Seasonal Part-Time Guest Services Associate

Description

Fair Lane: Home of Clara and Henry Ford is seeking part-time seasonal (16 hours per week) Guest Services Associates (GSA). This is a unique opportunity for someone who appreciates history and the outdoors to join our team. This position will be part of a small and mighty team. We're hiring to fill several mid-day 8-hour shifts – perfect for college students, retirees with an interest in working at a National Historic Landmark, or those looking to earn some extra income. All guest services staff will be cross-trained in safety and security, visitor policy, basic grounds and gardens information, and Fair Lane history.

Each Seasonal Guest Services Associate (GSA) can be scheduled to work up to 40 hours per week, with opportunities to cover shifts and events as needed by the Estate.

SHIFTS

Monday 6:30 am- 2:30 pm 

Saturday 6:30 am - 2:30 pm 

This is a temporary/seasonal position with expected employment from July 6, 2026, through October 31, 2026.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Guest Service Functions:

• Greet and welcome visitors
• Become an expert in Fair Lane history and understand its gardens and grounds
• Complete all required training, including but not limited to Fair Lane orientation, security training, and audience engagement
• Be available to answer questions throughout the estate and enforce rules of conduct when needed
• Perform other duties as assigned during events
• Perform snow removal as needed
• Handle general grounds maintenance duties as assigned
• Assist with event setup and teardown
• Assist with general maintenance and custodial tasks, including trash removal and supply restocking

Security Functions:

• Enforce security and safety procedures and protocols
• Inform visitors of rules, regulations, and proper conduct
• Report emergencies, administer first aid, and respond to calls for emergency assistance
• Investigate situations and write detailed incident reports
• Opens and closes the upper and lower property gates
• Participate in emergency training programs, including fire, theft, and vandalism
• Review and is familiar with fire safety and severe weather policies

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• A passion for people, gardens, and history
• Demonstrated customer service skills
• High school diploma required; relevant coursework from an accredited college or university is strongly preferred
• Ability to work with individuals from a wide variety of ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds
• Good written and oral communication skills; ability to communicate effectively and project a professional image when giving and taking information
• Ability to identify and positively resolve visitor issues in the moment, and strong decision-making skills are necessary
• Flexibility to work some weekends, holidays, and special events as necessary

COMPENSATION

This is an hourly, non-exempt, entry-level position with benefits available to seasonal employees. The base hourly rate for all Guest Services Associates is $17.75 per hour; this position is eligible for overtime pay calculated at 1.5x the agreed-upon hourly rate, but overtime is not expected to occur.

All Guest Services Associates are required to attend 2-3 days of paid orientation and training during normal business hours, also at $17.75 per hour.

Benefits include the following.

• 403(b) plan with a 3% employer contribution and 3% employer match
• Paid time off package that earns 0.04 hours of PTO for every hour worked (1.2 hours per 30 hours, 40 hours per 1,000 hours)
• Ford X-Plan Discount
• In-house perks, including one free photo permit per year, Tribute Garden discounts, and a Patron Level membership

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Henry Ford Estate is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Requirements

• Must be comfortable working outside for most of the schedule shift, regardless of weather (rain, snow, heat, etc.)
• A passion for people, gardens, and history
• Minimum 1 year experience in a visitor-facing role
• Must be comfortable with wildlife (e.g. deer and rodents around the grounds)
• Must be comfortable being in dark spaces (e.g. the Main House) alone while doing Security rounds
• Demonstrated customer service skills
• Relevant coursework from an accredited college or university strongly preferred
• Ability to work with individuals from a wide variety of ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds
• Good written and oral communication skills; ability to communicate effectively and project a professional image when giving and taking information
• Ability to identify and positively resolve visitor issues in the moment; strong decision-making skills necessary
• Good attendance and reliability
• Flexibility to work some weekends, holidays, and special events as necessary

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to stand and move around public areas of the Estate for extended periods of time

BACKGROUND & REFERENCE CHECKS

• All offers of employment at Henry Ford Estate are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates. Background checks include Prior Employment Verification, Personal and Professional Reference Checks, Educational Verifications, and Criminal Conviction Reviews.
• A criminal conviction will not result in an instant withdrawal of an employment offer. Henry Ford Estate considers the nature of crimes and their relationship to positions, the time since conviction, and the number of convictions when deciding if a candidate has clear results.