Patron Services Associate

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden

Snug Harbor is an expansive culture park on Staten Island where arts, nature, education, and history converge to offer dynamic programming, events, and festivals to our diverse community. Located less than 1.5 miles from the Staten Island Ferry and easily accessible by public transportation, Snug Harbor welcomes nearly 500,000 visitors each year. Visitors can explore multiple museums, performances, festivals, a farm, and 83 acres of gardens, parkland, woodland, and wetlands.

Founded in 1976 as a nonprofit organization, Snug Harbor is one of the largest adaptive reuse projects in America, transforming a 19th‑century charitable rest home for sailors into a vibrant hub of contemporary culture and community connection. Today, Snug Harbor’s mission is dedicated to creating a vibrant culture park in Staten Island offering arts, nature, history, education and events for all.

The Patron Services Associate is essential in delivering a welcoming and positive visitor experience at Snug Harbor. Acting as the first point of contact for guests, Patron Services Associates provide a friendly and knowledgeable presence across various high-traffic areas. Patron Services Associates assist with admissions, ticketing, sales, and general inquiries at multiple locations. This includes handling a variety of transactions at admissions points and events.

With a focus on smooth, accurate transactions and maintaining cleanliness at all times, the Patron Services Associates enhances the visitor experience by promoting programs, assisting with directions, and sharing information about Snug Harbor’s offerings.

This position reports to the Patron Services Supervisor.

Shifts are part-time and seasonally active. Shifts are most frequent March through December.

• Patron Experience and Engagement
• Communicate Snug Harbor’s mission and offerings in a friendly, professional manner that creates a memorable experience for visitors.
• Provide inclusive, responsive customer service to meet the needs of a diverse visitor base.
• Stay informed about Snug Harbor’s programs, seasonal highlights, and events to offer accurate, engaging information to patrons.
• Actively listen to visitor feedback, documenting suggestions and concerns to help improve the patron experience.
• Promote upcoming events, exhibits, and unique attractions, encouraging visitors to explore Snug Harbor.
• Maintain signage, information displays, and way finding tools across visitor areas, ensuring resources are accurate and accessible.
• Keep all assigned stations and areas clean, organized, and well-stocked to present a welcoming environment for visitors.
• Willingness to adapt to evolving priorities, take on diverse tasks, and contribute to team success through flexibility and collaboration.

• Open, manage, and close admissions and sales stations at various locations, including the Visitor Booth, Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, the Chinese Scholar’s Garden, Farm Stand, and special events.
• Conduct transactions for admissions, memberships, products, and donations, handling cash, credit, and other forms of payment accurately and efficiently.
• Maintain accurate financial records for each shift, reconciling cash, ticket sales, and credit transactions, which requires strong math and accounting skills.
• Track visitor demographics, ticket counts, and financial data to contribute to the organization’s reporting and visitor analytics.

Ensure admissions and sales areas are well-stocked with necessary supplies, tickets, and promotional materials, preparing daily reports for management review.

• Communicate consistently with the Finance & Sales Manager and other departments as necessary, keeping updated via email and internal communications.
• Maintain supplies and materials across admissions and patron service areas, helping keep storage areas organized and well-stocked.
• Participate in training, professional development, and shift debriefings to continually improve customer service practices.

• Shifts may require extended periods of sitting or…