Volunteer Job Descriptions

Job Title: Docent
Responsible to: Curator of education
Job description: Docents are facilitators whose enthusiasm and knowledge enable them to help visitors make meaning of the Maier Museum’s collection. Docents work in pairs (one leader, one assistant) leading school groups of 8 – 14 students for 50 minute tours of the Museum. Docents may also be asked to conduct adult-level tours as needed.
Tour Volume: Our heaviest tour months are March and November. Docents lead or assist no more than six tours in March and six tours in November. During the other months of the year, docents may be asked to lead additional tours for a variety of audiences, as the Museum receives requests. These independently scheduled tours do not add significantly to the average tour volume for each docent, and may range from 2 to 8 additional tours annually. Docents are strongly encouraged to participate in the ongoing Tour of the Month program by working with the curator of education to develop a unique half-hour tour focusing on a particular theme in the Museum's collection, to be presented initially to fellow docents, and then to the general public.
In-service training provided: Introduction to American art video series to be held at the Museum on a flexible schedule throughout the summer. Required training takes place at the Museum in September and October and consists of 6 to 8 training sessions, Mondays from 1 – 2:30 p.m (up to 30 hours training the first year, between 8 – 10 hours each year thereafter).
Qualifications: Dependability a must; friendliness and responsiveness essential; ability to manage groups; interest in continuing education for personal enrichment
Other responsibilities: Tour leaders and assistants may also function as receptionists if they desire to do so.

Job Title: Receptionist
Responsible to: Docent advisory committee member in charge of receptionist scheduling and curator of education
Job description: Greet visitors; work in conjunction with the Museum security guard to enforce rules; provide general information about the Museum, Randolph College, and the art work on display; handle gift shop sales.
Time required: Commit to two regular monthly times (1 – 3 p.m. or 3 – 5 p.m. weekdays, or 2 – 4 p.m. Saturday or Sunday)
In-service training provided: Initial 1 ½ hour orientation in late August, provided by curator of education, Museum secretary and experienced docents; on-the-job learning and periodic sessions related to the collection, changing exhibitions, and updates regarding procedures.
Qualifications: Dependability a must; friendliness and responsiveness essential.
Other responsibilities: Receptionists are responsible for arranging their own substitutes when they have a scheduling conflict, and for notifying the Museum office when they have confirmed a substitution. Docent directories are provided to all volunteers.

To find out more about volunteer opportunities at the Maier Museum of Art, please contact curator of education, Martha Kjeseth Johnson at mjohnson@randolphcollege.edu or 947-8136 extension 3.