Associate, Visitor Experience, Part-Time

Visitor Experience Associate, Part Time

South Coast Botanic Garden’s mission is to connect ALL to the wonders of nature and create experiences that inspire stewardship and sustainability. The 87-acre destination is an oasis of formal gardens and natural walking trails founded atop the most unlikely of beginnings – a sanitary landfill. Today, the South Coast Botanic Garden (SCBG) stands as a testament to the regenerative power of nature and the possibilities for land reclamation. The stunning Dorothy and John Bohannon Rose Garden is a signature experience, along with the show-stopping Living Wall, a long-term exhibit of eight remarkable largescale works of fine art sculpture, and seasonal butterfly pavilion. Programs invite guests to interact with nature through music, craft, science and wellness activities. There is even more excitement to come, with the creation of a 3.5-acre Marilyn and John Long Children and Family Garden scheduled for  completion in the coming year. There has never been a better time to join this dynamic team!

POSITION TITLE:

Visitor Experience Associate, Part Time

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:

Reports to Associate Director, Visitor Services

JOB SUMMARY:

As the first point of contact for visitors, the Visitor Experience Associate plays a key role in creating memorable and elevated guest experiences while contributing to SCBG’s success. This position is responsible for delivering exceptional customer service, fostering a welcoming atmosphere, processing admissions and ticket sales, and responding to visitor inquiries with professionalism and care.

This role also supports organizational revenue and engagement goals by actively promoting memberships, programs, and seasonal offerings while fostering long-term connections with guests and the community.

The ideal candidate is enthusiastic, professional, and service-oriented, with strong communication skills and a passion for creating positive guest interactions. This role offers a dynamic, fast-paced environment working alongside a collaborative team to ensure every SCBG visitor enjoys a safe, welcoming, inspiring, and elevated experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide a warm, friendly welcome to all SCBG visitors
• Answer visitor questions in person, over the phone, and via email with professionalism and clarity
• Demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of SCBG’s mission
• Open and close the Visitor Services Center, ensuring all procedures are followed
• Process admissions, event tickets, class registrations, and donations accurately
• Actively promote memberships, seasonal events, programs, and Garden offerings by communicating benefits, encouraging renewals/upgrades, and creating personalized guest engagement opportunities to support organizational sales and revenue goals
• Serve as a volunteer liaison during programs, events, and seasonal operations as needed
• Resolve guest concerns using problem-solving skills
• Maintain accurate visitor and membership records through timely database entry and organized documentation
• Reconcile cash, checks, and card transactions accurately at the end of each shift
• Handle confidential visitor, membership, and organizational information with discretion
• Support the team by performing general clerical tasks and assisting with special projects as assigned
• Contribute to a positive, respectful, and inclusive workplace culture
• Serve as a positive ambassador for SCBG and its community
• Other duties as assigned

REQUIREMENTS:

• Weekend and holiday availability are non-negotiable requirements for this role. Applicants unable to meet this requirement will not be considered
• Comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions and standing for extended periods, with or without reasonable accommodation
• Friendly, enthusiastic, and professional demeanor with strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to engage positively with diverse guests and audiences while maintaining professionalism and emotional intelligence in a fast-paced environment
• Results-driven and detail-oriented professional with experience handling membership sales, POS transactions, and maintaining accurate visitor, membership, and transactional records, including digital database entries and physical documentation
• Maintain a professional standard of dress and appearance appropriate for a customer-facing role and in accordance with organizational guidelines
• Attends departmental meetings and trainings as required
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 15 pounds

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; some college coursework strongly preferred
• Minimum of 1–2 years of experience in retail, hospitality, customer service, admissions, or a public-facing role within a garden, museum, cultural institution, or similar attraction
• Proven experience with cash handling, point-of-sale systems, and transactional accuracy
• Experience working in fast-paced, guest-focused environments with strong multitasking and problem-solving skills
• Experience with ticketing, membership, CRM, or reservation systems preferred
• Ability to professionally handle guest concerns and provide exceptional customer service experiences
• Availability to work weekends, evenings, holidays, special events, and peak operational seasons as required

This position is part-time and non-exempt, with a pay rate of $18.27 per hour. Availability on both Saturdays and Sundays is required to be considered for this position. Interested candidates must submit a completed application, resume, and cover letter for consideration. Applications missing required materials may not be considered.  South Coast Botanic Garden Foundation is dedicated to the practice of diversity, inclusion, access, and equity for all employees and visitors.

Salary : $18