Employment Opportunities

Customer Service and Administrative Assistant

The Administrative Assistant performs a variety of administrative and clerical tasks. Responsibilities include supporting the Office Manager and employees, assisting with daily office needs, and managing general administrative activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Greet customers and visitors at the Newton Upper Falls storefront, serving as the first point of contact.
• Direct customers to appropriate departments within the Newton Upper Falls storefront and Carriage House Violins; act as a liaison between customers and all departments of Johnson String Instrument.
• Process retail transactions using a POS system with proprietary software.
• Serve as point of contact for internal and external clients.
• Answer and direct phone calls; manage high volumes of calls and information.
• Order office supplies and research new deals and suppliers.
• Maintain and reconcile cash register daily.
• Manage customer database with company software.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Office Manager.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in violin, viola, cello, and/or double bass.
• Minimum 6–12 months of customer service experience preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to multitask efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.

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Marketing Communications Specialist

Salary Range: $48,000 - $55,000 commensurate with experience

Job Summary

The Marketing Communications Specialist is responsible for developing, implementing, and assessing marketing campaigns that promote JSI’s products, services, and educational initiatives. Additionally, the role will require working with school services and the instrument sales team to develop marketing and sales materials for string educators and players. This role requires excellent writing and communication skills, strong knowledge of string instruments and customers, and the ability to manage campaigns from planning through post-campaign analysis. This role collaborates with designers and video producers, and focuses on content development, campaign execution, and performance assessment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with sales & marketing to fully understand product and communication needs.
• Engage with School Services and the instrument sales team to create targeted marketing materials and messaging.
• Participate in the planning & execution of multi-channel marketing campaigns (email, social, web, and print) in coordination with the marketing team.
• Write clear, compelling, stringed instrument-focused copy for email, website, social media, print, and other marketing channels.
• Conduct market and customer research to develop audience-focused messaging.
• Maintain a strong understanding of JSI’s products, services, and customer needs.
• Support internal communications needs as required.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Music or music marketing related degree preferred
• 2 years of experience in marketing, communications or related field
• Strong writing, editing, and communication skills with stringed instrument knowledge
• Ability or willingness to learn to appear on camera and do product demos for social media
• Some familiarity with or willingness to learn email marketing tools, CMS platforms, and social media scheduling/management tools.
• Highly organized and comfortable managing multiple priorities.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.

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Retail Sales Associate

Reports to: Retail Store Supervisor Location: JSI Newton

Salary Range: $20/hr - $24/hr

Job Description:

Our storefront is a vibrant place where we help string musicians of all levels, provide information about and assistance with our products and services, and overall promote the joy of music! Retail Associates are tasked with providing a superior customer service experience to all who visit the store, and are responsible for maintaining a clean and professional environment within the store.

Key Responsibilities:

• Greets customers and visitors to the Newton Upper Falls storefront, providing a friendly and helpful first point of contact for the company.
• Directs customers to appropriate departments within the Newton Upper Falls storefront and Carriage House Violins; acts as a liaison between customers and all departments of Johnson String Instrument.
• Maintains a positive and helpful demeanor throughout each shift; stays productive throughout the day.
• Uses and maintains cash registers that are counted at the end of each business day.
• Maintains customer database using software developed for Johnson String Instrument.
• Processes rental instrument transactions, including filling out rental contracts, explaining contract terms, processing instrument exchanges, processing rental payments, and closing out contracts.
• Fits rental instruments (violin, viola, cello, and double bass), assisting in proper sizing, instrument selection, and putting together instrument outfits.
• Accurately inspects returning rental instruments in accordance with rental insurance guidelines.
• Learns about a wide variety of products and services to answer customer questions.
• Explains company policies to customers; follows procedures accurately and consistently.
• Organizes merchandise (in storage and on displays) and ensures correct inventory records.
• Pulls merchandise for shipping orders accurately and on time.
• Assists in the facilities maintenance of the storefront, including dusting and disinfecting surfaces as well as maintaining the appearance of all areas open to customers.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Proficiency in at least one bowed string instrument (violin, viola, cello, and/or double bass)
• Professional demeanor
• Friendly, outgoing personality; enjoys helping others
• Ability to work well in a team
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Self-motivated with a high level of energy; must like staying productive
• Must be a patient, courteous listener, able to show empathy
• Proficiency in Windows OS, along with Microsoft Word and Excel
• This is an active role; Employees spend their shifts standing, walking around, and using stairs. Must be able to lift books, products, and instruments (up to 20 lbs.), as well as bend to use merchandise drawers.
• The employee must be comfortable standing for up to 4 hours at a time.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a retail store environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, cash registers, phones, photocopiers, printers, and filing cabinets.

