Patron Services Associate

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (shccbg); New York (NY); On-site; USD 19,320 - 27,517; Part time

Job summary

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is seeking a part-time Patron Services Associate responsible for delivering exceptional visitor experiences. This role involves assisting with admissions, ticketing, and providing information about Snug Harbor's offerings, while promoting events.

The successful candidate should have strong customer service skills and enjoy engaging with a diverse audience. The position requires handling transactions and maintaining cleanliness in high-traffic areas.

A high school diploma and prior experience in a public-facing role are preferred.

Qualifications

• At least one year in a customer service role, ideally in admissions or retail.
• Mathematical proficiency for transaction reconciliation.
• Proficient with data entry and reporting software.

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for visitors.
• Manage admissions and handle transactions accurately.
• Track visitor demographics and financial data.

Skills

Customer service experience

Strong math skills

Detail-oriented

Clear communication

Multilingual abilities

Education

High school diploma

Some college experience

Tools

Google Drive

Microsoft Office

Job description

Snug Harbor is an expansive culture park on Staten Island where arts, nature, education, and history converge to offer dynamic programming, events, and festivals to our diverse community. Located less than 1.5 miles from the Staten Island Ferry and easily accessible by public transportation, Snug Harbor welcomes nearly 500,000 visitors each year. Visitors can explore multiple museums, performances, festivals, a farm, and 83 acres of gardens, parkland, woodland, and wetlands.

Founded in 1976 as a nonprofit organization, Snug Harbor is one of the largest adaptive reuse projects in America, transforming a 19th-century charitable rest home for sailors into a vibrant hub of contemporary culture and community connection. Today, Snug Harbor’s mission is dedicated to creating a vibrant culture park in Staten Island offering arts, nature, history, education and events for all.

THE POSITION

The Patron Services Associate is essential in delivering a welcoming and positive visitor experience at Snug Harbor. Acting as the first point of contact for guests, Patron Services Associates provide a friendly and knowledgeable presence across various high-traffic areas. Patron Services Associates assist with admissions, ticketing, sales, and general inquiries at multiple locations. This includes handling a variety of transactions at admissions points and events. With a focus on smooth, accurate transactions and maintaining cleanliness at all times, the Patron Services Associates enhances the visitor experience by promoting programs, assisting with directions, and sharing information about Snug Harbor’s offerings.

This position reports to the Patron Services Supervisor.

Shifts are part-time and seasonally active. Shifts are most frequent March through December.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Patron Experience and Engagement: Communicate Snug Harbor’s mission and offerings in a friendly, professional manner that creates a memorable experience for visitors.
• Provide inclusive, responsive customer service to meet the needs of a diverse visitor base.
• Stay informed about Snug Harbor’s programs, seasonal highlights, and events to offer accurate, engaging information to patrons.
• Actively listen to visitor feedback, documenting suggestions and concerns to help improve the patron experience.
• Promote upcoming events, exhibits, and unique attractions, encouraging visitors to explore Snug Harbor.
• Maintain signage, information displays, and wayfinding tools across visitor areas, ensuring resources are accurate and accessible.
• Keep all assigned stations and areas clean, organized, and well-stocked to present a welcoming environment for visitors.
• Willingness to adapt to evolving priorities, take on diverse tasks, and contribute to team success through flexibility and collaboration.

Admissions, Ticketing, and Sales

• Open, manage, and close admissions and sales stations at various locations, including the Visitor Booth, Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, the Chinese Scholar’s Garden, Farm Stand, and special events.
• Conduct transactions for admissions, memberships, products, and donations, handling cash, credit, and other forms of payment accurately and efficiently.
• Maintain accurate financial records for each shift, reconciling cash, ticket sales, and credit transactions, which requires strong math and accounting skills.
• Track visitor demographics, ticket counts, and financial data to contribute to the organization’s reporting and visitor analytics.
• Ensure admissions and sales areas are well-stocked with necessary supplies, tickets, and promotional materials, preparing daily reports for management review.

Administrative and Inventory Support

• Communicate consistently with the Finance & Sales Manager and other departments as necessary, keeping updated via email and internal communications.
• Maintain supplies and materials across admissions and patron service areas, helping keep storage areas organized and well-stocked.
• Participate in training, professional development, and shift debriefings to continually improve customer service practices.

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Shifts may require extended periods of sitting or standing, with or without accommodations, depending on location and responsibilities.
• Occasional lifting and moving of equipment or supplies up to 50 lbs may be required.
• The role may include working outdoors or in varying environmental conditions.

REQUIREMENTS

• High school diploma or equivalent; some college experience preferred.
• At least one year of experience in a customer service or public-facing role, with retail, admissions, or cash-handling experience preferred.
• Strong math and accounting skills for managing financial transactions and daily reconciliations.
• Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Clear, confident communication skills and ability to engage with diverse audiences.
• Detail-oriented, proactive, and capable of working independently and collaboratively.
• Proficiency with Google Drive, Microsoft Office, or similar tools for data entry and reporting.
• Complete a site-specific F-03 Certification (Fire guard) within 3 months of hire.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Outgoing, friendly demeanor with a genuine interest in engaging with visitors.
• Self-motivated and able to reflect and improve through feedback.
• Multilingual abilities, especially in Spanish or Chinese, are highly valued.
• Enthusiasm for Snug Harbor’s mission and a desire to create a positive, inclusive environment for all patrons.

SALARY

$17.00 per hour

TO APPLY

Qualified candidates should complete the employee application form by visiting https://snug-harbor.org/jobapplication/. We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Snug Harbor celebrates and commits to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. We value and seek the strengths of human variety across communities in programming, with staff, the Board of Directors, volunteers, artists, and visitors. Snug Harbor strives to build a culture of diversity of voice and representation, authentically inclusive spaces, and equity for all.

Snug Harbor is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to the treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or citizenship status in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

For more information on SHCC, please visit www.snug-harbor.org