Gift Shop Assistant, McDonald Observatory Visitors Center

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Earliest Start Date:

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Job Details:

The McDonald Observatory isa majorastronomicalresearchobservatory located 16 miles from Fort Davis, Texas (440 miles from the UT Austin campus). This position is at the Frank N. Bash Visitors Center at McDonald Observatory. The Visitors Center is open five days per week, Tuesday through Saturday, and requires a variable work schedule to meet operational needs.

The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff. For more details, please seehttps://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefitsandhttps://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards.

• Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%)

• Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays

• Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan)

• Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax-sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b)

• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses

This position supports the education and public outreach mission of McDonald Observatory by assisting visitors in making purchases, bringing home memories, and by making a positive first impression at the Frank N. Bash Visitor Center in person, via phone, or by email.

• Works in the McDonald Observatory gift shop and helps inspire visitors about astronomy. Provides customer service and information to visitors. Operates the cash register and keeps an accurate till. Keeps the gift shop stocked, clean, and organized, with displays full and neat.

• Assists with receiving, verifying shipment accuracy, labeling, and storing merchandise. Inspects and records merchandise shipments and reports any damage or shortages. Maintains storerooms, including folding shirts and tracking merchandise levels. Helps maintain the inventory list in each storeroom.

• Assists with merchandise window displays, including setup, rotation, and breakdown. Assists with phone and online orders. Pulls items, rings up phone orders, packages merchandise for shipping, and maintains documentation. Assists with other Visitors Center shipping needs as required.

• Participates in a cross-functional team and collaborates with staff to complete tasks and projects. Assists with opening and closing procedures for the Visitors Center. Assists with special projects and events. Follows and enforces safety and security procedures. Performs related duties as required to meet business needs.

• High school graduation or GED and at least six months of relevant cashier experience in a large-scale operation.

• Experience with front desk functions, including direct interaction with people.

• Accuracy and attention to detail.

• Ability to problem-solve and to take initiative to seek answers when needed.

• Knowledge of the principles and processes for providing excellent customer service.

• Computer skills including word processing, email, and internet.

• Competencies for the position include accuracy and attention to detail, effective communication, initiative, interpersonal skills, listening, problem-solving, and service excellence.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

• Two or more years of experience in visitor services or a retail role at a state park, museum, or similar public venue.

• Two years of relevant cashier experience in a large-scale operation.

• Proficiency in Spanish.

$32,000 + depending on qualifications and experience

• Works in a standard office, and visitor center environments.

• Use of manual dexterity.

• May work around mechanical hazards.

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.

• Climbing of stairs and/or ladders.

• Lifting, pushing, and moving 15+ lbs.

• McDonald Observatory is approximately 6900 ft. above sea level. Temperatures can range from -10F to +100F. Year-round exposure to variable and sometimes extreme weather conditions, such as sub-freezing temperatures, wind, dust, extreme heat, rain, hail, snow, and ice.Inclement winter weather can be expected, which requires comfortable driving in wintry conditions on mountain grades.

• The Visitors Center is open year-round, Tuesday-Saturday

• Hours varies and includes shift work, weekends, evenings, and some holidays

• Letter of interest

• Resume

• List of three (3) work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Importantfor applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers:You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply. You may upload a new resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you can multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure thatALLRequired Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current university employee, log in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu, and update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled into your application. The application is one page, and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions and upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer,complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.