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Rental Fulfillment Coordinator

Reports to: Warehouse and Import Manager

Location: JSI Waltham Salary Range: $23.00/hr – $27.00/hr

Job Summary

The Rental Fulfillment Coordinator is responsible for managing the accurate and efficient fulfillment of rental outfit and accessory orders for retail, school service trips, and shipping. This role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with fluctuating demands. The position is physically active, requiring the employee to be on their feet for most of the day. A valid U.S. driver’s license is required.

Please note: Significant overtime is required during our peak rental season in August, September, and October.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate rental order fulfillment across all channels, ensuring timely and accurate packing and processing
• Monitor inventory levels and production forecasts to stay ahead of demand
• Communicate workflow priorities and collaborate with the Workshop Manager and QC team
• Evaluate and refine procedures to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain quality standards

Qualifications

• College degree or 3+ years of relevant experience
• Valid U.S. driver’s license
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Effective communicator, both written and verbal
• Comfortable using Microsoft Windows applications and learning new software
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and capable of working independently

Work Environment

This role is based in a workshop setting, with occasional exposure to wood dust, fumes, and noise. The workspace is climate-controlled and shared with other team members. Standing and moving throughout the day is required, along with occasional lifting.

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Receiving Warehouse Associate

Reports to: Receiving Supervisor

Location: Waltham

Salary Range: $19/hr - $23/hr

Job Description: The Receiving Warehouse Associate verifies and keeps records on incoming and outgoing shipments and prepares items for shipment by performing the following duties to quality and productivity standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Receiving, labeling, and distributing of product daily
• Unpack, examine, and route incoming shipments, reject damaged items, record shortages, and correspond with shipper to rectify damages and shortages
• Sign for inbound shipments from UPS, FedEx, and other freight companies
• Report defective materials or questionable conditions to the department supervisor
• Process all rental and trial returns
• Compile inventory for transfer between warehouses
• Physically and virtually move inventory and instruments between warehouses
• Performs all computer functions necessary to track various aspects of products
• Learn about a wide variety of products and answer customer service representative questions
• Organize and move back stock as needed
• Maintain the work area and equipment in a clean and orderly condition and follow prescribed safety regulations
• Drive company van between warehouse and Newton location, daily or as necessary, transporting instruments, product, or other high-value items
• Assist Transfer Warehouse Associate picking items on Mondays at Newton storefront when necessary
• Other tasks as assigned by the Warehouse Manager

Skills and Qualifications:

• Minimum of a high school education and one year of factory-related experience in shipping and receiving
• A valid driver’s license and a good driving record
• Ability to read and write English, follow verbal instructions, and do simple math
• Professional demeanor
• Detail oriented
• Solid computer skills, ability to learn new software
• Ability to work well in a team
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Self-motivated with a high level of energy; must like staying productive
• Ability to drive a cargo van

Physical Job Requirements:

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
• This is an active role and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day
• Must be physically able to lift boxes, products, and instruments (up to 75 lbs.). Must be able to bend and lift over your head
• The employee must be comfortable standing for up to 4 hours at a time

Work Environment:

This job operates in a warehouse environment. This role routinely uses standard warehouse equipment such as box cutters, pallet jacks, bar code scanners, two-wheeler, rolling stairs or step stools, computers, phones, photocopiers, and printers. May be required to drive company vans. Work takes place indoors and outdoors in varying temperatures.

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Educational Representative

Department: School Services

Reports To: School Services Manager

Location: Johnson String Instrument – Waltham, MA

Compensation: $21/hr – $27/hr (commensurate with experience)

Job Description:

The Educational Representative is a vital member of the Johnson String Instrument School Services team, responsible for delivering exceptional service and support to school music programs within an assigned territory. This role combines customer service, outside sales, and relationship management to ensure that students and educators have access to high-quality string instrument rentals and support. The ideal candidate is professional, personable, self-motivated, and committed to advancing music education in schools and communities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with music educators by offering ongoing support to their school music programs, identifying sales opportunities, providing guidance, and connecting clients with our fine instrument sales division as needed.
• Establish and maintain a regular school visit schedule to meet with educators, coordinate services, and assess ongoing needs.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with educators, administrators, and program leaders to support existing accounts and cultivate new partnerships.
• Generate and communicate sales leads to our instrument sales division.
• Facilitate rental transactions, institutional sales, repair coordination, and order fulfillment.
• Maintain accurate records of school visits, service activities, and rental agreements via CRM software.
• Represent Johnson String Instrument at recruitment events, concerts, and community-based outreach opportunities.
• Travel regularly within assigned territory; occasional overnight travel required.
• Work a 40-hour week, primarily Monday–Friday during school hours; overtime required during peak seasons.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Intermediate knowledge of orchestral and string instruments.
• Bachelor’s degree in Music, Music Education, or equivalent experience (minimum 2 years preferred).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word).
• B2B sales experience.
• Experience using relationship management software (Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge).
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record; current auto insurance required.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and seasonal overtime.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Highly organized with excellent time management and problem-solving abilities.
• Self-directed and comfortable working independently in the field.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend English.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual (Spanish, Portuguese, or other languages).
• Experience working in music retail, instrument rental, or education.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift, carry, and transport string instruments and related equipment, occasionally weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, and reaching during school visits and deliveries.
• Ability to drive and navigate a large delivery van for extended periods.
• Capable of loading/unloading instruments and materials safely from the vehicle to the school facilities.

