Playologist

Responsibilities

• Monitor the gallery floor, exhibit areas and outside adventure area to ensure safe playing, areas are picked-up/clean with sufficient staff/volunteer coverage to provide a positive visitor experience
• Provide excellent customer service and educational moments for all visitors
• Communicate effectively and professionally with the Guest Experience Coordinator to ensure proper management of floor and break schedule
• Help maintain a safe and educational climate for the visitors at the Discovery Center
• Provide input and feedback to the Discovery Center staff about visitor services issues as needed
• Assist with opening, closing, and daily procedures (e.g., turn on/off lights & exhibits, doors locked, facility clean, laundry started, etc.)
• Assist staff and volunteers during private, after-hours events
• Primarily work weekends, and Thursday evenings. Some weekday hours are available.

Other duties as needed and assigned.

Pay begins at $9.75/hr

To apply, please email your resume to [email protected]

Guest Experience Guide

Job Title: Guest Experience Guide

Work Schedule: Varies; Tuesday – Sunday

Classification: Part Time

Pay Scale: $12 – $14 per hour

Supervisor: Director of Guest Services

Description:

The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center in Topeka, Kansas is seeking a friendly, reliable, and adaptable team member to join our Guest Services team. The Guest Experience Guide plays a vital role in creating a welcoming, safe, and engaging environment for the thousands of children and families who visit the museum each year. This position is responsible for ensuring that every guest, volunteer, and visitor feels valued, supported, and ready to explore, with a strong emphasis on building positive, meaningful interactions with guests of all ages.

This role operates in a highly interactive, fast-paced, and child-centered environment where no two days are the same. The Guest Experience Guide is expected to be a visible and engaged presence, regularly interacting with guests, supporting all desk operations, and assisting on the museum floor while working collaboratively with staff across all departments. Success in this role requires strong customer service and interpersonal skills, a genuine enjoyment of working with people, attention to detail, adaptability, and the ability to respond to guest needs and operational priorities in real time.

A strong commitment to teamwork and a guest-first mindset is essential, as all staff contribute to creating a positive and seamless museum experience. This role also requires the ability to remain calm, organized, and professional while managing multiple demands at once, such as assisting guests in person while answering phones and supporting check-in processes simultaneously. The ideal candidate is someone who is energized by engaging with others, comfortable initiating conversations, and able to create a warm and welcoming experience even during busy or high-pressure moments.

Responsibilities:

• Greet and welcome guests and members warmly and professionally, creating a positive first impression and setting the tone for the guest experience
• Responsibly address and resolve guest inquiries and concerns with a courteous, solution-oriented approach to ensure positive experiences and satisfaction
• Manage multiple guest interactions at once, including in-person questions, phone calls, and check-in processes, while maintaining a calm, organized, and welcoming presence
• Assist in providing guest service on the gallery floor as needed, engaging with children and families in a friendly and helpful manner
• Step into a Playologist-style role when needed to support the guest experience on the floor, including facilitating play, assisting with exhibits, and engaging directly with children and caregivers during busy times or when additional support is needed
• Assist in maintaining records and adhere to appropriate records retention requirements
• Support cleaning procedures of exhibit supplies and facility spaces to ensure a safe, clean, and guest-ready environment
• Answer telephones and respond to general email requests, providing accurate information and redirecting as appropriate
• Follow all museum procedures appropriately, including but not limited to opening and closing procedures
• Work collaboratively with team members across departments, stepping in wherever needed to support operations and guest experience
• Take direction from supervisors and adapt to shifting priorities to meet the goals and needs of the organization
• Maintain reliability and flexibility in scheduling and responsibilities
• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills:

• Proven customer service and administrative skills in a fast-paced or guest-focused environment
• Strong problem-solving and multitasking skills with the ability to stay calm under pressure, manage competing priorities, and provide excellent service during high-traffic and high-demand moments
• Technologically proficient in Google Workspace and willing to learn customer relationship management and point of sale systems
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to prioritize tasks in a dynamic environment
• Comfortable working with young children and their caregivers in an interactive setting
• Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with diverse guests of all backgrounds and abilities
• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Friendly, outgoing, and professional demeanor with the ability to maintain confidentiality
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Cash handling experience
• Commitment to the mission and values of the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center

Preferred Skills:

• Bilingual skills preferred
• Experience in guest services, hospitality, museums, or similar high-interaction environments
• Passion for creating positive guest experiences and supporting team-based operations

Position Conditions:

