Interpretation Assistant (part-time)

The schedule for this position is Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Must have the ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

SUMMARY: Responsible for developing and implementing a wide range of innovative, high interpretive strategies that support the Garden’s mission. Engages visitors of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities through interpretive programming throughout the Garden in ways that cultivate personal experiences, deepen knowledge, support interest-driven learning, foster deeper connections with the Garden and its global work, and inspire more sustainable choices, lifestyles, and actions beyond their visit. Participates in maintaining interpretive displays and props. Provides visitor information regarding directions, venues, attractions, special events, classes, and other information while working in designated interpretive areas. Assists in ensuring safe, positive, and educational engaging visitor experiences.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides Educational Visitor Engagement: Participates in creating, preparing, and implementing a wide range of non-structured interpretive programming and experiential learning opportunities throughout the Garden, particularly within the Children’s Garden, Tower Grove House, Brookings Exploration Center, Plant Lab, and within special exhibit areas. Topics will include (but are not limited to) nature, ecosystems, habitats, plant science, biodiversity, adaptations, native and invasive plants, history, collections, sustainability, outdoor exploration, citizen science, and seasonal happenings. Works closely and cooperatively with Interpretation Leadership Team on developing, researching, and implementing interpretive materials that may include signage, print or online publications, guided or self-guided tours, sensory-friendly, audio, visual, interactive digital media, and other interpretive opportunities.
• Ensures Positive Visitor Experiences: Engages visitors and provides general information related to visitor experiences, inquiries, and Garden opportunities. Creates a positive, healthy, and safe learning environment for visitors that is developmentally, culturally, and topically appropriate. Responds to and takes appropriate action to resolve or report concerns and complaints from Garden visitors. Uses judgment to analyze situations and determine the best use of resources and when to escalate situations to management.
• Maintains Interpretation & Educational Resources: Assists with creating, procuring, maintaining, storing, and organizing program supplies. Monitors and assesses interpretive facilities, conducts routine safety checks, submits maintenance requests, reports concerns to management as appropriate.
• Adheres to Safety Guidelines and First Aid Provider: Communicates and enforces the Garden’s rules of etiquette to visitors in an effort to orient visitors to interpretive venues. Monitors visitor behavior and ensures adherence to safety guidelines; responds to and administers First Aid/CPR as necessary, reports all incidents as well as any concerns to management.
• Performs Opening & Closing Duties: Actively participates in pre-season set-up operations and post-season closing operations; moving/cleaning equipment, setting up/removing props, stock/removing merchandise, etc. Assists with other Garden events as requested.
• Meets expected attendance guidelines.
• Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.
• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork and cooperation, within our division and throughout the Garden, with co-workers, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and employees.
• Performs other duties as assigned.


Supervisory Responsibilities: None.


Competencies:

• Communication: Combines listening skills, verbal and written communication skills, and visitor relation skills.
• Collaboration: Incorporates teamwork, mutual respect, active engagement, cooperation visitor focus
• Accountability: Initiative to take ownership of responsibilities, the ability to prioritize, and the working knowledge and skills to take action.
• Problem Solving: Blends problem-solving skills, judgement, and decision-making skills along with creativity and resourcefulness.
• Stewardship: Merges the practical application of the Garden values and support for a positive organizational climate.


Qualifications/Experience:

• Minimum 1 year experience working on developing, preparing, and delivering engaging educational opportunities with audiences of diverse ages, ethnicities, abilities, and backgrounds is strongly preferred.
• Strong presentation and public speaking skills along with excellent communication,