Cultivation Assistant

Cultivation Assistant

Department: Operations
Reports to: Director of Cultivation and Assistant Director of Cultivation

Position Overview

The Cultivation Assistant plays a critical role in maintaining the Maine Discovery Museum as a clean, safe, welcoming, and joyful environment for all visitors. This is a physically active, hands-on position with a strong emphasis on routine, repetitive cleaning and sanitizing of museum spaces, combined with guest-facing responsibilities that support a positive visitor experience.

This role requires someone who takes pride in care work, enjoys staying busy, and understands that cleanliness, safety, and friendliness are foundational to an exceptional museum experience.

Primary Responsibilities

Facility Cleaning & Care (Primary Focus)

• Perform routine, thorough cleaning of all museum spaces, including exhibit halls, restrooms, snack rooms, offices, and program spaces
• Repeatedly pick up, reset, and sanitize exhibits and public spaces throughout the day
• Disinfect high-touch surfaces and exhibits to ensure a healthy environment for children and families
• Monitor museum spaces continuously and address spills, messes, and safety concerns promptly
• Assist with basic exhibit cleaning and light maintenance tasks
• Follow established cleaning schedules, safety protocols, and sanitation standards

This position involves significant time on your feet, frequent walking, bending, lifting, and repetitive tasks throughout the day.

Museum Experience & Visitor Support

• Help provide an exceptional experience for every visitor by ensuring every touchpoint is clean, safe, well-organized, and welcoming
• Serve as a friendly, visible, and approachable presence on the museum floor
• Provide basic information to visitors and answer questions when needed
• Cover occasional admissions desk shifts, including admission sales, member check-in, and gift shop sales.
• Support birthday parties, rentals, events, and programs by helping keep spaces clean and ready for use

Safety & Response

• Act as a public safety–focused staff member, keeping an eye on exhibits, facilities, and visitor behavior
• Respond calmly and professionally to occasional situations such as:
• Minor first aid needs
• Temporarily lost children
• Family or visitor support needs
• Small building or exhibit issues (e.g., outages, closures)
• Communicate concerns clearly to supervisors and follow emergency and safety procedures

Pace & Work Style

• The museum environment can shift between fast-paced, high-volume days and slower periods
• Successful candidates are able to:
• Stay busy and self-directed during slower times
• Remain calm, positive, and focused during busy or stressful moments
• Maintain a fantastic attitude while performing essential, repetitive care work in a public-facing role

Qualifications & Attributes

• Comfortable performing physically demanding work for extended periods
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to cleanliness and safety
• Friendly, patient, and professional demeanor with children and adults
• Ability to handle unexpected situations with calm and good judgment
• Reliable, punctual, and able to work independently as well as part of a team
• Previous experience in facilities, custodial work, customer service, or public-facing roles is helpful but not required

Why This Role Matters

The Cultivation Assistant is essential to the success of the museum. Clean, safe, well-cared-for spaces allow children to explore freely, families to feel welcome, and staff and volunteers to do their best work. This role is about care, pride, and presence—and it makes a real difference every day.

Schedule & Compensation

• This is a part-time position, starting at $16 per hour
• Weekend shifts are required, as weekends are among the museum’s busiest times
• This position is in-person at the Maine Discovery Museum
• Some late-night shifts are required to support after-hours programs, events, and rentals
• Schedules may vary based on museum hours, events, and operational needs

Staff are expected to maintain the same high standards of cleanliness, safety, professionalism, and friendliness across all scheduled shifts.

How To Apply

Please email job application, cover letter, and resume to Autumn Allen at aallen@mainediscoverymuseum.org

The Maine Discovery Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer always providing equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Pay: From $16.00 per hour

Work Location: In person