Gallery Security Officer - Part Time

About the Role

This is an exciting time to join our expanding Security team as we continue to grow and enhance support across the museum's three locations.

The Gallery Security Officer (GSO) role is centered on customer service, combining safety responsibilities with a welcoming, guest-focused approach. GSOs are stationed throughout the museum's galleries, lobbies, and other public areas during regular hours, as well as during private events and special programming. In this role, you will help ensure the safety and security of both visitors and the museum's collections. The position offers flexible scheduling and the opportunity to work in a dynamic and engaging environment.

This position is governed by a collective bargaining agreement between the Seattle Art Museum and the SAM Visitor Service Officers union.

This role has a target start date of January 13, 2027.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Visitor Experience, Membership, Volunteers, and Venue Experience to enhance and support visitor experience
• Provide security for galleries, public spaces, meeting rooms, offices, storage areas, traffic corridors, and queues by continuously patrolling or posting these areas as assigned
• Observe on-display collection for changes or inappropriate touches of any kind, reporting all incidents to Security Supervisor
• Regulate and control access to private spaces
• Report any building conditions requiring attention to Security Supervisor
• Ensure patrons and vendors are following policies and procedures
• Maintain working knowledge of current policies, procedures, guidelines, processes, and systems to ensure the safety and security of museum facilities, the collection, staff, and visitors
• Report incidents, notable events, and respond to calls for emergency assistance
• Complete written incident reports (IRs) detailing incidents, art touches, damage, and building and facilities maintenance issues along with necessary documentation, report in an accurate and timely manner
• Proactively prevent escalation, and work to de-escalate whenever possible
• Provide superior customer service, creating a welcoming, inclusive and accessible environment for all
• Exhibit sensitivity to all visitors, including first-time museum goers, non-native English speakers, and visitors of various ages and backgrounds
• Participate in training programs for emergency situations, such as and earthquake evacuation, active shooter preparedness
• Assist Security Supervisors and others in emergency response situations
• Participate in regular emergency drills, First Aid/CPR/AED training, and de-escalation training
• Contribute to an institutional focus of delivering exceptional, welcoming, and inclusive customer service-creating positive, meaningful experiences for all visitors, every time
• Participate in institutional learning opportunities to grow our collective understanding and integration of antiracism, cultural competency, and equity values into SAM's work

Required Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience:

• Reliable attendance and punctuality
• Orientation towards customer service
• Ability to utilize, operate, and monitor a radio
• Strong observation skills, ability to remain alert and attentive
• Prepare clear, detailed, and accurate written reports

Additional information

Ability to remain calm and clear-headed in stressful situations and help resolve complaints and incidents in a respectful, diplomatic, and consistent manner

Ability to work in potentially crowded and noisy environments

Ability to use independent judgment and discretion to make immediate decisions related to enforcement of regulations by carrying out established policies and procedures for the security and safety of people, the collection, and the facility in a calm, professional, and tactful manner

• Adherence to policies and procedures outlined in Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Represent the museum with a high level of integrity and professionalism
• Professional verbal and written communication
• Ability to build positive working relationships with colleagues and the general public
• Exercise discretion in maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information
• Basic computer literacy
• Ability to pass and maintain security background check clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• One year experience protective, safety, and/or security work for an organization or security provider
• Experience as a member of a security team in an arts or cultural environment with significant public access and substantial physical assets

• Emergency planning and training experience
• Experience in a museum setting
• FSLA Status: Part Time, Non-Exempt
• Reports To: Security Supervisor

Work Location: Onsite, Seattle Downtown, Volunteer Park, and Olympic Sculpture Park

• Work Schedule: Variable hours depending on event needs.
• Approximately 10-18 hours per week.
• Must be available weekends and evenings, sometimes as late as midnight.

Work Conditions

• Work areas are primarily inside, in a climate-controlled environment with moderate background noise.
• Workspaces may include outdoor areas.
• May have contact with hostile or abusive members of the public.
• Work during events may have higher noise levels.

• Approximately 5% of time is spent stationary while working at a desk.
• Balance of time (approximately 95%) is spent moving around the work area.
• Extended periods of standing will be required.
• Must be able to ascend/descend stairs in high-rise building.

• Clear and effective verbal and written communication in English with the public and co-workers is necessary.
• Ability to effectively use a computer screen and interpret printed materials, memos and other appropriate paperwork.
• Ability to effectively and regularly operate a computer, keyboard, telephone, and radio

Benefits

As a non-exempt employee at SAM, you will be eligible for paid sick time accrued at a rate of 0.0385 per hour worked, and fringe benefits including two guest passes to SAM, access to fitness facility, access to our Employee Assistance Fund (EAP), Tier III AAM membership, discounts for SAM memberships, SAM Shop, and MARKET, and access to member rates for ticketed events at SAM.

Accomodation

If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact. For candidates, we ask that, if possible, you wait until you're invited to a screen, online technical assessment or interview before requesting an accommodation.

• Not sure you check every box?
• Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often only apply if they meet 100% of the criteria.
• If you believe you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply!