Posted: August 7, 2025
Expires: October 6, 2025
National Museum of the Great Lakes
1701 Front St., Toledo, OH 43605
Status: Full-time, salary, exempt
Salary: $40,000 – $42,000 per year (based on experience)
Benefits: PTO/Vacation Time, Health Insurance, Retirement Match
Reports to: Experience Manager
Direct Reports: Visitor Engagement Associates
Location: On-site at NMGL
Position Purpose / Summary:
With a strong emphasis on leadership and hospitality, the Visitor Engagement Coordinator manages daily visitor operations, supervises and mentors front-line staff and volunteers, and leads the continuous improvement of our visitor experience. They also serve as a key internal collaborator, working with education and development teams to support cross-functional museum goals.
The Visitor Engagement Coordinator is a frontline leader at the National Museum of the Great Lakes, helping to deliver meaningful, inclusive, and mission-aligned guest experiences across nine immersive galleries, two historic vessels, and dynamic temporary exhibitions. This role combines leadership, hospitality, and operational oversight to ensure every visitor feels welcomed, informed, and inspired.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Leadership & Team Management
- Supervise, train, and schedule Visitor Engagement Associates, fostering a culture of warmth, support, and connection.
- Lead daily visitor operations including visitor engagement and education, admission and retail sales, and museum and vessel safety and security.
- Ensure consistent, high-quality visitor engagement through coaching, ongoing training, and performance evaluation.
Visitor Engagement & Guest Services
- Serves as shift manager, providing hospitality and problem-solving for visitors with empathy and professionalism.
- Create and maintain processes and physical environments that are accessible, inclusive, and user-friendly.
- Solicit, monitor, and respond to visitor feedback to routinely improve services and experiences.
- Track and analyze visitor data to inform scheduling and staffing decisions.
- Collaborate with internal teams on event support, membership promotions, and retail operations.
Qualifications:
- Proven experience in leadership, supervision, and team-building, with the ability to motivate and support frontline staff.
- Background in hospitality, guest services, or a similar visitor-facing role.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a strong dedication to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible experience for all visitors.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to coordinate schedules, prioritize multiple responsibilities, and interpret visitor data to inform decisions.
- Demonstrated curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning.
- Comfortable using and learning technology, with experience in platforms such as Google Workspace, Shopify, DonorPerfect, or comparable systems.
- Experience working in a museum, cultural institution, or nonprofit setting is highly desirable.
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., museum studies, hospitality, business, communications) preferred.
Working Hours and Environment:
- This is a full-time, salaried position, working 40 hours per week, weekend hours required, (Thursday-Monday schedule) some evening hours.
- This position involves standing for extended periods, lifting up to 50 lbs, climbing multiple ladders/ramps/stairs, and working outdoors, even in inclement weather.
To apply, submit a Resume, Cover Letter, and 3 Professional References via email to experiencehr@nmgl.org by Sunday, August 24, 2025.
Only applications with all required materials will be considered.
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About the National Museum of the Great Lakes: The National Museum of the Great Lakes is an interactive museum dedicated to preserving, sharing, and celebrating the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story. Featuring fascinating exhibit galleries, rotating temporary exhibits, and two historic vessels—the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and Museum Tug Ohio—we invite visitors to dive into thousands of years of Great Lakes stories. Operated by the Great Lakes Historical Society, the museum also publishes Inland Seas®, a quarterly journal of Great Lakes history.
Mission: To preserve, share, and celebrate the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story.
Core Values Statement: We steward the National Museum of the Great Lakes through our core values of Education, Partnership, Sustainability, Inclusivity, and Leadership.
Vision: To be the gathering place for Great Lakes conversations.