Strolling through Brookfield Zoo, our guests may be creating new memories or smiling while they walk down memory lane enjoying the vast array of our animal collection, food destinations or gift shops. Seven Seas Gift Shop is a popular shopping destination for a souvenir to preserve a new memory or celebrate a heartfelt past memory. As a Merchandise Associate at the Seven Seas Gift Shop, you will assist our many guests and greet them with a pleasant smile - customer service is a number one priority at Brookfield Zoo. Along with that enthusiastic and friendly greeting, your helpful assistance to guests while they browse to shop for a soon to be cherished souvenir will enhance their guest experience. Your friendly demeanor and vast knowledge about the variety of merchandise will contribute positively to merchandise sales. In addition, you will be operating the cash register to accurately ring up sales and balancing the cash draw at the end of each work day; participating in daily operations by cleaning, stocking, pricing, displaying merchandise and taking accurate inventories. All of these important activities are extremely important in maintaining a high-quality experience for our over 2 million guests each year. Merchandise Associates may be assigned to work in gift shops, tents, souvenir stands, photo booths, and carts.

Position Requirements and Specifications
As Brookfield Zoo is open 365 days a year, this position highly prefers flexible availability to work any 5 days out of any 7 days each week with work shifts that are usually from 4 to 8 hours in length generally during the hours that Brookfield Zoo is open. From Memorial Day - Labor Day the Zoo is open 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily (Sundays until 7:30 p.m.). After Labor Day until Memorial Day the weekend & weekday hours vary from 9:30/10:00 a.m. - 5:00/6:00 p.m. During special events, the Zoo may be open until 9:00/10:00 p.m. You must be at least 16 years of age for this position. This is a temporary (seasonal) position. Starting wage: $8.25 per hour.

The requirements for this position include:

• High School graduate or (GED) equivalent preferred.
  
  
• Accurate basic math skills required.
  
  
• Ability to communicate well with the public required.
  
  
• Must project a willingness to learn and perform new skills and tasks.
  
  
• Demonstrated strong customer service skills to provide the highest level of quality customer service, representing the Chicago Zoological Society in a professional manner.
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines with the ability to handle multiple tasks.
  
  
• Incumbent must have the ability to work non-standard hours including evenings, holidays, and weekends.
  
  
• Experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience. Multilingual ability and Spanish fluency a plus.

Additional Information
This requisition is to actively recruit for positions that are anticipated to have start dates during the month of January 2014.

Additional requisitions will be posted shortly for future anticipated start dates in February and March of 2014. Please continue to visit our CZS Career Center for these future opportunities.

The Chicago Zoological Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer - Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled.