SEASONAL GARDEN SHOP ASSOCIATE

GARDEN OVERVIEW

MISSION

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s mission is connecting people to plants by inspiring communities to explore and conserve nature.

VISION

We are a Virginia garden of international significance leading in horticultural and educational excellence. We cultivate experiences that enhance each person’s relationship with the natural world.

VALUES

Responsibility, Innovation, Integrity, Hospitality and Inspiration

Founded in 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a nonprofit garden located in Richmond, Virginia’s Lakeside neighborhood. The Garden encompasses 82 acres, four lakes, 5,500 unique taxa of plants within 15 distinct outdoor gardens, 11 major buildings including a conservatory and greenhouse, plus an 80-acre branch site, the Lewis Ginter Nature Reserve. Annually, Lewis Ginter engages over 17,000 students in innovative and exciting educational programs. This cadre of identified learners is just a fraction of the more than 400,000 annual visitors to the Garden. In recent years, the Garden has been honored with inclusion in several top ten lists for botanical gardens in North America.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin in the hiring, retention, or promotion of employees. We support the diversity and inclusion policy adopted by The American Public Gardens Association: to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture where the contributions of all community members are valued, respected, and appreciated.

Job Description

The Seasonal Garden Shop Associate assists in the running of the day-to-day operations of the 5,000 square foot garden shop. Supports the retail team, ensuring excellent customer service, and generates revenue from the sale of books, unique gifts, pots, statuary, jewelry, clothing, holiday ornaments, and other items.

This is a temporary, part-time position, working 25 hours per week Monday – Sunday. Weekend hours may be required. The position is anticipated to end within six months.

Job Responsibilities:

• Deliver exceptional customer service by creating a welcoming environment for all guests, visitors, and volunteers
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe stockroom, including seasonal inventory organization and execution of seasonal product markdowns
• Process product invoices through TAM, verify invoice accuracy, print SKU labels, and prepare merchandise for the sales floor
• Receive, inspect, and unpack incoming shipments; verify order accuracy and promptly report damaged or missing merchandise to management
• Process and document damaged merchandise in accordance with established procedures
• Monitor inventory levels and perform regular stock counts to ensure inventory accuracy and product availability
• Replenish sales floor merchandise to keep displays fully stocked and well presented
• Support Plant Sale setup, merchandise markdowns, and event preparation
• Assist with GardenFest floor moves, including Christmas tree installation and seasonal merchandise setup
• Implements and enforces loss prevention measures to minimize shrink
• Assist with register operations and customer transactions as needed
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills with the ability to create a welcoming experience for guests, visitors, and volunteers
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a diverse team
• Strong organizational, time management, and multitasking skills with the ability to prioritize work in a fast-paced retail environment
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing priorities
• Experience using and troubleshooting point-of-sale (POS) systems
• Knowledge of cash handling procedures and retail point-of-sale operations
• Knowledge of inventory management, stock control, and merchandising principles
• Knowledge of retail sales techniques and visual merchandising practices
• Ability to read, understand, and follow established safety policies and procedures
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail when processing inventory, pricing, and merchandise
• Ability to lift, move, and organize merchandise and perform the physical duties of a retail stockroom environment
• Must be available to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays, ensuring coverage for special events at the Garden, including GardenFest, outside the traditional work week/day.

Education and Experience

• 1 – 2 years cashier or money handling experience in the retail industry.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working with the public or in a customer service capacity.
• High School Graduate or equivalent.

Physical Demands / Working Conditions

• Moderate physical activity.
• Requires handling of objects up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to stand and/or walk for more than four (4) hours per day and walk up and down stairs frequently.

Note: Duties described above have been identified as essential functions as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Each Employee of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

• Must comply with provisions of the current Employee Handbook, all published personnel policies and the requirements of their individual job descriptions.
• Must conduct themselves and perform all duties in a manner consistent with a public garden serving multigenerational and multicultural individuals and families, and in accordance with directed practices and procedures.
• Must be aware of surroundings and vigilant to threats to the safety of visitors, volunteers, and staff or to security of their property, ensuring that all concerns are reported promptly.
• Must report all mishaps, injuries, and incidents immediately and ultimately in writing to supervisor(s) and the leadership team.
• Must ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
• Must perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Please submit cover letter and resume to hr@lewisginter.org