Employment Opportunities
Visitor Services and Retail Manager
Position: Visitor Services and Retail Manager
Supervisor: Executive Director of the HCSCC
Position Type: Full Time
Salary: $35,000-$40,000
Description: The Visitor Services and Retail Manager oversees the day-to-day visitor experience and retail operations at both the Hjemkomst Center and the historic Comstock House. This position ensures a welcoming, engaging, high-quality experience for all guests while also overseeing the museum's gift shop and consignment program. The manager will recruit, train, and supervise part-time and seasonal visitor services staff, interns, and volunteers, and implement best practices in customer service while supporting the society’s mission through thoughtful product selection and effective visitor engagement.
Key Responsibilities:
Visitor Services (Hjemkomst Center and Comstock House):
· Supervise and schedule front desk and tour staff (this includes paid part-time staff, volunteers, and student workers)
· Maintain high standards of customer service and visitor satisfaction
· Oversee admission desk operations and point-of-sale systems
· Lead training in visitor engagement, emergency procedures, and accessibility
· Monitor front-of-house cleanliness, safety, and visitor communications.
· Ensure adequate staffing for weekends, holidays, and special events
Retail Operations (Hjemkomst Center Gift Shop):
· Manage day-to-day gift shop operations and merchandising based on industry research and marketing strategies.
· Oversee inventory, restocking, purchasing, and product displays
· Maintain consignment program: onboard consigners, track sales, issue payments
· Analyze sales data to inform buying decisions and improve profitability
· Expand and improve online sales.
Full description available here.
Applicants are invited to email their resume and other information to Executive Director Laura Forde at [email protected] or apply here.
Comstock House Tour Guide
Position: Comstock House Tour Guide
Supervisor: Comstock House Site Manager
Employment Period: Late May – Late August 2025
Starting Pay: $11.00 per hour
Minimum Hours: 12 hours every weekend or every other weekend, plus training and orientation
Shift Times:
As a Comstock House Tour Guide, you will take part in the following duties:
Tours begin on Friday, June 6, and end on Saturday, August 22. We are closed on July 4 and 5.
To apply, send your contact information and a resume to Comstock House Site Manager Emily Kulzer at [email protected]. Contact Emily at the same email address or at 218-299-5511 ext. 6733 with any questions.
HCSCC Internships
The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County welcomes talented college students who are looking for an opportunity to work in a museum setting. Interns will work directly with museum professionals in the areas of visitor services, archival practices, and curatorial and collections practices.
All internships are unpaid. However, North Dakota State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead students who are eligible for Work Study may use their award for internship work at HCSCC.
How to Apply
All internship candidates are asked to submit an application package that includes:
Spring semester applications are due December 1.
Summer applications are due March 1.
Fall semester applications are due July 1.
Minimum Requirements for all HCSCC interns include:
All interns will be cross trained in visitor service duties and expected to perform these duties as needed. This training includes learning tours, and learning how to run the gift shop and admission cash registers.
Visitor Services
The Visitor Services intern’s primary responsibility is to assist in the day-to-day operation of the Heritage Gift Shop, admissions desk, and stave church. Duties include:
The Visitor Services intern also assists museum staff with a variety of events, such as exhibition openings, school and group tours, festivals, and other special events. Interns interact with the public on a daily basis and are expected to provide visitors with information about museum facilities, collections, exhibitions, events, and programs.
This position is open to all majors and students of freshman through Senior standing. Please contact our Visitor Services Manager, Kevin Wander by phone at (218) 299-5511, ext. 6741 or by email at [email protected] to inquire about the Visitor Services internship.
Archives
The Archives intern’s primary responsibility is to assist the Archivist with the day-to-day operation of the HCSCC archives. Duties include:
This position is open to History and Public History majors only. Students must be of junior or senior standing. Candidates must have a serious interest in working in archives or libraries. Please contact our archivist Petra Gunderson-Leith by phone at (219) 299-5511, ext. 6734, or by email at [email protected] to inquire about the Archives internship.
Curatorial
The Curatorial intern’s primary responsibility is to assist the Collections Manager and Registrar with the day-to-day collection management tasks. Duties include:
This position is open to History, Public History, and Cultural Anthropology majors only. Students must be of junior or senior standing. Previous coursework in public history, collections management, and experience in handling artifacts is preferred. Please contact our Collections Manager Lisa Vedaa by phone at (218) 299-5511, ext. 6735 or by email at [email protected] for information about the Curatorial internship.
Position: Visitor Services and Retail Manager
Supervisor: Executive Director of the HCSCC
Position Type: Full Time
Salary: $35,000-$40,000
Description: The Visitor Services and Retail Manager oversees the day-to-day visitor experience and retail operations at both the Hjemkomst Center and the historic Comstock House. This position ensures a welcoming, engaging, high-quality experience for all guests while also overseeing the museum's gift shop and consignment program. The manager will recruit, train, and supervise part-time and seasonal visitor services staff, interns, and volunteers, and implement best practices in customer service while supporting the society’s mission through thoughtful product selection and effective visitor engagement.
