Visitor Services Officer - Retail/Front of House

Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure NSW; Sydney; On-site; AUD 49,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Casual role

Based at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Job summary

Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure NSW – Sydney CBD NSW is seeking a Visitor Services Officer for the Botanic Gardens of Sydney. This casual, customer‑facing role involves welcoming visitors, handling inquiries and processing retail and ticket sales at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

You will engage with a diverse range of visitors, promote exhibitions and experiences, and support front‑of‑house operations while maintaining high standards of service and presentation.

Qualifications

• Experience in retail, visitor services, tourism, hospitality or another customer‑facing environment.
• Proactive approach to customer engagement and retail sales.
• Strong communication skills and a friendly, approachable manner.
• Experience with retail transactions, cash handling and digital booking or POS processes.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Strong organisation and adaptability, with the ability to handle high volumes.
• Flexibility to work outside normal hours and weekends when required.

Responsibilities

• Answer enquiries and share information about exhibitions, events, tours and experiences.
• Process retail and ticket sales for visitors.
• Help keep the shop floor and Calyx exhibition space looking their best.
• Actively engage with visitors and turn conversations into sales opportunities.

Skills

Retail experience

Customer service

Cash handling

POS systems

Job description

Visitor Services Officer - Retail/Front of House

Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure NSW – Sydney CBD NSW

Be part of something bigger than the role itself

• Casual opportunity available
• Based in Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
• Hourly casual rate starting from $42.71 (Clerk Grade ½)

Join our team and shape your world in a workplace that empowers you to do your best work and build a meaningful career. In this role, you will contribute to shaping lives and communities across NSW, while shaping your own career. You will enjoy flexible work options, varied and impactful projects, and a vibrant, diverse team culture built on collaboration, inclusion and support. We are creating a workplace where everyone belongs and where you can balance work, life and wellbeing.

The role

Be one of the welcoming faces of Botanic Gardens of Sydney, helping visitors make the most of their experience while supporting the day-to-day operation of our visitor and retail spaces. As a Visitor Services Officer, you’ll answer enquiries, share information about exhibitions, events, tours and other experiences, process retail and ticket sales, and help keep the shop floor and Calyx exhibition space looking their best.

This is a hands‑on, customer‑facing role where you’ll actively engage with visitors, recommend relevant products and experiences, and turn great conversations into sales opportunities. You’ll need to stay across what’s happening in the Gardens, confidently manage a high volume of visitors and enquiries, and take initiative to support both front‑of‑house and retail operations, sometimes with limited supervision.

Availability Requirements

To be considered for this role, candidates must be available to work flexibly across a casual roster, including weekends.

For more information about this position, read the full Role Description: Visitor Services Officer

What you will bring to the role

• Experience in retail, visitor services, tourism, hospitality or another customer‑facing environment, with confidence engaging with a diverse range of visitors and customers.
• A proactive approach to customer engagement and retail sales, with the ability to understand visitor needs, recommend products or experiences and contribute to positive commercial outcomes.
• Strong communication skills and a friendly, approachable manner, with the ability to provide clear information, answer enquiries and handle customer issues professionally.
• Experience with retail transactions, cash handling and digital booking or point‑of‑sale processes, along with the confidence to quickly learn relevant systems and technology.
• The ability to work independently and take initiative, while contributing positively to the wider team and staying on top of day‑to‑day operational tasks.
• Strong organisation and adaptability, with the ability to manage high visitor and enquiry volumes while maintaining excellent service and presentation standards.
• Flexibility to work outside normal business hours and on weekends when required.

What is an essential requirement:

• Ability to work outside of normal working hours and on weekends if required.

About Us

Botanic Gardens of Sydney, under the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, is Australia’s oldest scientific institution and a custodian of over $1.2 billion in cultural, heritage, and botanical collections. As the premier botanical research institute, we encompass world‑leading botanic gardens and Sydney’s leading outdoor live entertainment precinct. We engage international, national, and regional visitors, making us a leading entity in the NSW tourism sector.

We are a high‑performing organisation that proudly reflects the communities we serve. Our diversity strengthens our cultural capability and enables us to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people across NSW. As an inclusive and accessible workplace, we value your contribution, lived experience and cultural knowledge, and we want you to feel supported, connected and empowered to succeed. With flexible work arrangements, job share options, workplace adjustments and various employee affinity groups, we are here to help you thrive every day.

Applications close Tuesday 10th November 2026

A talent pool may be created for ongoing and temporary opportunities of the same role or role type that may become available over the next 18 months.

Check out ourAboriginal applicants guideto assist with applying for the role or contact ourAboriginal Career pathwaysteam for a yarn.

We encourage and support applications from people with disability. Please reach out to us to discuss any accommodations or adjustments that may be needed during the recruitment process, ensuring that you have every opportunity to showcase your talent, skills, and potential. Contact the Talent Team via ***************@dpie.nsw.gov.au or (02) 63637*** - HR Support, option 2, DPHI People Advisory, option 1 and reference 'Request an Adjustment - Job Title and Reference Number'.

Please note to be eligible to apply for this position you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident or hold a valid Australian working Visa for the duration of the appointment. This role is subject to standard pre‑employment checks, including a criminal record check.