Seasonal Visitor Services Associate

Visitor Services Associate

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts' premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees' preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households.

Salary/Hourly Rate: $16 - $18 / hour

Hours per week: 35

Job Classification: Non-exempt, Seasonal, Part-Time

Job Type: Onsite

Duration: August through September

Location: Long Hill, Beverly, MA

Your Role: Long Hill is a scenic public garden and historic home located in Beverly. We are currently hiring a team of Visitor Services Associates who will work to further the mission of The Trustees and preserve our special place forever by providing superior service during general public visitation, programs, and events. This dynamic position presents an opportunity to serve our visitors by completing tasks that include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Overseeing general admission for daily visitors.
• Overseeing admission to events and special programs.
• Offering visitors information on different garden and historic house experiences.
• Generating new memberships through visitor engagement.
• Addressing concerns through to resolution.

The Property: Long Hill is a 114 acre hill-top property purchased by Ellery and Mable Sedgwick in 1916. Ellery Sedgwick was the publisher and editor of the literary magazine The Atlantic Monthly. Mable Cabot Sedgwick was a talented amateur gardener who transformed the property into a spectacular botanical landscape, filled with perennials, terraces, pagodas, and fountains. In the 1920s the Sedgwicks built a Federal-revival home at the crest of the hill, incorporating elements from an 1802 Charleston, South Carolina, mansion and objects gathered from their world travels.

Ellery Sedgwick published many of the eminent writers of the 20th century in his magazine, including Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. Some of these figures, such as poet Robert Frost, visited Long Hill. Mabel Sedgwick published The Garden Month by Month, a popular practical gardening guide. Long Hill was the much-loved summer home for them and their children. After Mabel's death, Ellery married Marjorie Russell, a renowned gardener in her own right, who continued to develop Long Hill's gardens into what they are today.

Your duties:

Gatehouse:

• Provide directions and basic layout of the property to guests.
• Uphold high standards of customer service, including greeting every customer, educating them about Long Hill and The Trustees, and helping them in a friendly manner.
• Operate the point-of-sale system.
• Responsible for cash handling; reconciling the cash drawer at end of day; conducting credit card transactions; and handling returns and refunds.

Front Desk and Retail:

Provide visitors with a warm welcome and offer guidance as needed including but not limited to:

• Welcome group tours and assist interpreters.
• Address visitor questions directly whenever possible.
• Perform opening and closing duties related to cash reconciliation, organization, and cleanliness.
• Receive deliveries and assist with inventory controls, including managing expiration dates; restocking shelves; merchandising; pricing new items; updating inventory; taking product photographs to specification; writing product descriptions; and updating in-store signage.

Grab and Go:

Support manager with various food service operations including but not limited to:

• Maintaining a superior cleanliness standard.
• Sale of grab and o' merchandise.
• Restocking grab and go merchandise.

Events:

Support setup and takedown of event including but not limited to:

• Additional stanchions and/or signage.
• Setting tables and chairs.
• Coordinating event staff and guest arrival times.
• Maintain Long Hill security, cleanliness, and customer service standards throughout the duration of events.
• Assist with various tasks to ensure a smooth event at the discretion of the engagement manager and property director.

This is a part-time seasonal exempt position working flexible hours reporting directly to the manager of visitor services.