Visitor Experience Associate

Role: Visitor Experience Associate

Reports To: Visitor Experience Supervisor

FLSA: Part-time Hourly, Non-Exempt (up to 29 hours per week). Saturday and Sunday required/some evenings)

Location: On-site, New Canaan, Connecticut

Grace Farms in New Canaan, CT is seeking personable, kind and articulate individuals to join our Visitor Experience team. This part-time position is an excellent opportunity for college students, recent graduates, and individuals re-entering the workforce at any stage in life who are looking for meaningful work in a welcoming, beautiful and mission-driven environment, surrounded by 80 acres of preserved nature. As a Visitor Experience Associate, you will be the first point of contact for our guests – providing warm greetings, assisting with wayfinding, sharing information about our programs and ensuring each visitor enjoys a meaningful, enjoyable, and memorable experience while on site. With flexible scheduling, competitive wages, professional development opportunities and the chance to work in one of Connecticut's most inspiring cultural and community spaces, this role offers more than just a job – it provides a place to grow, connect and contribute.

Duties:

• Warmly greets all visitors wherever they are assigned that day by creating a welcoming and friendly environment where visitors receive prompt, efficient and pleasant attention whether it be in person, on the phone or via e-mail.
• Efficiently and effectively processes all visitors and members using the appropriate technology at the particular station or event they are assigned which may involve credit card and member card processing. Requests appropriate ID as necessary to ensure the integrity, safety and security of the visitor's credit card and membership. Follows all established GFF financial/credit card policies and protocols with accuracy, integrity and honesty.
• Anticipates and responds to visitor needs by providing accurate and helpful information about Grace Farms and all its offerings. Provides suggestions for personalized visit itineraries based on the visitors' needs, interests, time, and other visitors attending with them (family, children, adults).
• Promotes and educates visitors to the benefits of membership and processes membership applications including upgrades and renewals.
• Solicits and records visitor feedback, suggestions, complaints and compliments about their experiences at GFF and make the supervisory team aware of such feedback for use in continuous improvement and quality control initiatives and efforts. Alerts supervisory staff to potential issues, problems and possibilities in a timely manner.
• Continuously expands personal knowledge about GFF, its grounds, offerings, exhibitions, events and initiatives by active participation in training, staying abreast of news, events, and programs through team meetings, verbal, written and electronic communications, asking questions of staff and supervisors, and observing on-site activities.
• Follows all safety protocols when greeting and processing visitors, guests, staff and members at the Welcome Kiosk upon arrival. Provides helpful and friendly guidance and direction to each arriving guest and member to start their visit to GFF in an exceptional manner.
• Using best judgement, respond to visitor situations, calling upon supervisory and safety staff as needed in a timely, calm and clear manner.
• Serves as part of the larger Events & Visitor Experience Team in various visitor experience capacities to extend hospitality to guests at public and private events at Grace Farms including, but not limited to: greeting, registration check-in, wayfinding, and providing necessary information to guests to ensure a welcoming and meaningful event and experience for all.
• Always maintains a positive and professional image, reflecting pride in the position and enthusiasm for the Foundation.
• Constantly contributes positively and enthusiastically as part of a team-oriented department with a "can-do" and joyful attitude.
• Maintains regular and consistent attendance and punctuality.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills/Abilities:

• High school diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor's, or course work related to obtaining a degree preferred. Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Previous experience in customer-service related positions required.
• Proven ability to work comfortably and effectively with computers and other visitor facing technology. Experience with Point of Sale systems greatly preferred.
• High energy, enthusiastic, customer centered intelligence and acumen is essential.
• Must possess superior interpersonal and communications skills, with the ability to extend kindness, grace and joy with every interaction.
• Proven experience as a team player with a "can-do" attitude, highly organized, adaptable and flexible to meet time, priority and workload demands as well as shifting schedules and unexpected circumstances that come with working with the general public. Must be able to maintain a calm exterior presence during periods of high volume, high stress or unusual events.
• Proven ability to work comfortably and efficiently with computers, electronic communications, and other technology.
• Punctuality is key, as well as the ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends and some holidays. This position will work both indoors and outside depending on season and weather. Hours are subject to change on a weekly basis due to events and circumstances.
• Must have transportation, valid background check, and ability to work weekends and evenings.
• This position must work on site at Grace Farms in New Canaan, CT.

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk or stand, sit, see, read and speak English clearly, hear and use hands to reach, handle or feel.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb, stoop, kneel or crouch.
• The employee must occasionally lift, push and/ or move up to 25 pounds.

Compensation: $20 per hour

MUST have reliable transportation as we are NOT near public transportation.

About Grace Farms

Grace Farms is a cultural and humanitarian center in New Canaan, Connecticut, that brings people together across sectors to explore nature, arts, justice, community, and faith at the SANAA-designed River building and Barns on 80 acres of publicly accessible natural landscape. Since opening in 2015, it has garnered numerous prestigious awards for contributions to architecture, environmental sustainability, and social good and has become a destination for arts, culture, and community. Grace Farms has welcomed 1 million visitors from around the world to experience innovative programming in music, visual and performing arts, while fostering contemplation and connection through architecture and nature.

Grace Farms' humanitarian work includes leading the Design for Freedom movement to eliminate forced labor in the building materials supply chain and advancing initiatives to foster more grace and peace locally and globally. This commitment extends to Grace Farms Tea and Coffee, a certified B Corp that models ethical and sustainable sourcing while supporting Design for Freedom.

The integration of cultural programming and humanitarian action reflects Grace Farms' collaborative approach to generating new outcomes and meaningful change.

Grace Farms is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.