! Who knows, you may be just the right candidate for a future role with us. Just go for it... submit your resume!