BACKGROUND

Shangri La is a unique site for engagement with Islamic arts and cultures that is situated on a spectacular 5-acre, oceanside property in Honolulu; a place of personal and societal transformation; and a center of the Doris Duke Foundation (DDF).  

The mission of DDF is to build a more creative, equitable and sustainable future by investing in artists and the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research, child well-being and greater mutual understanding among diverse communities. DDF operates five national grantmaking programs as well as Duke Farms and Shangri La, two centers that serve the public directly. DDF’s activities are guided by the will of Doris Duke, who endowed the foundation with financial assets that currently total over $2 billion. To learn more about the foundation, visit www.dorisduke.org.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Tour Guide Consultant will be an independent contractor with knowledge and experience to enhance the public engagement initiatives at Shangri La. The Tour Guide Consultant supports the center’s public tours, events and programs. The Tour Guide Consultant will participate in all applicable foundation training sessions for consultants. This is a contract position.

RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Provide expertise in the facilitation of self-guided tours at Shangri La, offering assistance to the Public Engagement team. 

•    Be on-site at Shangri La during public tour hours, specifically Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

•    Provide guided tours at Shangri La for small groups including those arriving in their own vehicles, groups from the Halekulani Hotel, school groups and other community groups, when requested by Shangri La’s staff.

•    Welcome, direct and assist visitors in a cheerful, helpful and professional manner.

•    Provide recommendations, support materials and accurate information to visitors regarding the collection, exhibitions, property, public programs and mission of DDF. 

•    Share relevant tour policies and procedures with visitors.     

•    Maintain organization and cleanliness of public areas.

•    Develop and maintain a broad and accurate knowledge of Islamic art, design and culture as represented at Shangri La, as well as a general understanding of how the collection, museum and programs relate to the living cultures and communities represented throughout the center. 

•    Provide knowledgeable responses to visitor inquiries, encouraging the exchange of insights as they relate to the center.

•    Assist with events and programming at Shangri La, as requested by the staff.

•    Collaborate with Shangri La’s staff to ensure safe experiences for visitors. 

•    Emphasize cultural awareness, humility and respect for diversity in all interactions, acknowledging the wide range of visitors’ cultures, backgrounds, generations and points of view. 

•    Perform other consultancy projects and responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

•    Education programming, teaching and/or customer service experience.

•    Keen passion for making art, culture and design more accessible to the public through innovative programming and interactive education.

•    Knowledge of Islamic art, cultures and design and/or Hawaiian culture a plus.

•    Excellent people skills, diplomacy and public speaking skills in an informal environment. 

•    Ability to comprehend college-level lectures and reading assignments and to synthesize and present this material for a general audience. 

•    Ability to move across uneven terrain, navigate stairs, escort visitors through non-climate-controlled areas, speak clearly and audibly, and hear questions/comments from individuals in a group of people. While performing the essential duties of this job, the Tour Guide Consultant is regularly and frequently required to stand and walk. The consultant is sometimes required to reach with hands and arms and move or lift up to 20 pounds.

•    Ability to act quickly to solve problems, take initiative.

•    Team-player mentality to work cooperatively and positively with Shangri La staff and a diverse public.

•    Flexibility to work occasional weeknights and weekends as requested.

•    Experience working in a museum or other cultural institution a plus.

•    Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply, with a preference for Japanese fluency.

COMPENSATION 

•    Anticipated hourly rate is $21-$25, and the final rate will depend on experience and language fluency. This role is not eligible for benefits.

OUR VALUES 

The following values underpin everything we do in pursuit of our mission across the Doris Duke Foundation: 

Integrity: We must be honest and ethical in all that we undertake. As a group of private foundations, we are accountable to the many stakeholders affected by our work. 

Excellence: We will insist on the highest standards of performance in fulfilling our mission, will ground our work in best practices and will make decisions based on the best available information. 

Openness and Imagination: We will be listening and learning organizations that are responsive to ideas and opinions from a variety of sources. We value imagination and creativity, the ability to think in new ways about the work we do and how we do it. 

Collaboration: We value a collaborative and supportive environment in which to advance our mission and objectives. Creating a working environment that promotes trust, honesty and respect within our organizations is as important as earning the trust and respect of our colleagues and peers in the fields in which we work. 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We believe in the essential value that a diverse set of perspectives, experiences and abilities brings to the table. Our commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice is an ongoing, active engagement reflected in our funding areas, grantees, museums, centers, board and staff. At the core of our work is a dedication to serving and learning from organizations and individuals addressing inequities and working toward a more just, healthy and inclusive society. (Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and how we incorporate this value into our work.) 

The Doris Duke Foundation is committed to inclusive hiring and equal employment opportunity. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, orientations and communities to apply. Our recruiting and employment practices adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. We provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation in the job application process is needed, please contact us here.