Visitor Engagement & Sales Associate

Job Title: Visitor Engagement and Store Associate 
Position Type: Full-time

Position FLSA Status: Non-Exempt 

Overtime: Eligible

Salary: $52,000.00

Virtual/Remote or In-Office: onsite, five days a week

The Center for Jewish History (CJH) serves as the collaborative home of five in-house partner organizations: the American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS), the American Sephardi Federation (ASF), the Leo Baeck Institute (LBI), the Yeshiva University Museum (YUM), and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research (YIVO). Together, their collections encompass over five miles of archival documents in dozens of languages and alphabet systems, more than 500,000 volumes of books, nearly 7 million digital items, and thousands of artworks and objects, spanning 5,000 years of history.

Summary

The Visitor Engagement and Store Associate acts as a primary ambassador to visitors on the organizational/administrative arm of the Visitor Experience department. They inform visitors about our membership program and sell memberships. They maintain front desk operations, policies, and procedures, ensuring the satisfaction of visitors to the Center, including exhibit visitors, Genealogy Institute and Reading Room researchers, and guests of CJH and Partner staff.  

This position also acts as a sales associate in Ruth’s Bookstore and oversees all aspects of inventory control to ensure accurate stock levels and seamless operations at Ruth’s Bookstore. This role ensures inventory availability, accuracy within the POS system, and supports retail operations through effective and timely communication with the Director of Visitor Engagement. They coordinate the receiving, processing, and storage of incoming inventory. They manage inventory replenishment, packaging materials, and provide administrative support to retail operations.

Visitor Engagement responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Perform regular duties including welcoming and orienting visitors, addressing visitor questions and concerns, notifying employees of guest arrivals, and answering and transferring calls.
• Assist Ruth’s Bookstore patrons with product questions and purchases.
• Inform visitors about individual membership; sell memberships on site and over the phone. 
• Help train visitor engagement volunteers in regular duties and procedures. 
• Submit IT help desk requests as needed. 
• Keep track of print materials inventory, request additional copies, and replenish them at front desk and info desk. 
• Maintain organization of VE storage. 
• Keep track of supply inventory and order new supplies as needed. 
• Maintain organization of department’s digital files. 

Store Associate duties responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Maintain filing systems for invoices and vendor information.
• Process interdepartmental orders.
• Manage store packaging materials.

Inventory Management

• Develop solutions to improve operational, inventory, and accounting processes.
• Monitor discrepancies, damages, shrinkage, and vendor returns.
• Track damaged or repairable inventory and take necessary action.
• Follow up with vendors on discrepancies, back orders, and replacements.

POS and Pricing

• Track cost increases on incoming invoices.
• Price inventory with the Retail Director, optimizing sales margins for profitability.
• Enter inventory into the POS system, ticket, and notify when items are ready for merchandising.

Reporting

• Generate daily, weekly, and ad hoc sales reports as requested by the VE Director and Center finance team and senior leadership. 
• Analyze sales reports with the VE Director to determine reorders, identify slow-moving stock, and assess items for future sales clearance.
• Assist in budget preparation.

Consignment and Partnerships

• Review consignment merchandise status and coordinate returns.
• Evaluate partnership product sales and prepare invoices monthly to submit to Finance for payment.

Purchase Orders

• Track sales of classic products and prepare reorders in the POS system.
• Communicate purchase orders to vendors and follow up on outstanding orders.

Special and Custom Orders

• Assess feasibility of special-order requests with the Director of Visitor Engagement.

Buying Assistance

• Identify new vendors and products for review.
• Collaborate on product suggestions tied to exhibits and special projects.

Book Purchasing

• Work with the CJH President and programming team to align book purchases with upcoming exhibitions and seasonal themes.
• Create and place purchase orders for wholesale and reorders of books.

Inventory Reconciliation and Physical Inventory

• Conduct monthly inventory reconciliation for purchases and consignment.
• Oversee annual physical inventory and cycle counts with support from staff.
• Respond to financial audit inquiries related to inventory.

Finance Interface

• Prepare sales reports for Finance if requested and resolve discrepancies.
• Research chargebacks and handle month-end inventory adjustments.
• Submit vendor invoices.
• Address sales tax issues, particularly for in-state shipping, and update tax rates as required.
• Prepare month-end financial reporting.
• Oversee cash and consignment policies and implementation. 

Qualifications:

• Skilled in customer service and sales. 
• Excellent communication skills with visitors and team members. 
• Advanced competencies in organization of information and physical spaces. 
• Friendly and welcoming demeanor with all visitors. 
• Ability to resolve issues with logic, courtesy, and professionalism. 
• Experience in and enthusiasm for customer service at museums or cultural institutions. 
• Experience in a retail environment, preferably with Shopify
• Proficiency in computer applications
• Ability to remain calm and make effective decisions in a fast-paced environment
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required
• Knowledge of trends, technologies, and best practices in the retail field
• Interest in and knowledge of Jewish history and culture preferred
  
  Physical Demands:

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, move around the Center building (all floors accessible by elevator). The employee is occasionally required to lift weight boxes (up to 30 lbs.) and furniture (rolling tables, chairs, etc.). 

The Center for Jewish History is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to jobs@cjh.org, no phone calls please.