Security Officer, Part-Time - Whitney Museum of American Art

Security Officers are part of the public-facing team and are principally responsible for the safety and security of our visitors and staff. Security Officers contribute to the overall protection of art and aim to prevent any serious art incident.

Security Officers provide security service in the lobby, in the galleries, at the staff entrance, in central and at our art storage facility. On occasion they may be asked to work in locations different from those listed. They assist with the management of visitors.

Reports to Assistant Head Security Officer, Head Security Officer, Security Supervisor, Security Manager, Director of Security.

As part of the Visitor Experience team, Security Officers create a positive environment for the general public and museum members.

Shifts Include Weekends, Overnights, Evenings and Mornings.

Requirements:  8 and 16 hour New York State Certification; promptness; strong customer service skills; ability to stand for long periods and a neat appearance; fire Security Officer experience is required.

General Description:

The Security Officer enforces Museum security regulations for the public as well as the staff. They will Security Officer and patrol an assigned area.

Primary Responsibilities and Duties:

• Enforce the Museum rules of conduct for visitors
• Patrol designated area in the galleries or lobby
• Ensure that the public, the Museum Staff and other outside contractors adhere to certain fundamental rules of security to prevent theft, fire, damage, and personal injury
• Responsible for preventing disorder and overcrowding
• Monitor and report safety conditions
• Monitor CCTV Cameras as required
• Responsible for elevator operation
• Check packages of persons and/or staff leaving the Museum
• Responsible for any other duties as directed by Director of Security or designee.

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Organizational skills preferred
• Excellent communication skills preferred
• Bi-Lingual a plus
• Must be able to stand particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Respond to First Aid and Emergency Situations
• Maneuver safely up and down flights of stairs multiple times a round or shift.
• Must able bend, jump, run and lift about 25 pounds

Relationships:

• Daily contact with Visitors, Retail, Member Services, Facilities, Education and Visitor Services departments

Confidentiality:

• As required in relation to any sensitive information in relation to safety or security

Principal Responsibilities:

• Uniformed Position
• Assigned to fixed or mobile security post inside or outside the museum.
• Assists in visitor traffic and crowd control.
• Monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules.
• Assist visitors by providing directions, answering questions.
• Responds to calls for assistance.
• Complete other tasks as assigned.
• Qualifications: Must possess a current NYS Security Officer License.
• High School Diploma or equivalent required.

Knowledge:

• Superior communication and customer service skills.
• Computer literacy a plus.
• Experience working at a visitor destination, especially in security or serving visitors a plus.

Customer Service:

• Ability to communicate with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public and other external sources, in person, in writing or by telephone.
• Ability to actively listen to what others are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, ask questions as appropriate and not interrupt at inappropriate times.
• Ability to provide information to supervisors, co-workers and represent the organization to customers, the public and other external sources, in person, in writing or by telephone.
• Comfortable working in an environment with groups of children.
• Experience serving diverse audiences of children.
• Demonstrable experience in working as a member of a team.
• Strong communications skills with the ability to express ideas clearly in oral communications.
• A museum background is preferred but not required.

Skills and Abilities:

• A minimum of two years’ experience in security field.
• An ability and willingness to participate in events outside the workday schedule.
• Must be available to work evenings and weekends.

Compensation: 

• This is a part-time role with an hourly wage rate of $21.34.

The advertised pay rate is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse work experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.

About the Whitney:

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

EEO Statement:

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.

COVID guidelines

The health and safety of our Museum community is the highest priority.  As such, the Whitney Museum is requiring all newly hired staff members to be fully vaccinated and boosted with an FDA authorized and/or approved COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Requests for reasonable accommodations for medical, religious, or other reasons will be considered in accordance with applicable law.