FACILITY EVENTS STAFF ASSISTANT

Job Description

Job Description

The Facility Events office coordinates over 300 events a year at the Garden in 12 different venues and gardens, which include corporate/nonprofit clients as well as private events and weddings. Proceeds from facility rentals directly support the Garden’s mission as a primary resource for learning about the botanical world. This position serves as a representative of the Garden to all event clients and guests for questions and coordination needs during events, and demonstrates our core value of hospitality by ensuring that customer service is first and foremost. We achieve this by providing a welcoming and helpful experience to all guests and demonstrating a positive and supportive environment for staff, guests, and volunteers.

Responsibilities

Day of Event –

• Posts temporary event signage based on booked events/venues.
• Inspects event venue(s) to ensure the physical event setup is complete and accurate and venue is ready for guests.
• Supports the Food and Beverage provider for event setups and needs.
• Works closely with client to ensure room or site setup is correct and assist with any AV setup.
• Supports operations and custodial teams with last minute adjustments or needs.
• Directs guests to appropriate parking areas and event entrances.
• Greets and checks-in guests and provide event and/or basic Garden information as needed.
• Assists late guests to venue and monitor venue for possible noise conflicts due to multiple events in the Garden.

Additional Responsibilities for Wedding Events –

• Directs vendors to appropriate venue(s) based on vendor information form(s) and in compliance with rental contract terms and conditions.
• Serves as liaison to bridal party or wedding planner upon arrival and during their set up, direct musicians as appropriate to ceremony or reception site location. Direct guests to appropriate parking areas and event entrances.
• Ensures other FESA’s are in place as needed, if needed.
• Monitors ceremony venue(s) for compliance with mandatory ceremony start time and rental term requiring acoustical ceremony music.
• Direct guests from ceremony to reception venue and be accessible for guest questions.
• Monitor reception music at Bloemendaal House to ensure compliance with rental term related to reception music start time and Henrico County noise ordinance.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent customer service and effective communications skills with people at all levels and in various settings via multiple communication tools.
• Comfortable working face to face with guests.
• Presents oneself with a professional, yet friendly attitude and appearance.
• Proven ability to work with others in a cooperative and collaborative manner.
• Ability to understand and differentiate priority of job responsibilities and customer requests.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Works well under pressure, is able to problem solve quickly, and can respond to difficult situations and a kind and courteous manner.
• Knowledgeable about facility rental terms and conditions, especially key terms that may affect multiple events.
• Willingly integrates work of department with the efforts of other departments (particularly guest/visitor services, operations, and catering).
• Make recommendations for facility rental event logistics.

Physical Demands / Working Conditions

• Must be able to lift 20 pounds intermittently.
• Must be able to work outdoors in all seasonal extremes.
• Must be able to walk quickly between all garden venues.

Note: Duties described above, other duties, and physical demands have been identified as essential functions as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Education and Experience:

• 2 years post high school education preferred.
• 1-2 years customer service experience in food service or hospitality field.
• General understanding of event coordination.

Please note: This position is represented by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO. To discuss the specific needs of your group, please reach out to 804-359-4058.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to HR@lewisginter.org

Company DescriptionFounded in 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a nonprofit garden located in Richmond, Virginia’s Lakeside neighborhood. The Garden encompasses 82 acres, four lakes, 5,500 unique taxa of plants within 15 distinct outdoor gardens, 11 major buildings including a conservatory and greenhouse, plus an 80-acre branch site, the Lewis Ginter Nature Reserve. Annually, Lewis Ginter engages over 17,000 students in innovative and exciting educational programs. This cadre of identified learners is just a fraction of the more than 400,000 annual visitors to the Garden. In recent years, the Garden has been honored with inclusion in several top ten lists for botanical gardens in North America.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin in the hiring, retention, or promotion of employees. We support the diversity and inclusion policy adopted by The American Public Gardens Association: to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture where the contributions of all community members are valued, respected, and appreciated.

Company Description

Founded in 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a nonprofit garden located in Richmond, Virginia’s Lakeside neighborhood. The Garden encompasses 82 acres, four lakes, 5,500 unique taxa of plants within 15 distinct outdoor gardens, 11 major buildings including a conservatory and greenhouse, plus an 80-acre branch site, the Lewis Ginter Nature Reserve. Annually, Lewis Ginter engages over 17,000 students in innovative and exciting educational programs. This cadre of identified learners is just a fraction of the more than 400,000 annual visitors to the Garden. In recent years, the Garden has been honored with inclusion in several top ten lists for botanical gardens in North America.\r\n\r\nLewis Ginter Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin in the hiring, retention, or promotion of employees. We support the diversity and inclusion policy adopted by The American Public Gardens Association: to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture where the contributions of all community members are valued, respected, and appreciated.