Opportunities: Gallery Shop Coordinator (Clerk 3)

About Us

As a celebrated Canadian gallery, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (AGNS) is deeply connected to the cultures and communities of Atlantic Canada, a region shaped by its enduring relationship with the sea. It is committed to this mission as an agency of the Province of Nova Scotia and one of the premier arts institutions in Canada.

Since its beginnings in 1908 as the Nova Scotia Museum of Fine Arts, the gallery has been at the heart of the province’s cultural evolution. It officially became the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in 1975. Over the years, the AGNS has cultivated an impressive permanent collection of nearly 20,000 works, including Canadian and Indigenous art, contemporary installations, and a renowned folk-art collection featuring Maud Lewis’s iconic painted house and the largest public collection of her work.

As a gallery, we invite collective engagement, interaction, and dialogue; examination, reflection, and the disentanglement of historical and contemporary narratives. Through our work, the AGNS challenges individuals to take risks, re-imagine, and make changes for a more equitable and just world. 

Please note, due to legislative changes, as of January 1, 2023, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (AGNS) employees are no longer Civil Servants and are instead direct employees of the AGNS.

About Our Opportunity

The Gallery Shop Coordinator plays a key role in shaping the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia's retail experience and earned revenue success. Supporting both our onsite and online stores, as well as a growing wholesale program, you will help create a vibrant, engaging, and profitable retail destination that reflects the Gallery's mission, exhibitions, and collections.

Working closely with the Manager of Visitor Experience, you will build and maintain relationships with artists, makers, suppliers, wholesale partners, and customers to curate a distinctive product offering that celebrates art, culture, and creativity. You will combine your passion for retail, customer service, and merchandising to deliver exceptional shopping experiences while identifying opportunities to grow sales and expand the Gallery's reach.

This is a hands-on role that blends creativity, business acumen, and relationship-building. From developing compelling product displays and sourcing unique merchandise to managing inventory, analyzing sales performance, and supporting wholesale growth, you will play an integral role in the success of the Gallery Shop.

The ideal candidate is an organized and collaborative retail professional with strong customer service skills, an eye for merchandising, and a passion for supporting artists and cultural organizations. You will also provide day-to-day leadership to the Gallery Shop Clerk and volunteers, helping foster a positive, customer-focused, and sales-driven team culture.

Primary Accountabilities

As Gallery Shop Coordinator, you will lead the day-to-day operation of the Gallery Shop and wholesale program, ensuring an exceptional visitor experience while driving retail and wholesale sales growth.

Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the daily operation of the Gallery Shop, ensuring a welcoming, well-presented, and visitor-focused retail environment.


• Managing inventory, sourcing and purchasing merchandise, and monitoring stock levels to support sales and operational needs.


• Supporting the development and delivery of annual retail and wholesale plans, sales targets, and merchandising strategies.


• Monitoring sales performance, preparing reports, and assisting with budgeting, forecasting, and cost control.


• Maintaining accurate financial records, including daily reconciliations, deposits, and retail reporting.


• Creating engaging product displays that align with exhibitions, the Gallery's brand, and seasonal opportunities.


• Delivering exceptional customer service and ensuring visitors receive a memorable shopping experience.


• Training, coaching, and supporting shop staff and volunteers, fostering a positive and sales-focused team culture.


• Building and maintaining relationships with artists, makers, suppliers, and wholesale customers across the region.


• Growing and supporting the Gallery's wholesale program through customer service, account management, order fulfillment, and business development.


• Collaborating with colleagues across the Gallery to promote retail initiatives and contribute to the Gallery's earned revenue goals. 

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will have at least five (5) years of experience in retail, customer service, merchandising, wholesale, or a related field. A post-secondary degree, diploma, or certificate in business, retail management, arts administration, marketing, or a related discipline would be considered an asset. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will also be considered.

You will also bring:

• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and work independently with minimal supervision.


• Experience with retail operations, including inventory management, purchasing, record keeping, and sales reporting.


• A proven ability to create and maintain a strong customer service culture and build meaningful relationships with stakeholders.


• Strong sales, merchandising, and product presentation skills, with the ability to understand customer needs, promote products, and identify opportunities to increase sales.


• Knowledge of the local and regional artisan, craft, and cultural sector, with an understanding of emerging retail trends.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail.


• Sound judgment, professionalism, and effective problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate challenging situations and interpersonal interactions with customers, colleagues, artists, suppliers, and partners using tact and diplomacy.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 suite and digital point-of-sale systems; experience with Shopify is considered an asset.


• A collaborative and adaptable approach, with the ability to respond positively to changing priorities and operational needs.


• Experience working in a museum, gallery, cultural institution, visitor attraction, or tourism environment would be considered an asset.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

What We Offer

• Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies


• A dynamic, client-focused office environment where service excellence and teamwork are our focus.