Available Employment Opportunities
Job Title: Manager of Guest Services
Department: Guest Services
Locations: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery and SunWatch Village
Reports To: Director of Visitor Experience
FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt
$36,000-$40,000
Summary
The Manager of Guest Services leads frontline, guest-facing operations to deliver a welcoming, inclusive, and high-quality visitor experience at every point of contact. This role oversees admissions, front desk, and gift shop operations and manages Guest Services staff with accountability for daily performance, staffing, training, and financial outcomes. Reporting to the Director of Visitor Experience, the Manager provides strategic and hands-on leadership to ensure consistent service delivery, efficient front-of-house operations, and continuous improvement. The position directly supervises the Assistant Manager and Guest Services Supervisors, providing coaching, accountability, and leadership development.
Essential Duties
· Foster and reinforce a visitor-first culture emphasizing hospitality, accessibility, engagement, and professionalism across all guest touchpoints.
· Lead all daily Guest Services operations, including admissions, front desk, and gift shop functions, ensuring efficient opening and closing procedures and appropriate staffing.
· Execute and uphold institutional visitor experience standards through consistent, high-quality frontline service.
· Serve as an on-site leader during peak periods, special events, and public programs, modeling service excellence and providing frontline leadership as needed.
· Recruit, hire, train, schedule, supervise, and evaluate Guest Services staff in alignment with organizational values and policies.
· Directly supervise the Guest Services Assistant Manager and Supervisors; coach, mentor, and support leadership staff to promote accountability, performance, and professional growth.
· Develop, implement, and oversee onboarding and ongoing training programs focused on guest engagement, communication, systems, and operational standards.
· Use guest feedback, service observations, and operational data to identify opportunities for improvement and resolve issues proactively.
· Maintain clean, organized, accessible, and welcoming front-of-house environments aligned with the Museum’s brand and experience goals.
· Ensure staff proficiency in POS systems, ticketing, membership benefits, and gift shop standards; maintain appropriate inventories.
· Oversee accurate and compliant cash-handling practices, POS usage, reconciliation, reporting, and management of the Guest Services budget.
· Monitor admissions and retail revenue, analyze trends, and share insights with leadership to support decision-making.
· Collaborate cross-departmentally to support mission-aligned visitor experiences, rentals, events, and institutional initiatives.
Education and/or Experience
· Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business, Museum Studies, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
· Experience in guest services, hospitality, retail operations, or visitor-facing environments.
· Prior supervisory or management experience required.
· Strong organizational, communication, coaching, and problem-solving abilities.
· Experience with POS systems, cash-handling procedures, scheduling, budgeting, and reporting.
· Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events.
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually high.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The organization provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, or any other protected factor in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, employee development, transfer, promotion, compensation, and corrective action.
Job Title: Housekeeping, Part-Time
Department: Facilities
Reports To: Facilities Director
FLSA Status: Hourly Non-exempt
Summary: Seeking full-time or part-time housekeeper to perform custodial work in building interior, including building offices, lounges, office areas, classrooms, restrooms, corridors, elevators, food court and stairways.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
· Sweeps, vacuums, mops, scrubs, waxes and polishes floors and woodwork using industrial vacuum cleaners and scrubbing and buffing machines.
· Sometimes using ladders, dusts and polishes light fixtures.
· Moves cabinets, boxes, furniture, crates and equipment to clean areas.
· May remove stains from such surfaces as rugs, walls, and floors using chemicals and cleaning solutions.
· Transports trash and waste to disposal area.
· Washes windows, door panels, and sills.
· Clean Education area including emptying trash, sweep and mop floors as needed.
· Clean and sanitize water fountains.
· Toilets, urinals and sinks to be scrubbed.
· Replenishes bathroom supplies.
· Back up Maintenance staff as needed.
· Complete tasks list that are posted, written and verbal.
Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to complete each essential duty satisfactorily, and must be able to work independently and as part of a team. Candidates must possess a strong work ethic and a positive attitude. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience: High school diploma or GED (high school equivalency certificate), three to six months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
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 position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
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. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notices.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Organization provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, or any other protected factor in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, employee development, transfer, promotion, compensation, and corrective action.
