Visitor Experience & Services Assistant, Gibson Art Museum chez Simon Fraser University

Who We Are

Simon Fraser University is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Our purpose – the essence of SFU – is to create and connect knowledge, learning and community for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. We are committed to fostering excellence, innovation, belonging and community in all that we do.

The Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum opened to the public on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Presenting critically engaged and research-driven work by contemporary artists, this new visual art facility will expand SFU Galleries’ history of programming, creating new opportunities for artist-led learning and cross-disciplinary exploration. The Gibson will also house the SFU Art Collection, an invaluable and actively growing resource of over 5,900 works of art, unique in its capacity to trace the complex social and cultural life connected to this region and always open to new inquiries.  

The Gibson’s 12,000 square feet of galleries and program spaces—which include an art studio, outdoor courtyard, salon, and forum—have been designed in recognition of the evolving ways in which communities engage with culture. As such, the Gibson’s spaces have been created for people as much as for works of art. With a hearth at its core, the Gibson will become SFU’s living room: a warm and welcoming place to find one another and learn together.

The Gibson will stand on the unceded and ancestral territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, Səl̓ílwətaɬ, and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm Nations. Acknowledging that the Gibson’s activities unfold on colonized Indigenous territories is a recognition that settler colonialism is an ongoing structure. It is also a commitment to support the capacity of art to unsettle these conditions. Entry to the Gibson is always free and open to all.

The Visitor Experience & Services Assistant is one of several new positions that will help expand the Gibson’s programs and operational capacity at this exciting and demanding time of growth.  

About the Role

Reporting to the Visitor Experience & Services Manager, the Visitor Experience & Services Assistant supports the Gibson Art Museum's public-facing operations and interfaces, specifically the Welcome Desk, Gift Shop, public programming, external/internal-SFU events and space bookings, and general requests for information and wayfinding. The Visitor Experience Assistant works to ensure that each visitor's experience is a positive one, reflecting the Gibson's ethos as a welcoming and inclusive space for all.

Core competencies for this position include: effective and clear communication (including actively listening, accurately reading non-verbal communication and successfully conveying information, thoughts and ideas with impact and influence); respectful and inclusive (contributing to a welcoming and inclusive university by valuing diversity and being open, compassionate and respectful); build relationships and work together (intentional about building and maintaining strong, positive and effective relationships, teams, collaborations).

Full Job Description 

Qualifications

High school graduation and completion of one year of post-secondary education in contemporary visual arts, or formal program equivalent. 3 years of experience. An equivalent combination of formal education, certificate/program of study and experience is acceptable.

• Good knowledge of issues in contemporary visual arts and publishing.
• Good knowledge of and experience with gallery and/or museum administration practices.
• Good knowledge of and experience of retail practices, including customer interaction, visual merchandising, and inventory entry.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated compassion, empathy and confidence when dealing with publics.
• Exemplary listening
   

What We Offer

At SFU, our goal is to ensure our people are valued and supported by promoting a healthy work-life balance, professional growth and development, as well as a safe and respectful workplace. We offer continuing employees who belong in the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE Local 3338):

• 3 weeks’ vacation (prorated for the first year)*
• Hybrid-work program for eligible positions
• Employer paid defined benefit pension plan
• On-campus tuition waiver for employees and their immediate family members*
• Funding for professional development expenses*
• And more! View our benefits brochure

*Prorated for part-time employees

Additional Information

Must be able to work Wednesday - Sunday, and occasional evenings.

For external candidates, the starting salary is the first step of the salary range.

Please include your cover letter and resume in one attachment.

SFU is an equity employer and strongly encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of the university.

We are committed to ensuring that the application and interview process is accessible to all applicants. If you require any assistance or accommodations, please contact [email protected].