DATALAND - Retail Docent
Location: On-site at Dataland, The Grand LA, Downtown Los Angeles, CA
Employment Classification: Non-Exempt (Hourly) - Full-Time and Part-Time Available
Pay Range: $19 - $21 per hour
Reports To: Retail Manager/Shift Supervisor
About Dataland
Dataland is not just a museum. We are the world’s first institution dedicated to the AI Arts - a new cultural paradigm where data is the pigment, machine intelligence is the collaborator, and human imagination is the guide. Conceived by artist Refik Anadol Studio and opening in 2026 within the iconic Frank Gehry-designed The Grand LA, Dataland is a new landmark in the cultural heart of Los Angeles.
At Dataland, the retail experience is not an afterthought. It is an extension of the art - a place where guests leave with something genuinely one-of-a-kind, generated by their own data and shaped by their journey through the space. The Retail Docent is the person who makes that possible.
The Opportunity: Where Art Meets Souvenir
The Retail Docent operates at the intersection of guest experience and commerce. You are part retail associate, part creative facilitator, and part brand ambassador for one of the most unique retail environments in Los Angeles.
Guests arriving at the Dataland retail space have just completed an immersive 90-minute experience. They are curious, engaged, and ready to take something home. Your role is to help them do exactly that - through generative merchandise experiences that are personal, meaningful, and unlike anything they’ve encountered in a gift shop before.
What You Will Do
You’ll assist with the process, operate the printing system, and ensure each guest leaves with a finished piece they’re excited about.
Actively engage guests on the retail floor, introduce them to the full range of offerings, and help them find something that resonates. You’re not a passive presence - you bring energy, product knowledge, and a genuine interest in connecting guests with what Dataland has to offer.
Handle payment and point-of-sale (POS) transactions accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with Dataland’s payment handling procedures. Provide receipts, process returns, and maintain an accurate till throughout your shift.
Keep the retail space organized, fully stocked, and visually compelling throughout the day. Responsibilities include folding, restocking, merchandising, and inventory support - the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the front-of-house experience exceptional.
As operations scale, Retail Docents may assist with packing and shipping guest orders placed at the venue. Accuracy, care, and attention to detail are essential in this function.
Candidate Profile
The ideal Retail Docent brings together two things that don’t always travel together: genuine love for people and a comfort with process. You are confident on a retail floor, fluent in guest interaction, and excited by the idea of facilitating a creative experience rather than just ringing up a transaction.
You take pride in a well-maintained space and an accurate till. You can move fluidly between a hands-on scent consultation and a folding station without losing momentum. You understand that in a place like Dataland, even the retail experience is part of the art - and you treat it that way.
Core Qualifications
- 1–2+ years of retail, hospitality, or guest-facing experience
- Comfortable handling cash and operating a POS system accurately
- Strong communication and sales skills - you can engage a guest naturally without being pushy
- Detail-oriented and organized - you notice when something is out of place and fix it
- Reliable, punctual, and team-oriented
- Availability for evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Experience in experiential retail, luxury goods, beauty, or a creative environment
- Comfort facilitating hands-on guest experiences or product consultations
- Familiarity with inventory management or fulfillment processes
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
This is a fully on-site role at Dataland’s retail space at The Grand LA in Downtown Los Angeles. The role involves sustained physical activity throughout every shift in a dynamic, high-traffic guest environment.
Physical requirements include:
- Standing and moving throughout the retail space for the duration of shifts, which may range from four to eight or more hours
- Lifting, carrying, and organizing merchandise and retail inventory
- Operating in-house generative printing and scent equipment
- Wearing a Dataland uniform throughout the shift
Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with applicable federal and California law, including the ADA and FEHA.
Schedule & Employment Type
Both full-time and part-time schedules are available. Shifts are scheduled by the Shift Supervisor based on operational needs. All Retail Docents must be available for evenings, weekends, and holidays.
This is a non-exempt hourly position. Overtime, meal periods, and rest breaks will be provided in accordance with California law. All hours worked must be accurately recorded using Dataland’s timekeeping system.
Benefits eligibility - including health insurance and paid time off - is available to full-time employees in accordance with company policy and applicable law. Part-time employees receive paid sick leave in accordance with California and Los Angeles City law.
Why Join Dataland?
This is not a normal gift shop. The Dataland retail experience is an extension of one of the most ambitious immersive art environments ever built.
Every shift takes place inside a Refik Anadol installation inside a Frank Gehry building in the cultural heart of Downtown Los Angeles. The environment alone is worth showing up for.
Dataland is opening its doors in 2026. The people who join now will help define what this institution becomes. That matters.
Dataland offers competitive hourly compensation and overtime pay in accordance with California law. Full-time employees have access to health insurance and paid time off. All employees receive paid sick leave in accordance with California and LA City law.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Human creativity and the data of our world are universally diverse. At Dataland, we are committed to building a team that reflects that truth. We welcome people of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
Dataland is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, California, or local law.
Hiring Practices
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties may change at any time with or without notice.
Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, Dataland will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records.
To apply, submit your resume to [email protected]. A cover letter is welcome but not required.
Pay: $19.00 - $21.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
Work Location: In person