Available Internships
Position: Daily Programs Internship
Supervisor: Director of Visitor Experience
Summary:
Interns will lead daily educational programs and provide engaging opportunities to visitors in topics such as chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy, and more. Public speaking and interpretation techniques are core skills that will be developed over the course of the internship. Interns will daily interactions with guests in various exhibits across the museum. They will encourage exploration as Exhibit Guide in key areas such as the Discovery Zoo or lead smaller hands-on moments with our Toddler Basket and Discovery Table programs. Additionally, they will attend training sessions to assist and lead science demonstrations inside our Science Theater and walk participants through a hands-on science activity in the Do Lab.
This is an unpaid internship. Some colleges may offer financial support to interns and/or provide monetary benefits.
Sessions:
- Session 1: January, February, March, April
- Applications due by December 1st.
- Session 2: May, June, July, August
- Applications due by April 1st.
- Session 3: September, October, November, December
- Applications due by August 1st.
Scheduling:
- Internship sessions run for 12 weeks/4 months.
- Up to 16 hours per week.
Requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Currently enrolled, or seeking enrollment, at the college level.
- Degree backgrounds in education, early childhood development, the sciences, history, and museum studies are our core areas.
- Submit a complete an online application.
- Submit a cover letter and resume to jutterback@boonshoftmuseum.org
- Attend an interview.
- Submit paperwork for a background check and photo release.
Core Duties:
- Provide educational and engaging content, answer visitor questions, and ensure visitors leave with a positive and memorable experience.
- Lead daily Science Theater and Do Lab presentations for the public.
- Be an Exhibit Guide in core exhibits within the museum such as Discovery Zoo or Ancient Egypt.
- Lead Discovery Table and Toddler Baskets for short hands-on science activities.
- Help track visitor and student attendance for accurate record keeping.
- Complete Lab Safety Training to work with and around chemicals in the labs to prepare and lead programming that uses them.
- Plan, research, and develop a project during your internship. This will be discussed with your supervisor early in your internship.
- Work with and assist the education team in other areas such as school programming, field trips, summer camps, and volunteer support.
The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery houses a diverse collection of over 125 different animals and holds accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The museum’s mission is to create and provide meaningful and entertaining learning experiences for curious minds to engage with natural history, science, and nature while honoring and preserving collections for future generations. Our diverse collection of animals teaches and inspires visitors to support conservation efforts locally and globally, learn more about the natural world and learn about our unique species. We strive to make every day the best for every animal, small and large, in our care.
The Discovery Zoo at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated intern for our animal care internship. This position includes daily animal husbandry, enrichment, observations, record keeping, public speaking, and interpretations of animal exhibits while gaining experience with a wide array of animals. The internship ranges from 10-14 weeks, 16-19hr per week and minimum 190 hours total.
- Unpaid
- 16 to 19 hours per week; some weekend work required! All hours count as volunteer hours.
- Applications for the Winter Session (mid-January – April) Apply by October 15th
- Summer Session (late May – August) Apply by March 15
- Fall Session (late-August – November) Apply by July 15
General Summary of Duties
Intern Duties and Responsibilities –Essential responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
- Daily animal husbandry tasks such as cleaning of habitats, dishes, sweeping/mopping and diet prep
- Providing enrichment to animals
- Daily record keeping, noting any changes in health, behavior, appetite, demeanor or animal care notes.
