Part Time Durham Visitor Experience Assistant

Description

Discover Durham is Durham, North Carolina’s marketing and sales agency, generating economic impact by drawing 13 million leisure, business, and sports visitors to our vibrant community. Discover Durham also operates the Durham Sports Commission (DSC), a 501(c)3 whose mission is to create economic and social impact by leading the community’s efforts to attract, support and promote sporting events at every level. And Durham Next, a 501(c)3 created to lead the research, planning and implementation of transformational initiatives put forth in the Destination Master Plan that advance Durham as the best place to live, work and visit.

For the Visitor Experience Assistant (VEA), Discover Durham is looking to onboard a roster of excited individuals to engage with visitors and recommend things to do as they explore our destination. Discover Durham has a brick-and-mortar Visitor Info Center (VIC) location in the heart of downtown that’s activated for relevant festivals or events and every monthly Third Friday evening. We also have a Mobile Visitor Info Center (MVIC) that we set up at popular attractions and other festivals or events when we’re anticipating heavy visitor traffic. The VEAs will be scheduled to engage with visitors, help with set up and breakdown of activations and ensure other various goals are met. 

The role involves on-the-ground event coordination, cultivating relationships with those who walk up or walk into an activation, and ensuring a seamless experience for stakeholders or other partners involved. The ideal candidates are outgoing, have a passion for fostering inclusive and welcoming spaces, will be detail-oriented and want to share a love of Durham’s small businesses and things to do in our community.

VEAs will fill a casual labor position, available on-call or as shifts become available. Shifts will be offered as needed based on staffing requirements and event needs at the VIC or MVIC, typically planned weeks or months in advance with the occasional last-minute opportunities made available. Discover Durham will provide onboarding to ensure a baseline level of Durham knowledge prior to the final VEAs being able to sign up for shifts as well as onboarding related to the Paycom platform.

General responsibilities:

• When assisting at events in which the Mobile Visitor Info Center (MVIC) is to activate:
  • Be on-site and set up MVIC experience for the hours assigned, which are mostly nights and weekends, taking direction from DD full-time staff who will also be present.
  • Set up and break down of MVIC tent and equipment.
  • Help with loading and unloading the company van, sometimes meeting at the Visitor Info Center (212 W. Main St.) and riding in the company van as needed.
  • Provide personalized recommendations for supporting local businesses and experiencing more of Durham to event attendees who walk up to MVIC.
  • Utilize iPads, mobile app and Discover Durham publications to give recommendations.
  • Encourage engagement from event attendees (QR code scans, mobile app downloads, email newsletter sign-ups, etc.) at the MVIC.
  • Engage with and learn more about our visitors, which may involve surveying or collecting data based on conversations.
  • Count, distribute, report and stock incentives and branded giveaway items.
  • Help run the photo booth and other activations meant to engage visitors.
  • Work alongside hospitality business partners that we choose to collab with within a MVIC footprint.
  • Wear designated clothing, provided by Discover Durham
• When assisting with Third Friday events in the Visitor Info Center (VIC) on Main St.:
  • Be welcoming and engage with visitors who attend the events.
  • Encourage visitors to engage with hospitality business partners who are tabling and sample their offerings.
  • Provide personalized recommendations for supporting local businesses and experiencing more of Durham.
  • Inform attendees about upcoming Discover Durham campaigns and programming.
  • Utilize touch screen monitor, iPads, mobile app and DD publications to give recommendations.
  • Encourage engagement from event attendees (QR code scans, mobile app downloads, email newsletter sign-ups, etc.)
  • Help with set up and breakdown of events.
  • Wear designated clothing, provided by Discover Durham

Qualifications

Experience requirements and expectations:

• A passion for events, bringing people together and creating a sense of place or pride for Durham, with a superior customer service attitude.
• Excellent oral communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with visitors, partners, vendors and internal teams.
• An outgoing personality and positive work ethic.
• Availability nights and weekends, in addition to shifts occasionally scheduled during the typical work week for conferences or conventions. It is not required to sign up for every available shift, but consistent participation is required to remain part of the roster.
• Must have a smart phone to access the Paycom app for schedule notifications.
• An eagerness to learn about Durham and destination marketing.
• Problem solving capabilities with energy and a positive attitude.
• Cleared background check and drug screening.

Physical demands:

• Must be able to carry up to 50lbs for MVIC and VIC responsibilities and stocking collateral and other materials.
• Setup and breakdown of event materials, including moving a tent, tables, chairs and other event-related items.
• Sitting and standing for extended periods is common.
• Comfort working in an outdoor venue, with regular exposure to varying weather conditions, including heat and cold.

Salary : $20