Visitor Experience Associate

There are rare moments when organizations have the combination of a talented and motivated staff, an engaged board, a healthy and productive work culture, are executing well on existing programs but still innovating and looking for the next step—we’re in that moment, and it’s exciting.

Northwest Maritime is dynamic, making a difference in our community, and taking an increasing role in the region. We serve individual students and program participants, but we also work to help solve community problems like systemic improvements in our public schools, economic development, job training, and working regionally to pair the opportunities in the maritime industry with the need to address systemic oppression in communities of color.

Plus, all of the fun stuff like kids’ programs, festivals, and adventure races. Our waterfront campus is vibrant with a multitude of compelling activities—all of them done to meet or advance industry best practices. In the words of a board member: “We don’t do B work.”

On top of it all, you’d get to work on the water in Port Townsend: natural beauty, heritage buildings, arts community, wooden boats, zero traffic jams. Northwest Maritime’s relative scale to our small town means that the effects of our success can be observed in the success of our community. You’ll be doing meaningful work for the place you live, and your efforts will make a tangible difference.

Right team, right moment, the right momentum, and the chance to move the needle for the prosperity of an entire community:
That’s why we get excited to come to work in the morning, and that’s why we think you should want to be here too.

Northwest Maritime is an equal‑opportunity employer, striving towards being an antiracist and inclusive organization. Our staff includes a spectrum of racial, cultural, religious, sexual and gender identities, and abilities. We strongly encourage applications from people who have not seen themselves represented in the maritime industry, advocacy, and nonprofit work.

Our Visitor Experience Associates play a pivotal role in providing exceptional service to all visitors to our ‘front door’ Welcome Center at Northwest Maritime. You’ll be the first point of contact for Swan Hotel guests, assisting with room bookings, check‑ins, and inquiries while ensuring a seamless and welcoming experience. You’ll also manage communications with our housekeeping team and navigate essential hotel software with ease.

In addition to assisting Swan guests, you will provide excellent customer service to all NWM visitors with their retail and registration needs, as well as with general inquiries.

The schedule is set for this opening, Saturday through Monday, 2 pm to 7 pm.

• Provide friendly and knowledgeable customer service in person, over the phone, and via email to all NWM visitors, including hotel guests, program participants, shoppers, tourists, and locals
• Assist hotel guests and prospective guests with making reservations, checking in & out, and general hotel inquiries
• Maintain a thorough understanding and awareness of the organization’s activities, the local community, and the maritime sector
• Answer questions and provide information about Port Townsend to visitors
• Coordinate with Housekeeping regarding arrivals, departures, and guest needs
• Assist with retail operations, including receiving, tagging, and stocking merchandise
• Effectively navigate hotel reservation software, point of sale software, and other technology as needed
• Support the organization during large events, including Wooden Boat Festival
• Other duties as assigned

While the primary focus of this position is in hospitality and customer service, the Visitor Experience Associate works as part of the entire NWM team, ensuring smooth operations. As a growing non‑profit, we all pitch in for the heavy lifting, whether it's participating in all‑hands projects and events, assisting visitors, or occasionally doing some literal heavy lifting.

• Responsible, detail‑oriented, proactive, comfortable with busy and demanding circumstances, and can represent NWM in…