- Primarily working with ambassador animals including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects
- Animal encounters
- Deep cleaning exhibits
- Independent project for the Live Animal Department
Desired Qualities, Experience and Educational Skills
- Must be 18 year or older
- Currently enrolled in a college degree program or have completed a degree within the past two years
- Basic animal taxa knowledge
- Basic public speaking skills
- Good communication skills
- Ability to work independently and as a team member
- Ability to lift 50lbs
- Able to spend 2/3 of the day on their feet including frequent bending, squatting and sweeping
- Basic cleaning skills such as sweeping, mopping, laundry and dishes
- Tolerate the presence of various chemicals such as bleach
- Tolerate the presence of different substrates, animal fur and feathers
Interested applicants should email a resume and cover letter to: ltoth@boonshoftmuseum.org
Liz Toth
Associate Curator of Live Animals Boonshoft Museum of Discovery 2600 DeWeese Parkway Dayton, OH 45414
POSITION: Animal Behavior Internship
LOCATION: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton, Ohio
WORK HOURS: 8 hours per week
REPORTS TO: Curator of Live Animals
The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery is seeking applicants for the Animal Behavior Internship. Interns work with animal care staff for 12 weeks during Winter, Summer or Fall Sessions and gain experience in animal psychology.
The Animal Behavior Internship is focused on gaining an understanding of “why animals do the thing.” Interns will learn about animal welfare, animal behavior, animal enrichment, and animal training. These four categories help us understand how to improve the lives of animals under human care. Each category has an associated project our intern is to complete to gain an understanding of how animal behavior is measured and understood.
This internship is focused on animal behavior rather than animal husbandry. Interns will not be expected to participate in cleaning habitats or other regular cleaning tasks. Interns will be expected to read scientific articles, stand for long periods of time conducting observational data, and complete research and paperwork pertinent to our animals.
By gaining an understanding of how our animals are spending their time and how they interact with their environment, interns will be providing us with invaluable insight into their lives.
Qualifications
Interns must be currently enrolled in a college degree program or have completed a college degree within the past two years.
Interns must be able to tolerate the presence of animal fur, feathers and bedding.
Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to Associate Curator of Live Animals, Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, 2600 DeWeese Parkway, Dayton, OH 45414 or LToth@boonshoftmuseum.org
Applications for the Winter Session (mid-January through April) must be received by October 15; Summer Session (June through August) by March 15; Fall Session (September through November) by July 15.
The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and houses a diverse collection of over 125 animals
Position: Animal Interpretive Internship – Fall Session (mid-August – November)
Location: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Work Hours: 16 hours per week, some weekend work may be required | Applications for the Fall Session (September – November) by July 15.
Reports To: Curator of Live Animals
Overview:
The Animal Interpretive Internship is focused on facilitating students’ interpretive skills and animal ambassador handling techniques. This internship provides interns a unique opportunity to become involved with the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery’s educational efforts on-site, off-site, and at special events. Participants will join a multidiscipline team and collaborate with Education and Live Animals Department team members throughout their internship. In doing so, Interns will gain experiences with established professionals, mentors, and new skills. These skills include, but are not limited to; safe animal handling techniques, public speaking, foundational interpretation skills, collaborative programming, informal education experiences, record keeping, and familiarity in guest relations. The animal ambassador collection includes birds, reptiles, mammals, arthropods, and amphibians. This internship is focused on interpretation utilizing live animals rather than animal husbandry.
- Internships in the Live Animal Department are non-paid positions and hours worked accumulate as volunteer hours. Housing is not provided.
- Interns will work 16 hours per week.
- Schedules will be coordinated with the Curator of Live Animals and Director of Education and may include weekend hours.
Qualifications:
- Interns must be a currently enrolled in college degree program or have completed a college degree within the past two years.
- Interns will be expected to read scientific articles, stand for long periods of time and complete paperwork pertinent to our animals.
- Interns must be able to tolerate the presence of animal fur, feathers, and bedding.
Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to:
Associate Curator of Live Animals
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
2600 DeWeese Parkway
Dayton, OH 45414
OR Email:
ltoth@boonshoftmuseum.org
Applications for the Winter Session (January – March) must be received by October 15; Summer Session (June – August) by March 15; Fall Session (September – November) by July 15.
The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and houses a diverse collection of over 125 animals
Application for Employment
Please indicate which position you are interested in and forward all resumes and/or applications to hr@boonshoftmuseum.org
or mail to :
Dayton Society of Natural History
attn: HR Department
2600 DeWeese Pkwy
Dayton, OH 45414