On-Call Visitor Service Associate
Title: On-Call Visitor Service Associate
Classification: On-call, Non-Exempt
Department: Visitor Service
Reports to: Visitor Service & Volunteer Manager
Compensation: $17.00 - $20.00
Schedule: Wednesday - Saturday, during tour season. This may include evenings and the occasional Sunday.
About Lotusland:
Ganna Walska Lotusland is a 37-acre botanical garden and historic estate located in Montecito featuring a collection of over 3,000 plant species from around the world as well as historically significant Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Since opening to the public in 1993, Ganna Walska Lotusland has grown to become one of the world’s premier botanical gardens and a center for sustainable garden practices, horticultural education, and plant conservation.
Mission Statement:
Our mission is to preserve and enhance the distinctive botanical gardens and estate of Madame Ganna Walska. Lotusland educates and inspires visitors with its collections, sustainable horticulture practices, and plant conservation.
Position Summary:
Ganna Walska Lotusland is looking for someone that loves gardens AND people and has time to share their passion with others. The Garden is proud to offer and create a superior level of enjoyment and experience for all staff, visitors, and volunteers.
The On-Call Visitor Service Associate is responsible for providing excellent customer service to Lotusland garden visitors, including but not limited to processing admissions, monitoring garden activity, and supporting other garden departments in a variety of areas as needed. This multi-faceted position will be cross trained to work in the Garden Kiosk and as a Garden Monitor. This position requires an individual who is passionate about gardens, has impeccable customer service skills, can pivot quickly without hesitation and treats all visitors and staff with graciousness.
Key Responsibilities:
Garden Kiosk
- First line of hospitality at the main gates of Lotusland.
- Operates the main gate for entry and exit of visitors ensuring security of the gardens.
- Communicates with Visitor Services, Reservations and Garden Shop regarding any special accommodation needed for visitors.
- Prepare for visitors at the start of the day by performing outlined duties, including reviewing the kiosk report and conducting radio checks with Visitor Services and volunteers.
- Organizes and tracks all data regarding visitor arrivals and departures, reports data to Associate Director of Administration.
- Coordinates and confirms reservation updates and tours as needed.
- Maintains radio contact and communicates changes to visitor service, including late arrivals or cancellations.
- Responds to visitors’ needs in case of emergency or support in the garden.
Garden Monitor
- Walk the grounds of the garden ensuring collections are safe, secure, and undisturbed while visitors are present.
- Offer guidance to visitors, such as information or directions when asked.
- Greet guests at the Visitor Center upon entry and exit.
- Provide orientation to guests of the gardens.
- Responds to calls for assistance from the Volunteer Garden Guides.
- The Garden Monitor will be the first line of staff support for Volunteer Garden Guides.
- Communicates closely with Visitor Service team to ensure gardens are covered, policies are enforced, and issues are promptly reported.
- Excellent customer service skills; including kind and effective communication both written and verbal.
- Solid organizational and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work as a team player, collaborate with other departments and conduct oneself professionally.
- Must be able to stand for extended periods.
- Must have a valid driver’s license
- High School diploma, GED or equivalence in demonstrated skills from work experience.
- Experience in customer service.
- Lotusland’s administrative offices are on a historic 2-story estate in a 37-acre garden.
- General office environment within the garden setting of Lotusland.
- Requires working outside during events and the ability to comfortably move around the garden.
- Frequent work on the telephone and computer (repetitive movement – typing)
- Frequent standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs and bending with occasional lifting of light to moderate loads (25 lbs.)
- Occasional driving of company electric golf carts.
Benefits
- Sick leave.
- Employment background/criminal check is required.
Lotusland Core Values:
Accountability: We take ownership of the commitments we make, holding ourselves accountable for our actions and decisions, both to ourselves and those we lead.
Teamwork and Collaboration: Our roles are interdependent, requiring intentional collaboration within teams to consistently achieve our mission.
Communication: Effective communication is crucial for building trust among our staff, board, and the larger community. We strive to share information clearly, consistently, and in a timely manner to foster understanding and commitment across our organization.
Trust: We aim to cultivate mutual respect and open communication throughout the organization. Employees are encouraged to openly share their perspectives and feel secure in taking risks to enhance our effectiveness.
Integrity: Aligned with our guiding principles of honesty, fairness, and decency, we promote a strong ethic of integrity among individuals and leaders.
Lotusland is an equal opportunity employer. We acknowledge that equal employment opportunity for all persons is a fundamental human value. Each employee will be considered based on individual ability and merit, without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sex, or marital status.
For more information: www.lotusland.org
No recruiters or agency calls please.