Special Events and Visitor Center Manager at Brookside Gardens

Description

• Do you have special event and/or visitor center management experience?
• Do you enjoy collaborating with a team to support your division?

If this sounds like you, Brookside Gardens is the place you want to be!   We are currently seeking a dynamic, highly professional Special Events and Visitor Center Manager Term- Contract at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland.

Brookside Gardens, a horticultural display garden in Wheaton, Maryland, seeks a creative, highly motivated facility and special events manager to supervise the daily operations of the Visitor Center as well as coordinate logistics for large scale garden-wide special events like Garden of Lights, an annual winter lights display, and Wings of Fancy, a seasonal butterfly exhibit. This is a term contract position for 1 year working 37.5 hours/week supervising 2 full-time staff. This position is sign-on bonus eligible.

Brookside Gardens is Montgomery County’s incomparable, award-winning 50-acre public display garden situated within Wheaton Regional Park. Included in the gardens are several distinct areas: Aquatic Garden, Azalea Garden, Butterfly Garden, Children’s Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Style Garden, Trial Garden, Rain Garden, and the Woodland Walk. The Formal Gardens areas include a Perennial Garden, Yew Garden, the Maple Terrace, and Fragrance Garden. Brookside Gardens also feature two conservatories for year-round enjoyment. Throughout the year, Brookside Gardens welcomes approximately one million visitors who come to enjoy the beautiful gardens or to participate in engaging programs and events for all ages.
The ideal candidate is a highly collaborative team member who will put Brookside Gardens’ mission first by delivering remarkable experiences to our visitors. As a critical member of the Guest Experiences team, the Special Events and Visitor Center Manager will interact regularly with Brookside Gardens visitors, co-workers, volunteers, and Parks staff to provide exemplary customer service.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is a six-time National Recreational and Parks Association Gold Medal Award Winner.  Behind the vast and diverse Montgomery County Department of Parks system is a career staff complement of nearly 800 employees, 420 parks and over 37,000 acres of park land that serves a diverse population of more than one million residents in the Washington DC area. Go to our website to learn more:  https://www.montgomeryparks.org/

DIVERSITY STATEMENT The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor. We will do what we can to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at 301-495-4525 to request accommodation.
 
Please Note: The salary range listed above represents the earning potential for this position. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Examples of Important Duties

What the job will involve:

• Oversees and manages the day-to-day operations of the Visitor Center to ensure the safety and security of the building and patrons. Responsible for responding to visitor inquiries and complaints, arranging for major maintenance and repairs, and evaluating operation policies and initiating related improvements.
• Manages large scale special events like Wings of Fancy, Garden of Lights and GreenFest providing event support logistics, staff scheduling, equipment use and fee recommendations. Coordinates activities with other Commission units and outside government agencies; establishes and maintains relationships with community organizations, plant societies and special interest groups interested in horticultural subjects.
• Conducts public outreach, public relations and related marketing and communications activities including social media posts to inform the public of Garden related special events, services, and information.
• Assists in the preparation and administration of budgets related to program area, procures equipment, supplies and materials to support work plan. Controls expenditures in accordance with an approved budget and monitors significant and complex revenue-producing programs and activities. Oversees the preparation and submission of cash management records and reports. Solicits bids and price quotes from vendors and contractors. Procures equipment and merchandise.
• Recruits and supervises staff, volunteers, and interns to develop and facilitate programs. Approves timecard and leave requests as well as plans, schedules, and assigns work. Conducts performance appraisals and counsels and disciplines employees.

Important Skills and Characteristics

1. Knowledge of principles and practices in recreation, special event planning, and business administration.
2. Experience with marketing and public relations.
3. Solid understanding of principles of management as it relates to events and human capital.
4. Demonstrates good program planning and development skills along with strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree or four years experience in one of the following fields: parks, recreation, education, business administration, physical education, communication, leisure services, or in area of required specialty; and

2. Three years of progressive professional experience working in a facility related to parks, recreation, education, business administration, physical education, communication, leisure services, or area of required specialty, including one year as a facility manager, program coordinator or supervisor; or

3. An equivalent combination of education and experience; and,

4. A valid operating license (i.e. county pool operator’s license, child care license, etc.) where appropriate.

5. A valid driver’s license may be required.

Preferred Qualification

1. A creative thinker who enjoys developing innovative event experiences.
2. An effective communicator who can build collaborative relationships with staff.
3. Experienced problem solver with strong critical thinking skills and good judgement who can make sound decisions and handle several tasks simultaneously while being able to act swiftly and effectively in an emergency.
4. Experience creating and organizing large scale events or festivals.
5. Ability to communicate in another language preferred.
6. Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, parks, recreation, business administration, leisure service or related area.