Associate, Visitor Experience, Temporary

South Coast Botanic Garden Foundation; Palos Verdes Peninsula (CA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

South Coast Botanic Garden is hiring a part‑time Visitor Experience Associate to be the first point of contact for guests. You will handle admissions, memberships, and inquiries, ensuring a welcoming, safe, and engaging visit while promoting Garden programs and events.

The role requires weekend/evening availability, strong customer service, and the ability to operate POS systems and maintain accurate records. A professional appearance and teamwork are essential.

Qualifications

• Availability to work weekends, holidays, evenings, and peak visitation periods.
• Experience handling cash, POS transactions, and memberships.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds and work outdoors in varying weather.

Responsibilities

• Guest Experience: Welcome visitors, respond to inquiries, and resolve concerns.
• Admissions & Sales: Process admissions, memberships, donations, event tickets, and registrations; promote memberships and events.
• Operations: Open/close Visitor Services Center; maintain records; assist events and programs; perform admin duties.

Skills

Customer service

Cash handling

Retail experience

POS systems

Guest-focused

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Some college coursework

Job description

Job DetailsJob Location: Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274Position Type: Part TimeSalary Range: $18.47 - $18.47 HourlyTemporary Part-Time Visitor Experience Associate

South Coast Botanic Garden’s mission is to connect ALL to the wonders of nature and create offbeat experiences that inspire stewardship and sustainability. The 87-acre destination is an oasis of formal garden collections and natural walking trails founded atop the most unlikely of beginnings — a sanitary landfill. Today, South Coast Botanic Garden (SCBG) stands as a testament to the regenerative power of nature and the possibilities for land reclamation as it continues to transition from landfill to landmark.

The stunning Dorothy and John Bohannon Rose Garden is a signature experience, along with the show‑stopping Living Wall, a long‑term exhibit of eight remarkable large-scale works of fine art sculpture, a seasonal butterfly pavilion, annual public programs and rotating traveling exhibitions. Programs invite guests to interact with nature through music, craft, science, and wellness activities. Even more excitement is ahead with the creation of a 3.5-acre Marilyn and John Long Children and Family Garden scheduled for completion in the coming years.

There has never been a better time to join this dynamic team.

SCBG fosters an environment where strategic focus and cultural health work hand‑in‑hand, ensuring alignment and resilience. The ideal candidate displays a grateful and positive outlook, wholeheartedly supports SCBG’s mission to connect ALL to the wonders of nature, and has the grit necessary to grow with the Garden. Candidates should be excited to collaborate cross‑functionally and contribute to the organization’s strategic goals.

POSITION TITLE

Visitor Experience Associate, Part Time

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

Reports to Associate Director, Visitor Services

JOB SUMMARY

As the first point of contact for visitors, the Visitor Experience Associate plays a key role in creating memorable and elevated guest experiences while contributing to SCBG’s success. This position is responsible for delivering exceptional customer service, fostering a welcoming atmosphere, processing admissions and ticket sales, and responding to visitor inquiries with professionalism and care. This role supports organizational revenue, membership, and guest engagement goals by actively promoting memberships, public programs, special events, and seasonal offerings while fostering meaningful, long‑term relationships with Garden visitors. The ideal candidate is enthusiastic, professional, and service-oriented, with strong communication skills and a passion for creating positive guest interactions. This role offers a dynamic, fast‑paced environment working alongside a collaborative team to ensure every SCBG visitor enjoys a safe, welcoming, inspiring, and elevated experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Guest Experience

• Welcome every visitor with a warm, friendly, and professional demeanor.
• Respond to visitor inquiries in person, by phone, and via email.
• Resolve guest concerns using sound judgment and exceptional customer service.
• Serve as a positive ambassador for South Coast Botanic Garden.

Admissions & Sales

• Process admissions, memberships, donations, event tickets, and class registrations accurately.
• Promote memberships, seasonal events, educational programs, and Garden offerings while encouraging renewals and upgrades.
• Reconcile cash, checks, credit card transactions, and daily sales.

Operations

• Open and close the Visitor Services Center.
• Maintain accurate visitor and membership records.
• Assist volunteers and staff during events and programs.
• Perform administrative duties and special projects.

REQUIREMENTS

• Availability to work weekends, holidays, evenings, and peak visitation periods is an essential function of this position. Applicants must be able to meet these scheduling requirements.
• Comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions and standing for extended periods, with or without reasonable accommodation
• Friendly, enthusiastic, and professional demeanor with strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to engage positively with diverse guests and audiences while maintaining professionalism and emotional intelligence in a fast‑paced environment
• Results‑driven and detail‑oriented professional with experience handling membership sales, POS transactions, and maintaining accurate visitor, membership, and transactional records, including digital database entries and physical documentation
• Maintain a professional standard of dress and appearance appropriate for a customer‑facing role and in accordance with organizational guidelines
• Attends departmental meetings and trainings as required
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 15 pounds
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn ticketing, membership, and CRM systems.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalent required; some college coursework strongly preferred
• Minimum of 1–2 years of experience in retail, hospitality, customer service, admissions, or a public-facing role within a garden, museum, cultural institution, or similar attraction
• Proven experience with cash handling, point-of-sale systems, and transactional accuracy
• Experience working in fast‑paced, guest-focused environments with strong multitasking and problem‑solving skills
• Experience with ticketing, membership, CRM, or reservation systems preferred
• Ability to professionally handle guest concerns and provide exceptional customer service experiences
• Availability to work weekends, evenings, holidays, special events, and peak operational seasons as required

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Work is performed both indoors and outdoors and requires frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, and repetitive use of hands for computer and point-of-sale operations throughout the workday. Employees must be able to stand for extended periods, occasionally lift and carry up to 15 pounds, and work outdoors in varying weather conditions. Weekend, evening, holiday, and special event work is required based on operational needs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

This position is a temporary, part-time, non-exempt position with a pay rate of $18.47 per hour, with the possibility of transitioning into a permanent part-time role. Availability on both Saturdays and Sundays is required to be considered for this position.

South Coast Botanic Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and celebrate the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each employee brings to our organization. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.