You don't need to check every box to be a great fit, we're looking for the right person, not a perfect resume.
· Availability to work varied hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
· Genuine enthusiasm for connecting with people from all walks of life
· Strong communication and interpersonal skills
· Proven sales ability and a natural, helpful approach to promoting products and programs
· Cash handling experience and basic math proficiency
· High level of integrity in processing customer transactions
· Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
· A positive, adaptable attitude and a willingness to learn
· Dependability: your team and your guests count on you
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
· High school diploma required and a Bachelor’s degree in Business or Merchandising is preferred.
· Prior experience in retail or customer service leadership preferred
WORKING CONDITIONS
This position requires long periods of standing, bending, stretching, reaching. Speaking and listening, both in person or while using telephone. Ability to lift boxes of merchandise up to 40lbs onto a wheeled device for moving from building to building. Some work on displays may require a ladder with 2-4 steps. Moving throughout the campus, on sometimes uneven terrain, sometimes in low light. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
As Shift Supervisor, you'll guide your team through the day and lead by example, creating a welcoming and energetic environment for both guests and staff.
Guest Experience & Sales
· Set the standard for warm, enthusiastic guest interactions with a genuine first greeting to a memorable farewell
· Champion Lowell's membership program, sharing its benefits naturally with visitors and helping staff to recruit members onsite
· Keep guests informed and interested in our daily programs, shows, and experiences happening across campus
· Model and encourage exceptional customer service, handling any guest concerns with grace and professionalism
Operations & Team Leadership
· Serve as the on-site point person for admissions and gift shop operations throughout the shift
· Manage the flow of the shift — coordinating workstation rotations, breaks, and team energy to keep things running at their best
· Coordinate schedule updates and daily changes in partnership with the Presentation and Telescopes team
· Ensure opening and closing tasks are completed thoroughly, including cleaning, restocking, labeling, and software reporting
· Provide a daily written recap to the Public Programs Management Team, noting key highlights and any items needing follow-up
· Provide additional tasks within specialized area of expertise based on your strengths and team needs, such as gift shop merchandising or customer service correspondence
· Demonstrate proficiency in Lowell's sales software and serve as a resource for troubleshooting admissions, gift shop, membership, and register transactions
As a Visitor Experience Shift Supervisor, you'll be the person who sets the tone for the Guest experience at Lowell Observatory, leading a passionate front-line team to deliver exceptional service from the moment guests arrive to the moment they head home under Flagstaff's legendary dark skies.
You'll oversee daily operations across our admissions desk and Starry Skies gift shop, keeping everything running smoothly while making sure our guests and team members feel supported. The Visitor Experience Shift Supervisor reports to the Visitor Experience Staff Manager and is Part of Lowell Observatory’s Public Program department.
The mission of Lowell Observatory is to pursue the study of astronomy, especially the study of our solar system and its evolution; to conduct pure research in astronomical phenomena; and to maintain quality public education and outreach programs to bring the results of astronomical research to the general public.
Lowell Observatory is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. Lowell Observatory has always been, and always will be, committed to diversity and inclusion. We seek individuals from all backgrounds to join our teams, and we encourage our employees to bring their authentic, original, and best selves to work.
Lowell Observatory sits at the base of one of the mountains sacred to indigenous tribes throughout the region. We honor their past, present, and future generations, who have lived here for millennia and will forever call this place home.
Employment with Lowell Observatory is on an “at will” basis. At-will employment means that the relationship may be terminated at any time, with or without cause, reason or advance notice, by either you or the Observatory for any reason not expressly prohibited by law. Please not that the teams and conditions of your employment, including but not limited to compensation, benefits, duties, and policies, are subject to change at the discretion of Lowell Observatory based on business needs or changes in applicable laws and regulations.
Lowell Observatory is committed to providing access, and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. Our non-smoking campus is at an elevation of 7,200ft/2200m, and the LDT is 40 miles south of Flagstaff at an elevation of 7,800 ft/2370m. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources office for assistance.