Polar Chef Character - Part-Time Seasonal

XANTERRA TRAVEL COLLECTION; Williams (AZ); On-site; USD 25,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free Grand Canyon Railway Tickets

Free Employee Run Train Tickets

Property Discounts and More

MEC (Minimal Essential Coverage)

Sick Time

Employee Shuttle

Job summary

Xanterra Travel Collection is hiring for a Polar Express Entertainer at the Grand Canyon Railway’s Williams Depot. This is a part-time seasonal role running from the Fall to early Winter, with shifts requiring evenings and weekends to create magical memories for guests aboard the Polar Express Train.

Under supervision, you will portray the Chef and Elf characters, engage with passengers, manage crowds, and ensure safety and a high-quality experience.

Qualifications

• Must have previous experience in public speaking.
• Must be open to performing in a live audience and maintain a good stage presence.
• Must be able to demonstrate strong communication skills with the ability to excel in a live, fast-paced, guest-focused environment while maintaining professionalism and attention to detail.
• Preferred: Previous experience in theatrical role playing.
• Preferred: Customer service experience in the hospitality industry.

Responsibilities

• Fully understand and support Xanterra’s Mission Statement, Cultural Pillars, Community Commitment and Core Values.
• Memories scripted narrative to authentically portray the Chef and Character role for the nightly production.
• Assists Santa by handing out bells, while portraying the Elf Character as required.
• Interact with children and adults of all ages, maintaining audience control.
• Understand safety practices and respond to guest emergencies.
• Safely distribute hot cocoa and cookies to guests.
• Use microphone etiquette to communicate scripted narratives to up to 90 passengers while in character.
• Perform safely choreographed steps onboard a moving train.
• Engage guests in holiday songs as required by production standards.
• Prepare train cars for daily ride.
• Practice railroad and train safety in all movements onboard.
• Verify guest tickets for accuracy.
• Clean up biohazards as necessary.
• Handle stressful situations professionally and assist guests as needed.
• Maintain schedules with shifts including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Skills

public speaking

communication

stage presence

customer service

Job description

Overview

Grand Canyon Railway and Warner Bros Productions Presents

The Polar Express Train Ride

\"THE POLAR EXPRESS\" and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s25)

BE A PART OF THE MAGIC!

Are you enthusiastic about Christmas, people, and holiday spirit? Well, the Grand Canyon Railway is now hiring for THE POLAR EXPRESS! The Train Ride at Grand Canyon Railway's Historic Williams Depot is a LIVE, interactive event based on the film by Warner Bros, where we bring the movie to life!

Job Summary:

Polar Express Entertainer character is continuously outgoing, and joy filled. The Entertainer helps to create magical memories and ensures safety and the quality of our passengers’ experience for the duration of the Polar Express Production. This is a part-time seasonal position from 10/18//2025 to 12/30/2025. Under the direct supervision of the PSA Supervisor, the Polar Express Chef is responsible for creating magical memories and ensuring the quality of our passenger’s experience while on board the Polar Express Train.

The Details:

Position Type: Seasonal

Seasonal Dates: 10/15/2026 to 1/03/2027

Wage: $19.00 an hour + tips!

Schedule: Part-time is 2 to 4 days per week; weekends are required.

Employee Benefits & Perks:

• Free Grand Canyon Railway Train Tickets!


• Free Employee Run Train Tickets!


• Property Discounts and More!


• MEC (Minimal Essential Coverage)


• Sick Time

FREE Shuttle Service:

• Limited Capacity: 7 people per ride.
  
  
  
  • Employee Shuttle from Flagstaff to Williams and back after shift!
  
  
  
  

Responsibilities

• Fully understand and support Xanterra’s Mission Statement, Cultural Pillars, Community Commitment and Core Values.


• Memories scripted narrative, including the Santa’s sing a long songbook, to authentically portray the Chef and Character role for the duration of the nightly production.


• Assists Santa by handing out bells, while portraying the Elf Character as required.


• Interact appropriately and patiently with children and adults of all ages, handling children and adults on a one-on-one basis or in large quantities, while maintaining audience control.


• Understand safety practices, including maintaining appropriate physical boundaries and responding to guest emergencies.


• Safely andeffectively hand out Hot coco& cookies to guests.


• Uses proper microphone etiquette to communicate scripted narratives, providing instructions for up to 90 passengers while remaining in character.


• Performs safely and accurately choreographed sequence of steps while onboard a moving train.


• Engages guests in holiday songs as required by production standards.


• Prepares train cars for daily train ride to department standards.


• Practices railroad and train safety at all times while moving about the train, boarding and deboarding, serving and directing passengers.


• Verifies all guest tickets to ensure accurate setting and booking.


• Cleans up biohazards as necessary.


• Handles stressful situations in a public setting and resolves guest-related issues in a professional and timely manner, offering additional assistance to guests in need.


• Works as a team player, establishes and maintains an effective professional working relationship with co-workers, directors, and other departments, working together in a positive work environment.


• Maintains schedule flexibility, working scheduled shifts to include days, evenings, weekends and holidays. Shifts are 6+/- hours per day.


• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must have previous experience in public speaking.


• Must be open to performing in a live audience and maintain a good stage presence.


• Must be able to demonstrate Strong communication skills with the ability to excel in a live, fast-paced, guest-focused environment while maintaining professionalism and attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in theatrical role playing.


• Customer Service experience in the hospitality industry

Basic Competencies:

• Verbal comprehension (Understand oral and written communications).


• Communication skills (provide clear instructions/directions).


• Reasoning skills (problem solving and troubleshooting skills).


• Performance skills (ability to have good memory, vocal clarity, warm personality, and Strong presence).


• Character Adaptability (Comfortable with improvisation and maintaining characters’ integrity).


• Interpersonal Skills (abilities to communicate, collaborate, and build effective relationships with others through empathy, respect, and emotional intelligence).

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is constantly standing, squatting/kneeling and lifting/carrying items up to 20bs.


• Frequently walking, reaching outward, climbing, lifting/carrying items up to 50lbs and pushing/pulling up to 25lbs.


• Occasionally sitting, reaching above shoulder, crawling, lifting/carrying items weighing up to 100lbs and pushing/pulling items weighing up to 100 lbs.


• Constantly listening, hearing, seeing, and speaking.


• Will be required to stand and walk for long periods of time on cement floors and to occasionally walk on uneven surfaces and onboard moving train.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.