Museum Guide

Job Title: Museum Guide

Reports to: Manager of Programs & Public Engagement

Classification: Non-Exempt

Status: Part-time

Date Updated: 11/30/2025

Salary Range: $17.00 per hour

Our Mission

The Modesto Children’s Museum enriches the lives of all children by nurturing creativity, critical thinking, and a love for lifelong learning.

Our Vision & Values

Our vision is to be a world-class and exploratory experience for all children that enriches, inspires, and unites our larger community. We believe that all children are welcome and deserve a safe, inclusive space where they can confidently explore who they are and imagine all that is possible. We know that learning engages the entire family, creating stronger connections through curiosity and discovery. We celebrate diversity at every level—through our staff, programs, and practices—ensuring every child and caregiver feels represented and valued. We invest deeply in our community, building partnerships that strengthen and unite our region. And we hold fast to the belief that play is an essential part of learning, sparking joy, creativity, and a lifelong love of discovery.

Position Summary

The Museum Guide will support MoChiMu’s mission and vision as a continuous point-of-contact for guests, and as the operational foundation of the museum’s guest service and education programs. This front-of-house role will be engaged with MoChiMu guests of all ages throughout their interaction at the museum, including staffing the museum’s front desk, facilitating monetary transactions, solving guest questions and concerns, being present on the museum floor to engage the public in exhibit interpretation and interaction, and delivering MoChiMu programming.

This individual should be comfortable in a customer service-oriented, forward-facing work environment and able to portray the mission and vision of the museum. The Museum Guide will also support day-to-day caretaking of exhibits and facilities to ensure that MoChiMu is a sustainable and enduring learning institution for years to come.

Essential Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities

• Contribute to MoChiMu’s mission by understanding educational best practices and engaging with guests on the museum floor.
• Maintain a high level of knowledge about museum exhibits, programs, and events to answer guest questions and provide recommendations.
• Provide excellent customer service with ticket and merchandise sales and membership and donation processing at the museum’s front desk.
• Maintain the cleanliness and organization of MoChiMu exhibits, restrooms, common areas and storage areas.

General Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities:

• Support MoChiMu in upholding its desired diversity and inclusion outcomes in customer-facing language and processes.
• Provide excellent financial stewardship for all MoChiMu resources and maintain the transparency necessary for a community-based non-profit.
• Be a positive MoChiMu representative and assure the organization and its mission and programs are consistently presented in strong, positive ways to the internal team, partners, relevant stakeholders, the public, and media.
• Comply with MoChiMu policies and procedures, including but not limited to workplace safety, reporting work-related injuries, Infection Control, and preventing potential safety risks for staff, patrons, and others.
• Punctual and regular attendance is an essential responsibility of each employee at MoChiMu. Employees are expected to report to work as scheduled, on time, and prepared to start working. Employees also are expected to remain at work for their entire work schedule. Late arrival, early departure, or other absences from scheduled hours are disruptive and must be avoided.
• Maintain a willingness to support MoChiMu and the team in other collaborative projects, museum needs, and roles outside the assigned job description.
• Work weekends, evenings, and holidays as scheduled.
• The Museum Guide role is anticipated to be scheduled 5-20 hours per week, but hours may fluctuate depending upon organizational needs.

Education and Experience

Education – A high school diploma or equivalent is required.

Experience – Experience working with a youth population and the public is strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Bilingualism is highly preferred.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English is required.
• Ability to handle conflicts and challenges professionally and constructively.
• Ability to analyze processes and data and identify necessary improvements.
• Requires a high level of accuracy and attention.
• Passion for the organization's mission and values.
• Well-spoken and polished demeanor.
• Cultural sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work with diverse people groups.
• Proficiency with Google Suite (Gmail/Sheets/Docs/Drive) and social media platforms.

Work Style & Character

• Forward-thinking, creative, and community-focused leader.
• Embodies MoChiMu’s mission with energy, enthusiasm, and inclusivity.
• Exhibits honesty, integrity, and empathy, fostering a culture of trust and collaboration.
• Approaches challenges with curiosity and a growth mindset, continuously seeking new knowledge and creative solutions to increase the museum’s impact.
• Thrives in a dynamic, evolving organization by embracing change, modeling flexibility, and inspiring others to experiment, learn, and adapt alongside them.

Environmental Conditions

• Indoors in a typical children’s museum environment approximately ninety-five percent (95%) of the time.
• Routine use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.
• Frequently work at a fast pace with unscheduled interruptions.
• May occasionally move (walk or drive) from one work location to another.

Physical Demands

• Ability to ascend, descend, and navigate tight corners within two-story rope climbing structure.
• Ability to use one or two hands to grasp, move, handle, control, feel, and assemble objects, tools, or controls.
• Ability to use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble small objects.
• Ability to walk, sit, stand, stoop, crouch, and climb stairs.
• Ability to move and lift up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to see the differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Ability to see (far/near).
• Ability to talk and hear.
• Regular and consistent attendance.

Changes: This job description will be updated if duties and responsibilities change significantly. Job functions are subject to modification based on business necessity.

ADA/FEHA: MoChiMu will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.

EEO: MoChiMu is an equal-opportunity employer. All aspects of employment, including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all.