Seasonal Guests Service Associate: Weekend Photos/Events

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Fair Lane: Home of Clara and Henry Ford is seeking Temporary Seasonal Guest Services Associates (GSAs) for weekend shifts. This is a unique opportunity for anyone who appreciates history and the outdoors. This position will be an 8-hour shift, each Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM . This position will be primarily responsible for overseeing and executing our photo permit program , ensuring a smooth and welcoming experience for all visiting photographers and guests – 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 associates will be trained in safety and security, visitor policy, basic grounds and gardens information, and Fair Lane history.

REQUIRED SHIFTS

Saturday, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Sunday. 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

This is a temporary/seasonal position with expected employment from May 1, 2026, through October 31, 2026.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Greet and welcome visitors
• Become an expert in Fair Lane History and understand the gardens and grounds
• Facilitate the check-in process for all photography sessions, collect payments, and reiterate and enforce Fair Lane’s Photography Policy
• Accompany each group during their photography session to ensure proper use of the gardens and grounds
• Complete all required ongoing 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
• Open and close 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

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to stand and move around the public areas of the Estate for extended periods
• Must be able to spend the majority of the shift outdoors

WORKING LOCATION & SCHEDULE:

• This role will be in-person and is ineligible for remote work.

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.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Must be comfortable working outside for most of the scheduled shift, regardless of weather (rain, snow, heat, etc.)
• A passion for people, gardens, and history
• 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
• High school diploma required; 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 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.