University of Pennsylvania Hiring for Visitor Experience Supervisor, Morris Arboretum & Gardens at Morris Arboretum Full Time

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job TitleVisitor Experience Supervisor, Morris Arboretum & GardensJob Profile TitleSupervisor AJob Description SummaryMorris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania inspires an understanding of the relationship between plants and people through education, research, and horticultural display. Located in the city’s Northwest section, the Morris Arboretum & Gardens is a destination for plant lovers from Philadelphia and beyond. The Arboretum is home to a collection of more than 13,000 woody plants and hosts special and educational events. The Arboretum is a special part of Penn, a hub for botany, horticulture, and urban forestry.

The Visitor Experience (VE) Supervisor acts as the on-site manager and oversees the front-line operation of the Arboretum, ensuring an exceptional guest experience for all visitors. The VE Supervisor manages VE Associates, interacts with visitors, and supports public-facing activities.Job Description

DUTIES:

Customer Service: The Supervisor takes an active role in ensuring that every visitor (over 150,000 annually!) has a wonderful experience and, if they don’t, quickly resolve issues in a friendly, proactive manner.

Staff Oversight: The Supervisor directly manages 3-9 part-time Visitor Experience Associates on a given day, ensuring that every staff member not only adheres to the policies of the Arboretum and University but also rises to the Arboretum’s high standards of service and professionalism. The Supervisor models exceptional customer service and builds a strong working team through training, coaching, and mentoring. As a team leader, the Supervisor must support the VE Associate team and proactively intervene when issues/challenges arise.

Operations: The Visitor Experience Department oversees admissions, parking/shuttling, and the Shop/Visitor Center. This involves everything from addressing problems that arise and responding in emergencies to handling cash and making sure brochures are stocked.

Rental Program Coordination: Under the Visitor Experience umbrella, the Arboretum has a robust rental business with which the Supervisor takes an active role – giving rental tours, answering initial inquiries, following up with clients, and monitoring rental event details. The Supervisor assists with coordinating day-of event logistics and work events.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Qualified candidate will have:

• High School Diploma or GED and 1-2 years experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• An outgoing, customer-centered demeanor
• A proven track record in a comparable, customer-focused role
• Experience managing/leading staff and working with diverse groups of customers
• The ability to stay calm under pressure and think on their feet
• A willingness to jump in when needed and address problems directly
• Strong attention to detail and ability to prioritize competing demands
• Ability to convey information in a clear, concise manner
• Ability to walk for long periods in all types of weather
• A valid driver’s license
• Experience working on a computer, particularly with Microsoft Office programs (Outlook, Excel, Word)

This part-time (averaging 18 hours/week annually), year-round position requires regular weekday, weekend, and evening work. Supervisors can expect to work more hours weekly during the season (April through October and December) and less during winter months (November and January through March).

Application Requirement:

A Resume is required to be considered for this position. Please upload where it asks you to upload your Resume; multiple documents are allowed.

More about the Morris Arboretum & Gardens can be found here: Morris Arboretum & Gardens.

Job Location – City, StatePhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaDepartment / SchoolMorris ArboretumPay Range$16.60 – $18.00 Hourly RateSalary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile. Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn’s exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you’ll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay