Lead Events & Visitor Services Associate

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the Massachusetts' premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org.

Posting Information:

Hourly Rate: $20.00 - $22.00

Hours per week: 25

Job Classification: Nonexempt, Part-Time, Limited Term

Job Type: Onsite

Duration: 4/1/2025 - 11/30/2025

Location: deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln, MA

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact:

If you are self-motivated, familiar with event management, and passionate about art, nature and culture, you would be a great fit for this role! As the Lead Events & Visitor Services Associate at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, you will help lead a team that provides superior customer service to guests during daily visits, programs, and events, furthering the mission of the Trustees to preserve our special places and share them with the community.

The Role:

As the Lead Events & Visitor Services Associate, you will serve our visitors with a dual focus of daily visitor services operations and special events supervision.  This position is responsible for the safety and security of the site and for late night closing of the buildings and grounds after events.

Specifically, you’ll: 

• Supervise Events & Visitor Services staff during events
• Lead daily park operations, special events, and programming while maintaining art security and the overall visitor experience 
• Supervise public and private events and provide superior customer service to all guests and vendors   
• Address every concern as a priority and see it through to completion working with the leadership team 
• Welcome all visitors while finding opportunities to generate new memberships through visitor engagement 
• Accurately and efficiently conduct a variety of sales including memberships, public event tickets, and admissions 
• Attend training to acquire and gain insight on exhibitions to offer to visitors 

Basic Responsibilities:

Visitor Station 

Efficiently facilitate initial admission sales or check-in. Offer relevant information to orient visitors to the property and set expectations for their visit. This may include but is not limited to the following: 

• Directions and basic layout of the property 

• Daily offerings such as programming and tours 

• Any special notices that may impact the visitor experience 

• Communicate arrival of deliveries, appointments, etc. to the appropriate staff members  

• Support Public and Private Events as needed based on information provided 

Front Desk 

Provide visitors with a warm welcome and offer guidance as needed including but not limited to: 

• Overview of museum and exhibition layout 

• Available tools and activities for families 

• Special daily offerings such as programming and tours 

• Facilitate group admission payment and membership purchases 

• Manage external calls to the museum in a professional manner 

• Forward calls as needed to appropriate staff members 

• Address visitor questions directly whenever possible 

• Contact the person who can help when not possible  

• Provide internal customer service to deCordova and Trustees’ staff members 

Security 

• Oversee guest interactions with exhibitions in the sculpture park and museum 

• Provide a warm welcome to guests entering museum building 

• Ensure museum policies are followed and respectfully address errant behavior  

• Assist with various activities throughout the museum campus as needed including but not limited to the following: 

• Tours 

• Events 

• Deliveries 

Events  

• Under direction of Event Manager, prepare and organize event spaces and inventory.    
• Coordinate with vendors during events and assist as needed, while ensuring deCordova standards are in place. 
• Act as main facilities contact during event, with thorough knowledge of lights, tents, in house AV and all event space infrastructure.   
• Provide exceptional customer service when working with clients throughout the delivery of their event. 

This is a part-time, limited term, nonexempt position working 25 hours per week reporting directly to the Visitor Services & Security Manager

What You’ll Need:

Skills and Experience: 

• Associate degree or equivalent work experience and at least one year of experience working with events and facilitating operations. Prior visitor service experience is highly desirable.  
• Prior supervisory experience preferred.
• Flexible schedule including nights and weekends.  
• Experience with AV systems is desired.  
• Exercises good judgment and decision-making skills, and the ability to manage time effectively and prioritize meeting deadlines is required. 
• Effective and concise communication skills, both in person and with written materials  
• Ability to respond to escalated situations and behaviors in a calm and rational manner, think on your feet to solve problems and troubleshoot under pressure.    
• Excellent external and internal customer service skills  
• Experience working within catering, or event planning/ management is preferred. 
• Must be personable and enjoy working with people using patience, courtesy, and kindness. 
• Must be able to remain calm, think on your feet to solve problems, and troubleshoot under pressure. 
• Attention to detail is imperative. 
• Ability to work independently with little direction. 

Physical Requirements:

• This position requires standing, walking, reaching and bending for more than 80% of the day.
• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds. 
• Must be able to drive Golf Cart.   

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment. 
• A valid driver’s license, as well as a satisfactory driving record as outlined in The Trustees’ driving policy.
• A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check.

Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.

Questions? Contact our People team at people@thetrustees.org

Your Benefits: 

• Sick time: 40 hours

• Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions.  

• Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns.  

Equal Opportunity and Diversity: 

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.    

The Trustees’ commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity. 

 It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.  

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at people@thetrustees.org.