Customer Relations Coordinator

Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity (Beaty Centre)

Supervisor: Operations Manager

Position Category: Full Time

Working Hours: 35 hours per week

Anticipated Start Date: September 22, 2025

Salary: $40,000 (starting rate)

About Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity

Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity, a project of Discovery Centre International in collaboration with Dalhousie University, is an ocean-focused interactive centre located in the Dalhousie University Steele Ocean Sciences building. Through its engaging exhibits and hands-on learning opportunities, Beaty Centre aims to promote public understanding about the ocean and its many life forms and to encourage visitors of all ages to take action to protect the ocean. Beaty Centre strives to showcase ongoing ocean-related research and to inspire the next generation of ocean scientists, marine biologists, and oceanographers.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Operations Manager, the Customer Relations Coordinator is responsible for all aspects of visitor services operations of Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity. The successful candidate must enjoy interactions with a variety of guests and be comfortable delivering applicable information clearly and positively. The Customer Relations Coordinator must be thoughtful and understanding while receiving customer feedback and work well under pressure with large crowds during peak times. The incumbent has experience in retail sales to manage inventory, merchandising, and maximize revenues in the onsite retail area.

The incumbent is a great team player, reliable, organized, and able to provide exceptional customer experiences to all visitors of Beaty Centre.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for greeting and welcoming visitors and guests in a professional and friendly manner.
• Provides rapid customer response time and exemplary customer service.
• Communicates clearly in-person, by phone, in e-mail and letters with a variety of audiences to address standard operational and directional questions.
• Facilitates admissions and retail area transactions.
• Completes daily cash opening & closing procedures.
• Utilises POS system to process payments for admission, memberships, and retail services.
• Coordinates bookings including scheduling school and group visits, registrations, and invoicing.
• Coordinates retail inventory and other related activities such as online sales, sourcing and ordering merchandise, sales/promotions, and displays.
• Processes memberships and maintains the membership database.
• Participates and supports planning of the special events and activities.
• Acts as a positive role model for co-op students, interns, volunteers, as well as assists in training.
• Performs leader on duty responsibilities addressing sick calls and serving as point of contact in case of an emergency.
• Stays current with all activities and offerings including, but not limited to, educational & public programs, exhibits, and special events.
• Maintains the front desk and reception area in an organized and clutter free manner.
• Responsible for office administration duties, such as ordering office supplies, as well as coordinating IT support.
• Follows safety guidelines and protocols. Assists with the creation of safety guidelines and actively participates in OHS procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Relevant post-secondary education
• A minimum of two years' experience in a client service role
• Excellent customer service skills
• Supervisory experience as an asset
• Experience working in retail, admissions, front desk, or tourism/museum environment is an asset
• Passionate about ocean, marine life, and science
• Organized and detail oriented
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Financial reporting, cash handling, reconciliation
• Experience with point-of-sales systems
• Ability to maintain composure and positive customer service while under pressure
• Responsible and responsive in problem solving situations
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Ability to maintain a safe work environment for visitors and co-workers
• Adaptable to changing conditions in the workplace
• Computer skills - Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, E-mail, Web literate
• Fluency in English is required; additional languages (especially French) would be considered an asset

Requirements:

• A clean criminal record check and child abuse registry check are mandatory
• Must hold or be willing to work towards a certificate in First Aid with CPR

Working conditions and Schedule:

Working conditions include daily contact with people of all ages, small and large groups, long periods of standing, and light physical activity. The position is located primarily at the front desk of Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity for 35 hours a week, Wednesday to Sunday with evening hours on Thursday, and other hours as required.

Benefits:

Vacation and medical benefits are offered upon successful completion of the probationary period.

Application:

Applicants should submit their resume, cover letter and references to [email protected] referencing Beaty Centre and the position name in the subject. All applications will be reviewed but only those chosen for an interview will be contacted. All applicants are thanked in advance for their interest.

Discovery Centre International is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment. We are committed to leveraging our facility, people, and programming to create inclusive spaces that ignite a passion for science and discovery. We are also committed to advancing diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility practices within our workplace, public engagement spaces, and programming. Our management and staff believe diverse participation and representation are essential and that our networks thrive when we create an inclusive and equitable culture where all people can see themselves reflected, feel respected, and have their contributions valued.

We promote equal employment opportunities for all job applicants, and we encourage applications from candidates who self-identify as a member of an underrepresented group, including Indigenous people (especially Mi'kmaq), people of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), members of other racialized groups, women, people with disabilities, and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please contact [email protected] to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.