Travel Counselor

Commerce; Oine (NC); On-site; USD 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

The North Carolina Department of Commerce seeks a Travel Counselor at the Norlina, NC Welcome Center (I-85 North). You will provide visitor information and outstanding customer service to travelers and plan responses to travel inquiries.

Responsibilities include sharing NC attractions, routes, lodging options, and event details while maintaining brochure displays. The role requires schedule flexibility and a commitment to welcoming visitors seven days a week.

Qualifications

• Ability to provide customer service-focused hospitality to the traveling public.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, MS Excel, and Internet search engines.
• Experience providing information about North Carolina’s attractions, events, accommodations, recreational opportunities, history, and geographic features.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with the public through oral and written communication while assisting visitors with travel-related inquiries.

Responsibilities

• Use all available resources to provide visitors with excellent customer service.
• Provide information about the state and its tourist facilities to visitors.
• Distribute information on attractions, events, and accommodations to visitors.
• Provide highway routing information to visitors.
• Maintain brochure display racks, back stock, and order new and replacement brochures.
• Participate in study/familiarization tours and share your experiences with coworkers.
• Occasionally conduct oral presentations to schools or civic groups.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Hospitality

Public interaction

Tools

Microsoft Word

MS Excel

Internet search engines

Job description

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is the state's lead agency for economic, community and workforce development. The department works with local, regional, national and international organizations to fulfill its mission to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians. The Department connects businesses with the site locations, workforce and infrastructure they need to succeed in one of the nation's top states for business. We also connect local communities with the grants and funding they need to attract new business and ensure future prosperity.

Description of Work

The Visitor Services Program works in cooperation with strategic partners to strengthen the state's tourism industry by providing customer service and information on travel to and within North Carolina to visitors and potential visitors. It is comprised of four components: North Carolina Welcome Centers, Tourism Call Center, Tourism Fulfillment Center, and Tourism Warehouse. The Welcome Center program maximizes the opportunities to increase visitor expenditures through responsive promotion and marketing initiatives and by providing excellent customer service at points of entry to the state along interstate highways. Welcome Centers provide multiple travel services, such as providing travel information, planning trips, routing, distributing travel literature and making reservations for accommodations.

Travel Counselor Responsibilities

• Use all available resources to provide visitors with excellent customer service;
• Provide information about the state and its tourist facilities to visitors;
• Distribute information on attractions, events, and accommodations to visitors;
• Provide highway routing information to visitors;
• Maintain brochure display racks, back stock, and order new and replacement brochures;
• Participate in study/familiarization tours and share your experiences with coworkers;
• Occasionally conduct oral presentations to schools or civic groups.

Welcome Centers are open 7 days a week from 8am to 5pm. The work schedule will include weekday, weekend, and holiday work. This position is located at the I‑85 North Welcome Center in Norlina, NC (Warren County).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities / Management Preferences

To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must provide the information on the application form. Applicants who possess the following qualifications may receive management preference: Ability to provide customer service-focused hospitality to the traveling public. Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, MS Excel, and Internet search engines. Experience providing information about North Carolina’s attractions, events, accommodations, recreational opportunities, history, and geographic features. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with the public through oral and written communication while assisting visitors with travel-related inquiries.

The posting will close and stop accepting applications at 11:59 pm on the night prior to the closing date posted above.

Salary and Benefits

Recruitment Range: $31,200 - $37,615

This is a full‑time position (40 hours per week) with State Benefits, including health insurance, as well as retirement.

Benefits include:

• 12 Annual Paid Holidays and monthly accrual of vacation and sick leave
• North Carolina State Health Plan administered by Aetna
• Supplemental Benefits including Flexible Spending Accounts, Accident Insurance, Cancer & Specified Disease, Critical Illness, Dental, and Vision
• NC State Retirement (TSERS), 401(k), and 457 savings plans
• WeSave Employee Discounts
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Eligibility and Employment Conditions

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. Commerce does not provide employment visa sponsorship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and throughout employment. Applicants requesting and receiving an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are eligible to submit paper applications via mail or by fax by the vacancy closing date. Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications. Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS) if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. If a former member of the NC National Guard who served for at least 6 years and was discharged under honorable conditions, they must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Application Process Overview

All applicants must complete and submit a state application for employment using the Careers with the State of NC portal.

Educational and Experience Equivalency

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through either years of education or years of directly related experience, or a combination of both. The Education and Experience Equivalency Guide provides details. Education and/or experience in the performance of a variety of manual tasks that is directly related to the job and consistent with accepted practices of the trade equivalent to one year of experience.

Employer Resources

For consideration for this vacancy, all applicants must complete an online application. If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the posting close date will be evaluated for consideration. The processing of applications will take an average of 5 business days due to the high volume of applications received. If applicants earned a foreign degree, foreign degrees require an official evaluation for U.S. equivalency and must be submitted to Human Resources for verification. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) has several options on their website that can provide credential verification.

Learn more about the benefits of being a North Carolina state employee, visit the N.C. Office of State Human Resources' website.

If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by management. If you are no longer under consideration, you will receive an email notification.