Job Description

Salk Docents are ambassadors to professional architects, scientific visitors, and the general public. The docent is expected to have knowledge of the history of the Salk Institute, the buildings and architecture, architect Louis Kahn, and the founder, Dr. Jonas Salk. The Salk Docent guides assigned visitors through the Salk campus on a pre-determined path, answers questions, and broadly describes the current research of the Institute. The docents are expected to work with Salk Operations teams to ensure guest safety and to uphold Salk guidelines.

Who We Are

The Salk Institute is an internationally renowned research institution that values allmembers of our scientific community. We seek bold and interactive leaders passionate about exploring new frontiers in science. Our collaborative community embraces perspectives across discipline, professional acumen, and unique life experiences, fostering innovation, and a sense of belonging. Together, we strive to improve the wellbeing of humanity through groundbreaking research.

Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge. Salk's vibrant community has many talented individuals from varied backgrounds, each playing a crucial role in driving our mission forward. From visionary leaders to dedicated administrators and brilliant faculty members, the Institute is united by a shared passion for scientific exploration and innovation.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Complete docent training as assigned by manager.
  • Shadow each current docent on general docent-led tours, 5 hours.
  • Watch and read the required background information, including, but not limited to My Architect, Cathedrals of Culture, and Shot Felt Round the World.
  • Lead three supervised tours: 1 with a current docent and manager, and 2 with with public guests and manager.
  • Total paid training is 8 hours at $25 per hour, total of $200.
• Docents can sign up for tours as it suits their schedule. To remain active, docents must lead at least 2 tours a months and stay current on tour script, Salk research, and tour guidelines.
• Complete the necessary Institute trainings with EHS, SEC, and FS, and attend any additional Salk-required trainings assigned by manager.
• Manage assigned tour tasks, which include, but are not limited to, the following: meet tour attendees and make introductions, check in tour attendees with tour badge, lead tour group along designated tour route (or ADA route) while discussing the history, architecture and science of Salk Institute, ensure guests stay with the group, report all safety and security risks to Salk security and program manager, collect tour badges and remind guests of Salk visitor policies, and attend trainings about the program and the Institute.
• Must be knowledgeable of the Institute’s safety plans in the event of an emergency. The docent is responsible for leading the tour group to the correct meeting location in the event of an Institute emergency.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by management.

Supervisory Responsbilities:

• This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

What we Require

• Public speaking experience through volunteer or paid positions as tour guide or docent.
• Associate's Degree (AA) or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school, or six months to one year of related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Computer skills required: Microsoft Office
• Other skills required: Background in Architecture or Design preferred.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Continually required to stand
• Continually required to walk
• Occasionally required to sit
• Frequently required to utilize hand and finger dexterity
• Occasionally required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl
• Continually required to talk or hear
• Occasionally required to taste or smell
• Occasionally exposure to wet and/or humid conditions (non-weather)
• Frequently exposure to outside weather conditions
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include depth perception and ability to adjust focus

What We Can Offer

The expected pay range for this position is $100.00 per tour.
Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Salk Values

The Salk Community, both scientists and administrators, worked together to define values that we believe support Salk’s pursuit of excellence. To be truly the best scientific institution requires not only incredible discoveries, but a common understanding of how we should work together to enable those discoveries.

The acronym “I CARE”provides a simple way to remember each of the values and reminds each of us of the importance of what we do each day.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal access to opportunities for students, employees, applicants for employment and other visitors. Salk has also adopted and maintains a policy to encourage professional and respectful workplace behavior and prevent discriminatory and harassing conduct in our workplace.

Accordingly, the Institute prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment on the basis of, and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to, actual or perceived race (race is inclusive of traits associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include, but not limited to, such hairstyles as braids, and twists), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status (disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, other covered veteran status), political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.

Discrimination is prohibited with any intersectionality of the above-mentioned characteristics, including:

1. Any combination of characteristics.
2. A perception that the person has any of the characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.
3. A perception that the person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of those characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.