Hybrid Venue Host at Huntsville Botanical Garden

Description

Venue Host

Department: Hospitality Services

Supervisor: Lead Venue Coordinator

Supervises: n/a

FLSA: Non-Exempt 

Revision Date: February 2025

Availability: Flexible schedule with heavy emphasis on evening and weekend work. Number of hours varies based upon seasonality of Event Calendar.

General Summary: 

The Venue Host represents the Garden during events to ensure successful execution and excellent customer service with the guest experience and Garden mission at top of mind. This position needs to be able to take responsibility, think and act quickly to provide the best solution to unexpected circumstances.

Essential Functions:

• Effectively interact with staff, volunteers, clients, and/or vendors, to ensure excellent customer service and an exceptional experience for clients and guests.
• Oversee and assist with vendor load-in and load-out, including set-up, break down and cleanup of the event.
• Collaborate with all event personnel, including the Garden’s guest service staff, maintenance, housekeeping, volunteers and security staff.
• Take ownership and understand day-of event timeline & verify with client (both internal and external) to ensure seamless execution.  
• Follows all safety procedures, maintaining the ongoing responsibility of reporting any safety-related questions or concerns. Responsible for the completion of all event paperwork, documenting any visitor injuries and/or incidents, and reporting of any damage to Garden property.
• Monitor and manage event activities to ensure the event & guests are in compliance with Garden policies.
• Hold vendors responsible to ensure that all standards and rules of the Garden are followed during and after every event and perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) and at least 6 months related experience or training in event execution and/or coordination; or equivalent combination of education and experience.  
• Must demonstrate professional maturity in handling problems and resolving conflicts.
• Employee must attend and pass the Responsible Vendor Training program as prescribed by the Alabama Beverage Control Board and be at least 21 years old to serve alcohol.

Success Factors:

• Exemplifies the Gardens Core Values and has a true desire to collaborate with others to better a process, idea, or task. Embrace the Garden’s mission of plant conservation, education, and research.
• Ease with clear written and verbal communication to all internal and external parties.
• Lead efforts to work toward shared goals, prioritize tasks, and strive for continuous improvement.  
• Produces an engaging guest experience, sets high standards, and realizes the impact of work on the department and entire Garden. 
• Ease into multi-tasking, keeping track of logistics, prioritizing responsibilities. 
• Must maintain a professional demeanor under pressure before, during and after an event. 
• Must be polished and maintain Garden appropriate attire (black dress top, black professional bottoms and black shoes not in disrepair).  
• Knowledge of and passion for special event production trends.  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate's degree in hospitality, event or business management or related field of study.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 

• Physical Demands: This role is required to continuously communicate with Garden associates, external vendors and clients to coordinate events. The employee is occasionally required to arrange event decor per client’s design specifications. The employee will occasionally transport, position and/or move event supplies up to 25 pounds. 
• Work Environment: Work is frequently performed indoors in a typical office environment or indoor event venue and often may be required to work outdoors in varied terrains, in all weather conditions.
• Equipment: General office equipment, telephone, computer, tablet, two-way radio, operation of the garden shuttle, and POS system.

Job descriptions are guidelines that attempt to characterize essential functions and responsibilities of a job and are subject to change as needs and programs change. At Huntsville Botanical Garden job descriptions are considered neither inclusive nor exclusive. It is expected that up to 20% of your duties may change annually. 

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodation will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. 

The Huntsville Botanical Garden supports a culture of inclusion that attracts, inspires, and engages people to achieve success. The Garden is committed to hire and develop employees based on job-related qualifications irrespective of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status. To increase diversity in professions related to the public garden realm, we encourage applications from underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans.