EmploymentReports to: Curator of Education

Department: Education

Status: Non-exempt, Full-time

Date: November, 2024

Interested applicants should send their resume, cover letter, and application to Katie Manion; [email protected]. 

SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE:

The Sales Specialist works closely with the Group Sales Coordinator and Curator of Education to ensure an efficient process for increasing the number of and scheduling group visits, outreach programs, education programs, and encounters. The Sales Specialist serves as the primary manager of the National Aviary’s point of sale (POS) and eCommerce systems, including the website POS areas. The Sales Specialist supports all Aviary departments with POS service including website ticket creation and reporting. This position creatively and collaboratively develops new approaches to sales operations and is responsible for maintaining the highest possible level of customer service, ensuring that visitors and program participants feel valued and have the opportunity to enhance their National Aviary experience from the moment they walk in to the moment they leave.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supports Education and Animal Programs departments in meeting or exceeding earned revenue goals for the organization in group sales, education bookings, encounters, and other program bookings.
• Serves as the primary operator for the Aviary’s point of sale and eCommerce systems, including program and event scheduling and data management. Supports all Aviary departments with POS services as needed including ticket creation on the website and reporting.
• Continuously analyzes and optimizes the National Aviary’s use of its POS and eCommerce systems to create seamless onsite and virtual purchasing opportunities for customers and clear reporting and data for National Aviary staff.
• Works with the Marketing team to ensure branding, style, and content consistency on the POS pages that are consistent with website pages from which the POS buttons are linked.
• Ensures efficiencies in all bookings processes, implementing technology and other initiatives to streamline operations.
• Works with Wild Republic, the Aviary’s POS provider, to ensure accuracy and operational efficiency of POS areas on the website. This includes testing and working to resolve issues.
• Works directly with the Curator of Education and the Director of Animal Programs & Experiences to implement strategies to increase general visitation, school programs (including CyBIRD virtual learning), onsite and offsite public programs, and group programs.
• Works with Sales Coordinator to explore ways to grow revenue from group visits and school programs including on-site, offsite and virtual.
• Works with Group Sales Coordinator to monitor group sales and program revenue reports and makes operational recommendations to grow revenues.
• Responsible for implementing and maintaining high standards of customer service through friendly and efficient customer communication
• Maintains accurate records for group and program revenue, attendance, demographics, and other metrics through the Aviary’s POS and other data tracking systems. Provides regularly scheduled and ad hoc reports.
• Enters new events and program tickets into POS and online eCommerce systems.
• Provides critical support of the group visit and program scheduling process, including working with the Education team to provide important information to customers, making recommendations to customers based on education program availability and priority registration timelines, responding to inquiries, scheduling, confirmation, and invoicing.
• Works with the Philanthropy team to provide needed metrics for grant-funded programs.
• Supports program evaluation through post-experience follow-up communication.
• Supports a positive, energetic, enthusiastic, entrepreneurial spirit within the department.

Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

OTHER DUTIES:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel, database management, and POS applications
• Excellent skills in customer service and problem solving
• Demonstrated ability to achieve revenue goals
• Highly detail-oriented and self-motivated with strong work ethic; accustomed to working in a team environment
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to assess and prioritize multiple tasks and demands
• Ability to interact with visitors and colleagues in a highly professional, respectful and responsive manner
• Initiative, results oriented, goal oriented

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Undergraduate Degree in Communications, Business, Education, or related fields or equivalent professional experience related to this job.
• Minimum of 2 years experience in customer relationship management systems and processes

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Satisfactory Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check and Child Abuse History Certification
• Satisfactory FBI Criminal Record Check
• Valid Driver’s License and ability to pass Department of Motor Vehicles check

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee constantly operates a computer and telephone and occasionally moves about the office to access file cabinets, office equipment, etc.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work environments will include climate-controlled office spaces and public areas where the noise level may be loud.

POSITION TYPE/ EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK.

This is a full-time position.  The candidate must be able to work on weekdays, weekends, holidays and in the evening as job duties demand.