Position Summary

The Protection Specialist is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for Crystal Bridges members, guests, volunteers, staff, collections, facilities, and grounds. The Protection Services Associate will actively provide an experience of excellence that is both welcoming and invigorating.

Please note that the general schedule for this position may consist of a rotating shift. Hours may extend past 12:30 am and are subject to change depending on the needs of the Museum.

Position’s Principal Responsibilities

• Present a welcoming demeanor to all guests and provide appropriate information as necessary to all who enter assigned area
• Interact with the public in a courteous and respectful manner while upholding Museum policies
• Circulate frequently through scheduled posts (interior and exterior) to deter acts of vandalism, theft or negligence and ensure the safety of guests; remain alert and watchful at all times
• Provide protection for the museum and the premises from criminal activity, fire, and safety hazards in public and non-public spaces during operational hours, special events, and holidays
• Prepares Gallery objects for the day’s activities and regulates traffic flow through galleries to ensure smooth operation of daily activities, special events, and receptions (may be required to work events)
• Handle evacuations and difficult situations according to Museum policy
• Provide basic first aid and CPR in cases of accident or illness
• Reports all suspicious conditions or persons; provide descriptions of violators of Museum policies; report accidents, injuries and/or hazardous conditions immediately
• Prepare detailed Formal and Informal incident reports for all emergencies, serious incidents, or issues as directed by Department Leadership
• Provide escorts for individuals going through the galleries before and after museum hours as directed by Department Leadership

Additional Responsibilities

• Proactively seek and obtain information regarding Museum policies/promotions, activities, and events to provide a high level of customer service
• Become familiar with Museum buildings, grounds, and community to provide appropriate information and direction to guests
• Check email for schedule updates and museum notifications
• Ability to work weekends and evenings, as required
• Drive CB company vehicles

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training, and Traits

• High School graduate or equivalent required
• Driver’s license required
• Strong background in a customer service, public oriented environment
• Good verbal communication skills
• The ability to clearly speak and understand the English language (bi-lingual a plus)
• Basic computer skills required (checking email, sending email, navigate museum software/applications.)
• Write clearly/legibly in English required
• Observant and friendly
• Utilizes good judgment

Work Experience

• Minimum of 1 years related experience and/or training in a customer service-oriented field
• Previous security experience in a public environment preferred

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Sitting or leaning while on post will not be permitted.

• Physical Demands: Position requires working in Museum Galleries and Museum Complex grounds for prolonged periods. This position requires standing, walking and climbing stairs, bending and stretching, and physical stamina to lift a minimum of 25 pounds unassisted. Ability to stand and walk for a minimum of three hours without a break. Sitting or leaning while on post will not be permitted.
• Work Environment: Work will be performed in museum spaces and grounds. Additionally, strong communication skills and ability to interact politely and effectively with a wide range of Museum members, guests, volunteers, and staff. Museum communications devices (Radios with earpiece speakers) will be utilized.
• Visual demands: Visual acuity to review written materials, observe large crowds and provide detailed descriptions is required for this job.
• Exposure: Position requires individuals to work in galleries that may have noise levels up to 85 decibels. Patrol duties will include interior and exterior responsibilities in all seasons and temperatures.
• Position requires ongoing flexibility in work hours due to events, staffing needs and other factors.

About Crystal Bridges

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding American art. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a non-profit charitable organization by arts patron and chair of the museum’s board of directors, Alice Walton. Since opening to the public on 11-11-11, the museum has welcomed more than 5 million visitors and garnered 15,000 membership households. Some 280,000 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost.

Crystal Bridges takes its name from a nearby natural spring and the bridge construction incorporated in the building, designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. A series of pavilions nestled around two spring-fed ponds house the galleries and amenities such as a restaurant, museum store designed by architect Marlon Blackwell, and a library featuring more than 50,000 volumes of art reference material. In addition to the museum’s architecture, a Usonian house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright was preserved, acquired, and moved to the museum grounds in 2015, and a rare Buckminster Fuller’s Fly’s Eye Dome was installed in 2017, both providing access to American architectural masterworks in a natural setting.

Sculpture and walking trails link the museum's 120-acre park to downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A new entrance, elevator tower, and pedestrian bridge was added to the north side of the building in 2017, increasing access to the museum’s north lawn and newly enhanced North Forest Trail. More than 600,000 visitors a year utilize the museum’s five miles of walking trails.

Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection spans five centuries of American artworks from early American to the present, and is always free to view. Crystal Bridges is committed to telling broad and inclusive stories by acquiring and showcasing the highest quality works by artists underrepresented in art history and conventional museum frameworks. Works such as Asher B. Durand’s Kindred Spirits, Gilbert Stuart’s George Washington, and Georgia O’Keeffe’s Jimson Weed are displayed alongside contemporary artists such as Kerry James Marshall, Maya Lin, Fritz Scholder, Jaune Quick-To-See-Smith, Felix Gonzales-Torres, and Amy Sherald represent some of the finest achievements in American art. The collection continues to grow, while the museum also offers temporary exhibitions that complement the collection and can also reveal art’s connections to equality and justice.

Crystal Bridges provides year-round programming for all ages. In 2019, more than 800 public programs and events were offered, including lectures, performances, classes, and continuing education for K-12 teachers. Crystal Bridges stays connected online with the full collection available via eMuseum, an award-winning app, a podcast called Museum Way, all available for free, and many of the museum’s lectures such as the Distinguished Speaker Series are on Crystal Bridges’ YouTube channel. An online-learning initiative provides opportunities for students and teachers with arts-based courses, as well as SmartHistory with arts history videos and essays. Crystal Bridges also offers two research fellowship programs. The Tyson Scholars in American Art program encourages and supports full-time scholarship that seeks to expand boundaries and traditional categories of investigation into American art and visual culture. The Reese Teacher Fellowship provides for research into the development of interdisciplinary connections between American art and core curriculum subjects of language arts, history, social studies, and the sciences. In addition, Crystal Bridges administers the awarding of the Don Tyson Prize, an unprecedented award recognizing significant achievements in the field of American art. Additional information about Crystal Bridges is available online at CrystalBridges.org.

About the Momentary

The Momentary is a new contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A satellite to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary presents visual, performing, and culinary arts. The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary art’s role in everyday life and explore the unfolding story of contemporary American arts in an international context by actively commissioning and exhibiting outstanding works that explore new ideas and inspire action. The Momentary was founded by the Walton family, based on the vision of Tom, Olivia, and Steuart Walton. The Walton Family Foundation is supporting this project as a way to enhance the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas. The Momentary welcomes all with free general admission. Additional offerings include an artist-in-residence program, culinary experiences including an Onyx Coffee Lab, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, an outdoor festival space, and a gift store. For more information, visit theMomentary.org. The Momentary is located at 507 SE E Street, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.