Love History and Helping People? Volunteer at the Capitol! We’re looking for friendly faces to join our volunteer team at the Heritage Store in the South Dakota State Capitol — and we’d love your help spreading the word!

If you (or someone you know!) enjoys meeting people, keeping things organized, and being part of something meaningful, this is a great way to get involved. Volunteers help greet visitors, ring up purchases, and share a bit of South Dakota pride — all in a beautiful and historic setting.

Flexible shifts, fun environment, and a great team!

Qualifications

Volunteer must be able to demonstrate efficiency and accuracy when dealing with cash transactions. In addition, the volunteer must exhibit customer service skills and be capable of learning new programs on the computer.  A background check is required for positions that involve handling money.

Age Requirement

The minimum age requirement to volunteer in the Capitol store is 18.

Schedule

Heritage Store (1st floor, South Dakota State Capitol)
Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm CT
Saturday 12:00pm – 4:00pm CT

There are extended hours during the holiday season, and when the legislature is in session.  For special events, times will vary.

Responsibilities

• Greeting visitors and providing a welcoming atmosphere. Volunteers often serve as the first point of contact for visitors, offering a friendly welcome.
• When appropriate, provide a brief introduction to the historical society’s membership benefits and Foundation's donor opportunities.
• Assisting customers with merchandise purchases.  This includes handling cash and credit card transactions, operating the cash register and closing out at the end of the shift. Providing general organization of merchandise and helping customers find items they're interested in.
• Maintaining the gift shop. This involves tasks like organizing displays, restocking merchandise, and keeping the store tidy.
• Providing basic information about the historical society. Volunteers may answer general questions about the museum, its exhibits, or upcoming events.
• Potentially assisting with inventory. Help with tracking inventory or researching new items.

Qualifications and Skills

• Customer service skills. The ability to interact positively with the public and provide helpful assistance is crucial.
• Cash handling and basic math skills. Volunteers need to be comfortable handling money and making accurate transactions.
• Organizational skills. Keeping the gift shop tidy and organized is an important part of the role.
• Reliability and punctuality. Be present and on time for scheduled shifts.
• Commitment. Help us out by committing to weekly set hours/shifts per quarter or year.
• Interest in local history. An interest in South Dakota history is often a plus.

Training

• On-the-job training. Volunteers typically receive training from the store merchandiser or a more experienced volunteer.
• Training on cash registers and procedures. This may include learning how to operate the Point-of-Sale system, handle different payment types, and manage opening and closing duties.
• Training on historical information. Volunteers may be provided with information about the museum's exhibits, collections, or historical background to better assist visitors.

Dress Code - Business casual attire and comfortable shoes.

Contact

If you have an interest, please complete the application online at www.sdhsf.org/about/volunteer.html or contact Juli, store merchandiser for more information info@sdhsf.org.