Description

Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center

Job Description

Position Title: Visitor Experience Manager
Department: Operations
Reports To: Director of Operations
Status: Exempt – Salary

Position Summary

Under the guidance of the Director of Operations, the Visitor Experience Manager plays a vital role in fostering a welcoming, engaging, and memorable experience for everyone who visits Oklahoma Contemporary. This position leads and supports a dynamic, visitor-focused team, ensuring they have the tools, training, and encouragement needed to succeed.

The Visitor Experience Manager oversees all public-facing operations, strengthening our front-of-house and visitor service practices. In this role, you will ensure our mission, vision, and values are reflected across every visitor touchpoint, helping to create an environment that is inclusive, consistent, and aligned with the spirit of our organization.

Requirements

Essential Job Functions

Visitor Experience & Team Leadership

Manage welcome and ticketing operations for general admission, box office, and special events or exhibitions.
Foster a positive and supportive team culture by setting clear goals, delegating tasks, establishing timelines, motivating staff, identifying training needs, and providing ongoing coaching.
Address all team concerns with professionalism and resolve conflicts thoughtfully.
Monitor team performance and coordinate opportunities for team-building and professional growth.
Support hiring, onboarding, training, and performance evaluations, including administering incentives and corrective action when needed.
Ensure the team consistently monitors the condition, safety, and security of all public spaces, maintaining high standards throughout the day.
Lead daily briefings to keep the team updated and prepared.
Operations & Collaboration

Collaborate with the Exhibitions team to understand and support art stewardship and security needs for each exhibition.
Develop and maintain frontline training programs, including materials that support visitors with diverse abilities.
Partner with the Education department to ensure staff are fully informed on programs and visitor expectations.
Participate in Exhibition and Development meetings as appropriate to support planning, membership, and visitor engagement strategies.
Recommend admissions policies, communicate updates to staff, and monitor visitor feedback to inform improvements.
Recommend and implement workflow, staffing, technology, and budget enhancements to improve departmental efficiency.
Collaborate with internal departments to ensure timely and accurate communication of public information.
Work closely with the Director of Operations and Operations Department to support facility and security monitoring and ensure timely reporting of issues.
Administration & Reporting

Oversee cash-handling procedures in coordination with the Finance Department.
Lead weekly, monthly, quarterly, and exhibition-related reporting and analysis, including attendance, retail performance, and visitor trends, and present key updates to Senior Management.
Manage the department budget, track expenses, and complete monthly reconciliations.
Provide occasional support outside regular working hours to advance the organization’s mission.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Operations.
 

Competency Statements

Ability to track and analyze visitation data to guide decision-making.
Demonstrated experience managing, training, and motivating a team.
Ability to multitask, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with staff, colleagues, and the public.
Strong written, verbal, analytical, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment.
Ability to lead a team of part-time staff and effectively manage turnover and operational challenges.
 

Job Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred; four years of supervisory experience or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Strong computer skills and comfort with technology; experience working with Tessitura is highly desirable.
        Previous experience working collaboratively with diverse groups, and sensitivity to cultural diversity.

Flexible schedule with availability for occasional evenings and weekends.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Word.
Knowledge of visitor experience best practices; experience with arts and cultural audiences strongly preferred.
Fluency in Spanish, Vietnamese, or ASL is a plus.
 

Other Requirements and Working Conditions

Valid driver’s license and access to a legally registered and insured vehicle.
Daily use of a computer, monitor, telephone, and copier.
Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends as required.
Active participation in team meetings and a collaborative work environment.
Physical requirements may include lifting up to 50 lbs. and frequent sitting, standing, walking, and driving.
 

Equal Opportunity Statement

Oklahoma Contemporary is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or veteran status.

About Oklahoma Contemporary

Oklahoma Contemporary is an inclusive center for the arts where people of all ages and backgrounds can experience art, encounter new ideas and ignite their creative potential. Through visual art exhibitions, performances, public programs, community-building initiatives, outdoor installations and special events, Oklahoma Contemporary creates opportunities for everyone to come together in celebration of contemporary culture and artistic expression. With year-round classes and seasonal youth camps across multiple disciplines, the arts center’s education programs encourage youth and adults to express their ideas across a variety of media and learn new skills. Oklahoma Contemporary believes that art is for everyone and places accessibility and education at the center of all programming. Admission to exhibitions is always free. Oklahoma Contemporary is a regional 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by businessman and philanthropist Christian Keesee and Kirkpatrick Foundation Director Marilyn Myers.

Inclusion

Oklahoma Contemporary strives to demonstrate leadership by modeling excellence and best practices for inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility. We believe in the power of human creativity and value the opportunities for connection and learning that exist when cultures and communities come together in collaboration and understanding.

We commit to championing policies and practices that value diversity, foster cultural equity and create an accessible and inclusive environment. Oklahoma Contemporary does not discriminate based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, citizenship status or religion. We recognize our strengths lie in the broad range of people who contribute their time and talents to our mission and are dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive place for them to explore creativity.