Seasonal Receptionist

Position Title: Seasonal Receptionist

Supervisor: Office Administrator & Receptionist 

Employee Status: Full-time, Seasonal (May - October)

Location: On-site (Farm Barn at Shelburne Farms: 1611 Harbor Rd, Shelburne, VT 05482) 

Schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday - Friday

Pay Rate:  $17.00 - $20.00/hour

Who We Are

Shelburne Farms is an education nonprofit on a mission to inspire and cultivate learning for a sustainable future. We believe that transformative learning experiences sow the seeds for a thriving and more just world. Our work seeks to create the space, spark the conversations, and share the stories to inspire educators, students, and learners of all ages to build a better future for everyone.

We realize our mission by integrating three key areas of activity: our programs, place, and products.

Who We’re Looking for

Our Receptionist role is crucial to the smooth operation of the Farm offices. With no two days the same, you will be meeting immediate and ongoing needs of our fast-paced and dynamic reception hub. 

• You create a welcoming and well run reception and office environment for both staff and visitors. You provide excellent customer service and enjoy communicating with people over the phone, through email, and in person.
• You thrive in a position that involves collaboration and support of a wide range of administrative tasks while utilizing your creativity for invention and implementation of new systems and processes.
• You enjoy working primarily in a digital workspace with spreadsheets, collecting data, taking inventory, and have a strong aptitude for details. 

What You’ll Do

• Reception: 
  • Collaborate and effectively communicate with the Administrative Team.
  • Support a continuous effort to build and sustain a diverse and welcoming working and learning environment for all program participants, guests, and staff.
  • Route incoming calls, properly and courteously.
  • Supply information regarding Shelburne Farms over the phone, via email, or in person.
  • Greet office visitors upon arrival and establish a positive and professional relationship with frequent visitors.
  • Monitor farm radio conversations and respond as needed
  • Serve as a communication hub in the event of a farm emergency or disruption.
  • Continually monitor, respond to, and route messages appropriately.
  • Keep the reception area, kitchen, and shared office spaces tidy. 
• Office Support:
  • Oversee shared kitchen space, including continuous brewing of coffee, stocking of mugs and flatware, and stocking of kitchen essentials (i.e. coffee, creamer, tea, etc.).
  • Conduct inventory, assist with office order requests, process incoming products and invoices, and notify recipients of special orders. 
  • Emptying of recycle bins in various Farm Barn office spaces.
  • Assist office staff with copiers and faxes and route incoming faxes.
  • Gain cursory knowledge of internal IT resource systems to support troubleshooting for staff at the primary administrative offices as well as staff working remotely.
  • Monitor All Farm Calendar to familiarize with Farm programming and maintain the general info email.
  • Email staff (Year Round and Seasonal) of office updates and general queries as needed.
  • Printing, filing, data entry, record keeping and photocopying as needed.
  • Support planning and logistics for Farm events.
  • Serve as a communication hub in the event of a Farm emergency or disruption. 
  • Support data entry for other departments as needed.
  • Assist and support in other guest & visitor services areas as needed.
• Mailings:
  • Process outgoing mail accurately and on a timely basis.
  • Open, date stamp and distribute incoming mail. 
  • Notify mail recipients of incoming deliveries. 
  • Assist with routine postage machine upkeep and add postage funds.
  • Assist with development mailings as needed, including but not limited to: Gift Acknowledgment Letters, Renewal Mailings, other mailings
  • Assist with development filing (as available)
  • Assign staff mailboxes and update as needed.

Core Qualifications 

Equivalent education/experience can substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. 

• Experience working in a customer or guest service interfacing role for one or more years.
• Committed to translating the values of equality into action as we foster a welcoming working and learning environment for all program participants, guests, and staff. Be comfortable working, learning from, and engaging with individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills and the ability and eagerness to learn new software and systems quickly. We primarily use Google Suite (Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Sheets, Google Forms, etc.).
• Verbal and written communication skills for phone, in-person, and email correspondence.
• This is an on-site job and requires you to reliably be available to work 8:30am - 5pm, Monday through Friday.

Additional Valued Qualifications 

• This role works closely in tandem and shares responsibilities with the Executive Assistant. Willingness to work collaboratively coupled with strong communication are essential.
• Positive attitude, flexibility, and a sense of humor with a willingness to be a team player.
• Proven ability to organize, manage and prioritize multiple tasks and projects.
• Ability to deal with emergencies in a timely and effective manner, while streamlining office operations.
• Proven ability to organize, manage and prioritize multiple tasks and projects.
• Ability to be flexible; efficiently and successfully adapt to change.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Comfortable working in an open and busy office environment.
• Move, lift, carry, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 25 pounds without assistance. 
• Stand, sit, or walk for an extended period of time or for an entire work shift. Majority of the day is sedentary however we have a standing desk available.
• Sorting mail and moving incoming and outgoing packages which could be heavy (help is always available).
• Ascending/descending stairs (2 stairs for entrance to building).
• Office temperature can vary during the year and does not have air conditioning for summer months.

Benefits 

• Seasonal staff benefit summary here for 2025 benefits.

To Apply

If our vision and mission excite you, we hope you will share with us your experience and skill set that you feel would qualify you to make a contribution to the Farm.

Click here to submit an application and please include responses to the following questions. These are not meant to be a writing exercise but to introduce yourself in a meaningful way.

In your application, please include a response to the following:

• Tell us about your unique characteristics and life experience that will help you thrive in this role. 
• How did you hear about this role?

Shelburne Farms is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and we strongly stand against discrimination and harassment of any kind. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. 

If you need accommodations throughout the application process or have general questions, please contact us at jobs@shelburnefarms.org or 802-985-8686.