Key Responsibilities:
Visitor Services (Hjemkomst Center and Comstock House):
· Supervise and schedule front desk and tour staff (this includes paid part-time staff, volunteers, and student workers)
· Maintain high standards of customer service and visitor satisfaction
· Oversee admission desk operations and point-of-sale systems
· Lead training in visitor engagement, emergency procedures, and accessibility
· Monitor front-of-house cleanliness, safety, and visitor communications.
· Ensure adequate staffing for weekends, holidays, and special events
Retail Operations (Hjemkomst Center Gift Shop):
· Manage day-to-day gift shop operations and merchandising based on industry research and marketing strategies.
· Oversee inventory, restocking, purchasing, and product displays
· Maintain consignment program: onboard consigners, track sales, issue payments
· Analyze sales data to inform buying decisions and improve profitability
· Expand and improve online sales.
Full description available here.
Applicants are invited to email their resume and other information to Executive Director Laura Forde at [email protected] or apply here.
Comstock House Tour Guide
Position: Comstock House Tour Guide
Supervisor: Comstock House Site Manager
Employment Period: Late May – Late August 2025
Starting Pay: $11.00 per hour
Minimum Hours: 12 hours every weekend or every other weekend, plus training and orientation
Shift Times:
- 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM every or every other Friday and Saturday
As a Comstock House Tour Guide, you will take part in the following duties:
- Facilitate admission sales using a Shopify tablet-based point-of-sale system.
- Answer basic questions about the Comstock House and Solomon Comstock family.
- Lead tours of the Comstock House, with tours starting at the top of the hour.
- Perform basic cleaning duties, including dusting, vacuuming, and taking out the trash.
- Open and close the Comstock House each day, including setting the alarm.
- Ability to learn and use the Shopify Point-of-Sale tablet system (training provided).
- Ability to handle cash responsibly and accurately.
- Clear and understandable speaking voice.
- Ability to stand for up to 60 minutes and climb stairs.
Tours begin on Friday, June 6, and end on Saturday, August 22. We are closed on July 4 and 5.
To apply, send your contact information and a resume to Comstock House Site Manager Emily Kulzer at [email protected]. Contact Emily at the same email address or at 218-299-5511 ext. 6733 with any questions.
HCSCC Internships
The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County welcomes talented college students who are looking for an opportunity to work in a museum setting. Interns will work directly with museum professionals in the areas of visitor services, archival practices, and curatorial and collections practices.
All internships are unpaid. However, North Dakota State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead students who are eligible for Work Study may use their award for internship work at HCSCC.
How to Apply
All internship candidates are asked to submit an application package that includes:
- A resume highlighting past work and volunteer experience, skills, and relevant coursework.
- A personal essay mentioning opportunities that interest you. Use this essay to tell us how the internship will advance your academic and career goals.
- Three academic or professional references with contact information
Spring semester applications are due December 1.
Summer applications are due March 1.
Fall semester applications are due July 1.
Minimum Requirements for all HCSCC interns include:
- Demonstrate an ability to analyze, organize, and prioritize
- Critical thinking skills and decision-making abilities
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy
- Self-motivated, able to work independently, and work well with minimum supervision
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
All interns will be cross trained in visitor service duties and expected to perform these duties as needed. This training includes learning tours, and learning how to run the gift shop and admission cash registers.
Visitor Services
The Visitor Services intern’s primary responsibility is to assist in the day-to-day operation of the Heritage Gift Shop, admissions desk, and stave church. Duties include:
- Cash register operations
- Customer service
- Exhibit security
- Giving tours
- Keeping the exhibit spaces clean and comfortable for guests
The Visitor Services intern also assists museum staff with a variety of events, such as exhibition openings, school and group tours, festivals, and other special events. Interns interact with the public on a daily basis and are expected to provide visitors with information about museum facilities, collections, exhibitions, events, and programs.
This position is open to all majors and students of freshman through Senior standing. Please contact our Visitor Services Manager, Kevin Wander by phone at (218) 299-5511, ext. 6741 or by email at [email protected] to inquire about the Visitor Services internship.
Archives
The Archives intern’s primary responsibility is to assist the Archivist with the day-to-day operation of the HCSCC archives. Duties include:
- Assist with the preservation, research, and cataloging of HCSCC’s archival collections
- Become familiar with proper artifact and document handling and storage procedures
- Catalog and inventory collections
- Enhancement of archival metadata and digitization
- Work on special project assignments
This position is open to History and Public History majors only. Students must be of junior or senior standing. Candidates must have a serious interest in working in archives or libraries. Please contact our archivist Petra Gunderson-Leith by phone at (219) 299-5511, ext. 6734, or by email at [email protected] to inquire about the Archives internship.
Curatorial
The Curatorial intern’s primary responsibility is to assist the Collections Manager and Registrar with the day-to-day collection management tasks. Duties include:
- Assist with the preservation, research, and cataloging of HCSCC’s history and artifact collections
- Become familiar with proper artifact handling and storage procedures
- Catalog and inventory collections
- Work on special project assignments
This position is open to History, Public History, and Cultural Anthropology majors only. Students must be of junior or senior standing. Previous coursework in public history, collections management, and experience in handling artifacts is preferred. Please contact our Collections Manager Lisa Vedaa by phone at (218) 299-5511, ext. 6735 or by email at [email protected] for information about the Curatorial internship.