• Ability to pass a physical examination, background check, and pre-employment drug and alcohol screening
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and remain active for extended periods of time in both indoor and occasional outdoor environments
• Ability to perform repetitive physical tasks such as climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching
• Ability to multitask and remain flexible in a fast-paced, high-traffic, and highly interactive public environment
• Comfortable working in a space with moderate to high noise levels and constant activity
• Expected to be an active, engaged team member who supports a team-first culture, with a willingness to step into different roles—including supporting the museum floor as a Playologist—based on operational needs
• Commitment to prioritizing guest experience at all times, ensuring every interaction contributes to a positive, welcoming, and engaging environment

Work Location:

• On-site at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center
• Remote work is not available for this position
• Pay: From $12.00 per hour

Shift availability:
Day Shift (Required)

Ability to Commute:
Topeka, KS (Required)
Work Location: In person

To apply, please email your resume to [email protected] or apply online

Program Guide

Job Title: Program Guide
Work Schedule: Varies; Tuesday – Sunday
Classification: Part Time
Pay Scale: $12 – $14 per hour
Supervisor: Vice President of Play and Learning

Description:
The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center in Topeka, Kansas is seeking an engaging, dependable, and team-oriented individual to serve as a Program Guide. The Program Guide plays an important role in supporting the museum’s educational and play-based experiences by assisting with Maker Space activities, supporting educators during programs, and helping guide new staff and volunteers as they learn their roles. This position requires a strong understanding of play-based learning, a positive and proactive attitude, and the ability to support both guests and team members in a dynamic environment.

This role operates in a highly interactive, fast-paced, and child-centered environment where flexibility and teamwork are essential. The Program Guide is expected to be a visible and engaged presence on the museum floor, helping to elevate the quality of guest experiences while modeling best practices in play facilitation. A strong commitment to a team-first and guest-first culture is critical, as all staff contribute to creating a welcoming, safe, and engaging environment for children and families. This role also requires the ability to remain calm, organized, and professional while managing multiple demands at once, including supporting guests, assisting staff, and adapting to changing needs in real time.

Discovery Center Business Hours:

Mondays: Closed: (open for special events occasionally)
Tuesday – Wednesdays: 9am – 5pm
Thursdays: 9am – 8pm
Fridays – Saturdays: 9am – 5pm
Sundays: 12pm – 5pm

Responsibilities:

• Support Maker Space experiences by assisting guests, preparing materials, maintaining organization of supplies, and ensuring a safe and engaging environment
• Assist educators with the setup, facilitation, and breakdown of programs, field trips, and special events
• Provide support on the museum floor by engaging with children and families, encouraging play, and helping to create meaningful learning experiences
• Assist with offsite programming such as mobile museum events, discovery classroom events and family steam nights
• Serve as a go-to team member for assisting with onboarding and training of new staff and volunteers, helping them learn expectations, processes, and best practices
• Model strong play facilitation techniques and guest engagement strategies for other staff
• Support guest interactions by answering questions, providing guidance, and helping resolve minor concerns in a friendly and solution-oriented manner
• Step into a Playologist-style role as needed to support floor coverage, ensuring guest experience remains consistent and high-quality
• Assist with maintaining cleanliness, organization, and readiness of program spaces, exhibits, and materials
• Work collaboratively with team members across departments to support daily operations and guest experience
• Take direction from supervisors and adapt to shifting priorities throughout the day
• Maintain reliability and flexibility in scheduling and responsibilities
• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills with the ability to engage positively with children, families, staff, and volunteers
• Strong problem-solving and multitasking skills with the ability to stay calm under pressure, manage competing priorities, and support multiple needs at once
• Ability to model positive behaviors and support the development of new staff and volunteers
• Comfortable facilitating or supporting play-based learning experiences in an interactive environment
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to provide clear, supportive guidance to both guests and team members
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently while also contributing to a collaborative team environment
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly interactive setting with children and families
• Commitment to the mission and values of the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center

Preferred Skills:

• Previous experience as a Playologist or in a similar role within a museum, educational, or youth-focused environment
• Experience supporting or facilitating educational programs or group activities
• Experience assisting with training or mentoring staff or volunteers
• Bilingual skills preferred

Position Conditions:

• Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment screening requirements
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and remain active for extended periods of time in both indoor and outdoor environments
• Ability to perform repetitive physical tasks such as kneeling, crouching, climbing, and reaching
• Ability to multitask and remain flexible in a fast-paced, high-traffic, and highly interactive public environment
• Comfortable working in a space with moderate to high noise levels and constant activity
• Expected to be an active, engaged team member who supports a team-first culture, stepping in wherever needed to support staff, programs, and guest experience
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and supportive while balancing multiple responsibilities, including assisting guests, supporting programs, and guiding team members in real time

Work Location:

• On-site at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center
• Remote work is not available for this position

Apply online or send resume to [email protected].