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Full-Time Luthier

Carriage House Violins of Johnson String Instrument is hiring a Full-Time Luthier.

Are you a trained violin restorer with experience restoring and repairing antique and contemporary violins, violas, and cellos? Do you find value in bringing an instrument to its full potential? Would you thrive within a group of dedicated craftspeople? If so, Carriage House Violins wants you to join our team.

Recognized for our commitment to personal service, Johnson String Instrument is dedicated to bringing the empowerment and pleasure of music to all. Carriage House Violins, the instrument sales and restoration division of JSI, offers every serious stringed instrument player a lifetime of opportunity, convenience, service, and support.

As a luthier, you will add your skills to our workshop team in maintaining a high quality of sound and performance for the instruments that we represent as well as those owned by players in our community. You would have the opportunity to benefit from the collective knowledge of many talented colleagues. You would be working within our beautiful and historic building in Newton Upper Falls, MA, and joining a growing department with opportunities for further training and advancement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Repair, restore, and set up instruments at the direction of the Workshop Manager
• Interface with Clients, the Sales and Acquisition teams, and Customer Service, answer questions, and perform estimates
• Assist in the day-to-day operation of the workshop including drafting paperwork, invoicing, cleaning, and organizing

Benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA
• Retirement plan 401k with company matching
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Paid time off including sick and vacation time
• Store discounts

Qualifications:

• Degree, diploma, or certificate from a violin making school or completion of an apprenticeship required
• Minimum of two years Professional experience in the restoration, repair, and setup of violins, violas, and cellos required. 
• Experience interacting with professional string players preferred
• Tools including but not limited to knives, planes, chisels, and gouges can be sharpened and manipulated at a professional level of performance
• Outstanding time management and organization skills
• Comfort with technology and the ability to use it consistently to record the work you perform
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Ability to multitask effectively in a quick-paced environment
• Proven ability to work independently and in a team environment and collaborate with others

This is a full-time, hourly position: 40hrs/wk., $29.50–33/hr. commensurate with experience. A relocation stipend is available for those moving from out of state.

Applicants should be prepared to have availability for all business hours: Tuesday–Friday 10am–6pm, Saturdays 9am–5pm. To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to hires@johnsonstring.com

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Customer Service Associate

Johnson String Instrument is hiring an Customer Service Associate to join our fantastic customer service team in Waltham, MA!

In operation for over forty years, our company is a family-owned business dedicated to the rental and sales of high-quality string instruments for musicians of all levels. Our staff is hard-working, and very friendly. Are you detail-oriented, organized, and focused? JSI wants you to join our team!

Salary: $20/hr – 24/hr

Key Responsibilities:

The customer service associate is responsible for providing the highest level of customer service to ensure the customer has the best experience possible. As the first point of contact, the customer service associate will answer customer inquiries and follow-up on action items with other departments to see tasks through to completion.

In addition, the customer service associate is responsible to perform a variety of administrative duties including, but not limited to:

• Registration for rental instruments, including phone interaction with students, teachers, and parents of rental participants.
• Take product orders, including strings, sheet music, cases, and accessories.
• Answer telephone calls, webchats, and emails- screening and routing to appropriate staff as necessary.
• Various clerical duties such as filing, mailing, organizing, and processing returned items.
• Participate in regularly scheduled staff meetings and ongoing training regarding products and policies.
• Assist with special projects and perform other related duties as directed or required

Qualifications:

• Stringed instrument and/or classical music background strongly preferred
• Effective verbal and written communication
• Able to multitask on time-sensitive projects
• Attention to detail, especially through documentation
• Thrive in a fast-paced work environment
• Basic computer skills required
• Saturdays are required

Benefits:

• Medical Benefits including Health, Dental and Vision Insurance.
• Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA
• 401(k) with company matching
• Long-Term Disability Insurance

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Please send resume and cover letter to hires@johnsonstring.com

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