Experience Director

DIRECTOR OF EXPERIENCE

Organization Overview:

Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, Inc. is a nonprofit organization and sanctuary of art and nature open to the public year-round. Located in Punta Gorda, Florida, The Gardens are cultivated on 27 acres and are a dynamic mix of ecosystems, vibrant tropical installations, and 23 world-class sculptures. We are a cultural beacon for our community that hosts a variety of exhibits, educational experiences, and engaging events. As we are currently in a period of growth, this is an exciting time to become a part of the PRB&SG team. We were recently recognized for Nonprofit of the Year, Attraction Hero Award, Up and Coming Award, and Community Impact Award. We were proudly just named "Best Hidden Gem in America" on Trip Advisor and Best of Florida for Botanical Gardens! Please visit our website at www.peacerivergardens.org to learn more.

Position Overview: The Director of Experience is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping, elevating, and delivering an exceptional guest experience across all public-facing areas of Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens. This position provides strategic leadership over Events, Guest Services, Gift Shop oversight, Private Rentals, and Community Outreach, ensuring that every interaction, onsite and offsite, reflects the Gardens’ mission, values, and service standards. This role directly supervises the Experience Team and collaborates closely with Development, Horticulture, and Facilities teams to create a seamless, mission-driven guest experience.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & Strategic Direction

• Develop and implement a comprehensive guest experience strategy aligned with organizational goals and revenue targets.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and performance evaluation for the Experience Team.
• Foster a culture of hospitality, collaboration, and continuous improvement across all guest-facing departments.
• Manage departmental budgets, staffing plans, and key performance indicators.

Events & Private Rentals

• Oversee planning, execution, and evaluation of signature events, seasonal programs, and community experiences.
• Lead private rental operations including client communication, logistics, vendor coordination, and quality assurance.
• Ensure all events and rentals are mission-aligned, profitable, and deliver exceptional guest satisfaction.

Guest Services & Front-of-House Operations

• Provide high-level oversight of admissions, membership, customer service standards, and guest flow.
• Lead training initiatives related to hospitality, safety, accessibility awareness, conflict resolution, and guest engagement.
• Monitor guest feedback and implement strategies to improve satisfaction across all touchpoints.

Gift Shop Oversight

• Provide strategic oversight of the Gift Shop’s retail direction and guest experience.
• Support the Gift Shop Coordinator in aligning merchandising, seasonal themes, product selection, and branding with organizational goals.
• Review sales reports and collaborate on revenue strategies without directly managing daily retail operations.

(Gift Shop Coordinator is responsible for purchasing, inventory, display, vendor relations, retail systems, and day-to-day operations.)

Community Outreach & Offsite Engagement

• Oversee Education & Outreach Specialist who plans on and offsite programs and community partnerships.
• Strengthen relationships with local organizations, schools, civic groups, and partners to expand the Gardens’ reach.
• Ensure brand consistency across all community-facing activities and collaborations.

Administrative Excellence

• Establish and maintain departmental workflows, policies, safety guidelines, and operational standards.
• Oversee departmental communication, scheduling, analytics, and reporting.
• Support donor and sponsor engagement in collaboration with the Engagement and Development teams.
• Represent the Gardens at community events, networking functions, and strategic partnership meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Business Management, Nonprofit Administration, Communications, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of progressive leadership experience in a cultural institution, visitor attraction, hospitality, events, or guest-service-driven environment.
• Proven success in guest experience leadership, event management, staff supervision, and strategy development.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills.
• Strong project management, problem solving, and organizational abilities.
• Comfortable working evenings, weekends, holidays, and during major events.

Key Competencies

• Leadership & team development
• Strategic thinking
• Hospitality-driven mindset
• Financial and data literacy
• Creativity & innovation
• Relationship building

Work Environment & Schedule

• Full-time, exempt, requiring flexibility for events and high-traffic periods.
• Ability to work both indoors and outdoors in varied conditions.
• Occasional lifting (up to 25 lbs.) during event setup support.

Compensation: This is a full-time, salaried position. Compensation is commensurate with experience.

Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens is an equal opportunity employer and celebrates diversity in its workforce.

Pay: From $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $55,000