Customer Service Assistant

The Hills & Dales Estate Customer Service Assistant/Tram Driver will be responsible for transporting visitors back and forth from the Visitor Center to the house and garden in a safe, courteous, and responsible manner. The Customer Service Assistant will also assist in setting up and taking down for special events and will handle light maintenance duties to provide a high-quality customer experience.

Perhaps most importantly, this position is responsible for securing the house, tram, and Visitor Center each evening.

• Be pleasant and hospitable to all guests, making them feel warmly welcomed to the estate. Work to ensure they have a memorable experience.
• Transport guests from the Visitor Center to the house and garden and back. Use good judgement regarding inclement weather and driving speeds to maintain a peaceful and safe guest experience.
• Help customers in and out of tram. Assist wheelchair-bound guests as needed. Supply umbrellas and/or blankets to tram riders.
• Communicate regularly by radio with docent staff, visitor center staff, and garden staff to ensure quality customer experience.
• Coordinate with tour guides to make sure all guests are familiar with the call box.
• Open and prepare the tram for guests every day and then secure at the end of the day. This should include ensuring the tram is clean and presents the best possible image for all guests.
• During the warm months, proactively check the status of the water cooler at the Porte-Cochere. Replace cups and water as needed.

• Move furniture, exhibit cases, benches, and plants as needed for special events. This could include tables, chairs, projector, screen, sound system, and other items. Be knowledgeable about proper operation of technology and troubleshoot as needed.
• Maintain all table linens and ensure that they are labeled by size for easy use.
• Help make sure kitchen area is clean prior to all events, including the icemaker and refrigerator.
• Assist other staff members in setting up for outdoor estate events such as the annual Picnic in the Garden, Stories in the Garden, and Halloween. At Christmas, help with decorating the exterior and interior of the Visitor Center.

• Open, un‑alarm, and prepare the Visitor Center for guests each day. This includes unlocking doors, checking room temperatures, and turning on lights, music, and the film projector. Ensure the exterior of the Visitor Center is in good order.
• Make sure house is unlocked and un‑alarmed for tours on Saturdays and on all days when there is a skeleton garden staff.
• At the end of each day, secure the main house, greenhouse, garage, and kennel. This includes checking all doors, turning off all lights, and setting alarms. Also secure the Visitor Center to include locking doors, cutting off lights, music and the film projector. Once secure, set the alarm.
• In the event you are unable to secure the house or visitor center, coordinate proper closing with Visitor Center and garden staff.
• Ensure that all fire extinguishers and defibrillators are in good working order at all times.

• Maintain tram/Jeep. Keep full of gas, check fluids and tires weekly, and record all maintenance in a logbook. Also, keep tram clean by wiping down seats, windows, and white surfaces to make a positive clean impression on all guests.
• Conduct weekly check of the Visitor Center and home to make sure there are not burned‑out light bulbs, replacing as needed. Keep an appropriate inventory of bulbs on hand for replacements.
• Do light maintenance around the Visitor Center to keep the terrace and walkways looking nice, including cleaning benches, cleaning terrace drains, emptying trashcans, etc.
• Assist gift shop with disposing of trash/boxes and packaging when shipments arrive. Organize recyclables and help encourage recycling.
• When time allows, proactively look for and undertake maintenance projects, so the estate looks its best. Assist co‑workers with storm clean‑up and help with routine cleaning projects.

• Proactively help Visitor Center staff with office projects. Examples include preparing mailings,…