Santa Claus - Professional Costume Character

Lifetouch; Santa Maria (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

Shutterfly is seeking a Santa Claus character for seasonal studio events in California. The role focuses on engaging interactions with children and families, aiding photography sessions with poses and props, and delivering memorable, photographable moments while maintaining safety and costume integrity.

The position is seasonal with ongoing hiring until roles are filled. Candidates should be able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, and own a professional Santa costume and real beard.

Qualifications

• Experience in customer-facing roles preferred.
• Ability to engage with children and families professionally.
• Strong verbal communication and listening skills.
• Reliability and punctuality a must.

Responsibilities

• Portray an assigned character in a believable, engaging manner.
• Support photography sessions with poses, props, and engagement.
• Create photographable moments to enhance the customer experience.
• Maintain costume appearance and character integrity throughout shifts.
• Work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Skills

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Professionalism

Team player

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

The Santa Claus Costume Character creates memorable experiences for childrenand families through engaging character performances during photography events,promotions, and seasonal programs. This role brings assigned characters to life by maintainingcharacter integrity, delivering exceptional customer experiences, supporting photographysessions, and creating fun, photographable moments while ensuring all interactions remainsafe, professional, and appropriate.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

• Portray an assigned character in a believable, engaging, and professional manner.
• Create positive, memorable experiences for children and families through friendly and appropriate interactions.
• Support photography sessions by assisting with poses, props, and customer engagement.
• Create photographable moments that enhance the customer experience and encourage participation.
• Interact with children and parents in a manner consistent with company safety and customer interaction guidelines.
• Maintain character integrity and remain in character while visible to customers.
• Observe and respond appropriately to customer cues and comfort levels.
• Maintain costume appearance, cleanliness, and overall presentation standards.
• Assist with studio events, seasonal programs, promotions, and marketing activities.
• Distribute promotional materials as directed and approved by the host location.
• Follow all company policies, safety requirements, and costume character guidelines.
• Protect company assets by properly caring for and storing all costume components and accessories.
• Assist with event setup and teardown activities as assigned.
• Support holiday, seasonal, and special event promotions.
• Communicate customer concerns or safety issues to studio leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum General Requirements

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Must own a professional-quality Santa Claus costume that meets company appearance standards.
• Must have a natural, real beard to maintain an authentic Santa Claus appearance.
• Ability to maintain a well-groomed beard and professional Santa image throughout the season.

Experience

• Previous experience in customer service, retail, childcare, hospitality, entertainment, or event environments preferred.
• Experience working with children and families preferred.
• Previous character, mascot, theatrical, or performance experience is beneficial but not required.

Skills And Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Ability to engage positively and appropriately with children and families.
• Professional demeanor and sound judgment when interacting with customers.
• Ability to follow established performance, safety, and customer interaction guidelines.
• Strong verbal communication skills.
• Dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to maintain a positive, friendly, and enthusiastic attitude throughout scheduled shifts.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain character integrity while performing in costume.

Travel: Minimal travel within the district.

Working Conditions And Physical Requirements

• Ability to wear a character costume for extended periods of time.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and interact with customers throughout scheduled shifts.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced retail studio environment.
• May be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays based on business needs.

Hourly Payrate: $75.00/Hour

This is aseasonal positionwith ongoing hiring until roles are filled.

Supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce is important to Shutterfly not only because it directly reflects our value of Embracing our Differences, but also because it’s the right thing to do for our business and for our people. We welcome all applicants and evaluate them based on their qualifications. Learn more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on our Career Site.