Visitor Experience Associate, Morris Arboretum & Gardens

Inside Higher Ed; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 35,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical and dental insurance

Flexible work hours

University resources access

Discounts on goods and services

Job summary

A university-associated institution in Philadelphia is seeking a part-time Visitor Experience Associate to greet visitors, manage admissions, and assist with gift shop operations. The ideal candidate has exceptional customer service skills and is comfortable working outdoors in varied weather. This position pays $16.85 per hour and requires availability on weekends and holidays.

Qualifications

• Must be professional, reliable, and friendly.
• Experience in customer-focused roles is required.
• Ability to convey information clearly.

Responsibilities

• Greet visitors and handle admissions.
• Run the gift shop and sell memberships.
• Assist guests and answer questions.

Skills

Customer-centered demeanor

Ability to stay calm under pressure

Attention to detail

Technical skills (computer/tablet)

Teamwork

Job description

Overview

The Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania inspires an understanding of the relationship between plants and people through education, research, and horticultural display. Located in the Northwest section of the city (15 miles from campus), the Morris Arboretum & Gardens is a destination for plant lovers from Philadelphia and beyond. The Morris is home to a collection of more than 13,000 woody plants and host to special and educational events. A hub for botany, horticulture, and urban forestry, the Morris Arboretum & Gardens is a special part of Penn.

Duties

VE Associates greet visitors, handle admissions and parking, run the gift shop, answer questions, sell memberships, and assist guests wherever possible.

VE Associates must be professional, reliable, friendly, and have exceptional customer service skills. They must also be comfortable working with computers, handling money, working outside, and standing for extended periods of time. Flexibility, working well under pressure, a sense of humor, and a strong sense of teamwork are also beneficial skills to have for this role.

Qualifications

• A friendly, customer-centered demeanor.
• Experience in customer-focused roles.
• The ability to stay calm under pressure.
• A willingness to jump in when needed and address problems.
• Strong attention to detail and experience handling money.
• Ability to convey information in a clear, concise manner.
• Ability to walk and stand for long periods of time, in all types of weather.
• Experience working on a computer and tablet.
• A valid driver’s license.

This is a year-round, part-time (averaging 18 hours per week), paid position with variable hours. Weekend and holiday availability is required. VE Associates average more hours during the season (April through October, December) and fewer during the winter (November, January through March).

Pay Rate

$16.85/hour.

Job Location

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Morris Arboretum

Benefits

• Health and Life: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you’ll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/Morris-Arboretum/Visitor-Experience-Associate--Morris-Arboretum---Gardens_JR00110481