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Garden Club of Jacksonville
1005 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32204
904-355-4224
info@gardenclubjax.org

Office Hours
Monday to Friday
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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Staff

Sonja Skinner Jones

Chief Executive Officer

Corinne Lightfoot

Communications Manager

Genesis Walker

Operations Analyst

Grace Norris

Operations Analyst

Shelby Hackett

Lead Event Ambassador

John Thomas

Event Ambassador

Karen Garcia

Event Ambassador

Jed Standridge

Event Ambassador

Leadership

Irene Woodworth

President, Board of Trustees

Alexandra Gornik

First Vice President,
Board of Trustees

Cathe Gray

Treasurer,
Board of Trustees

Martha Collins Davis

Vice President, Building and Grounds
Board of Trustees

Marianne Salas

Recording Secretary,
Board of Trustees

Susan Caton

Board of Trustees

Julia Howard

Board of Trustees

Catherine Rieman

Board of Trustees

Sam Runyon

Board of Trustees

Ann Sauer

Board of Trustees

Art Shad

Board of Trustees

Shari Thanner

Board of Trustees

Employment

The Garden Club of Jacksonville takes pride in delivering high-quality educational programs, impactful community outreach, and memorable events that inspire and connect people. We seek dedicated professionals who share our commitment to excellence and who can contribute to creating exceptional experiences for our members and guests. If you are interested in joining our team, we welcome your inquiry.

Available Positions

Overview

The Garden Club of Jacksonville seeks part-time event staff to assist in supporting events while creating an exceptional experience for all guests.

Responsibilities

  • Assists with event set-ups and breakdowns and helps maintain a clean facility.
  • Welcomes guests and vendors in an engaging manner as they arrive and depart.
  • Responds to clients, guests, and vendors needs in a cordial, efficient, and professional manner.
  • Ensures all event spaces are properly maintained, clean, and free of safety hazards; maintains constant awareness of safety issues, (i.e. broken glass, spills, and leaks).
  • Occasionally assists with Garden Club programs, such as registration, food and beverage services, plant sales, and others as required.
  • Able to troubleshoot and find solutions and adapt to last-minute changes.
  • Consistently arrives on-time and ready to work, with a professional appearance.
  • Maintains a commitment to excellence in all areas of work.
  • Champions and models the Garden Club’s mission, vision, and values.
  • Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

  • Ability to work a flexible schedule that will include nights, weekends, and holidays, scheduled approximately 4-8 weeks in advance.
  • High school diploma or GED equivalent.
  • At least one year of event service or customer service experience is preferred, especially in an upscale environment.
  • Ability to provide superior customer service.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and with diplomacy when interacting with clients, vendors, staff, volunteers, and the public.
  • Ability to accurately follow instructions, both verbally and written.
  • Ability to solve problems in a quick and efficient manner.
  • Ability to frequently lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
  • Ability to bend, stoop, lift, reach, push, pull, twist, walk, crouch, and squat.
  • Valid Florida driver’s license.

Salary

Salary: Starting rate of $17 an hour.

Contact

Qualified applicants should email a résumé to Sonjajones@gardenclubjax.org.

Overview

The Garden Club of Jacksonville seeks a full-time Event Manager to oversee rental events and help coordinate Garden Club events at our upscale venue. The Event Manager ensures excellent customer service, increased revenue, and profitability. This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

Responsibilities

  • Provides unparalleled customer service to prospective rental clients and Garden Club event participants.
  • Provides engaging tours of the campus, pointing out features that cater to each client’s needs.
  • Develops a comprehensive communication strategy plan for rental inquiries.
  • Maintains and updates the event management platform.
  • Ensures the Garden Club events calendar is continually updated.
  • Develops rental agreements with clients and maintains invoice schedules.
  • Works with event clients and Garden Club staff to prepare floor plans and finalize set-up plans for events.
  • Coordinates with Facilities Manager to ensure proper staffing for set-up, event management, breakdown, and cleaning. Familiarity with Deputy staff scheduling application is a plus.
  • Creates event checklists and ensures they are followed by rental clients, vendors, and Garden Club staff.
  • Responsible for identifying, developing, documenting, and communicating standard operating procedures for all rental and Garden Club events.
  • Eagerly takes on other projects and initiatives to improve rental and Garden Club events.
  • Finds new ways to optimize rental and Garden Club event revenue.
  • Champions and models the Garden Club’s mission, vision, and values.
  • Coordinates with the Marketing team to ensure excellent volunteer help at Garden Club events.
  • Attends community expos and other networking events to promote Garden Club venue rentals.

Requirements

  • Experience with event management and/or customer relationship management platforms.
  • Experience with leading and managing staff.
  • Solid, hands-on event management skills, including preparation, set-up, audio/visual technology knowledge, and communication skills.
  • Strong organizational abilities including planning, delegating, and task facilitation.
  • Ability to communicate in a friendly manner with community members, staff, board, volunteers, Garden Club members, and rental clients.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment that requires handling multiple tasks at a given time and rapidly adapting to changing priorities and schedules.
  • Ability to work independently and handle multiple projects.
  • Intermediate Google Suite skills, including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Google Docs.
  • Experience with rental facility applications. Experience with PlanningPod is a plus.
  • Excellent writing and speaking skills.
  • Excellent organizational, problem-solving, interpersonal skills, and critical thinking skills.
  • Ability to work occasional Saturdays and some evenings, scheduled in advance.
  • Demonstrates tact and diplomacy in dealing with internal and external customers and with handling confidential information.
  • Ability to forecast and manage budgets.
  • Ability to handle the pressures of deadlines and client and member demands.
  • Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.
  • Required to stand, stoop, crouch, walk, climb stairs, and reach with hands and able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Education

Associates degree and at least two years events experience preferred.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: $50,000, plus performance-based bonuses. This position receives 40 hours of paid time off after completing a 90-day probationary period, an additional 40 hours after six months, and 120 hours after one year of employment. The Garden Club observes nine paid holidays each year, plus three paid floating PTO days. The Garden Club offers a

Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA) and a simple IRA with employer matching of 3 percent.

Contact

Qualified applicants should send a cover letter and résumé with three professional references to Sonjajones@gardenclubjax.org.

Overview

The Facilities Manager ensures the Garden Club of Jacksonville’s historic campus is maintained with excellence while operating within budgeted costs. This role oversees building maintenance, contractor coordination, event setup operations, and facilities staff management to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality campus operations. The position supports rentals, programs, and organizational operations by maintaining facilities, managing maintenance plans, and ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

Reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

Key Responsibilities

Facility Operations & Maintenance

  • Complete basic maintenance projects such as touch-up painting and minor facility repairs including plumbing, irrigation, lighting, and equipment assembly
  • Identify and report necessary repairs and damage to buildings and grounds
  • Maintain inventories and request necessary maintenance supplies and equipment purchases
  • Execute hands-on event setup, breakdown, and cleaning as needed

Maintenance Planning & Infrastructure

  • Conduct campus-wide facility assessments to evaluate system condition and operational needs
  • Develop and implement preventative, proactive, and reactive maintenance plans
  • Ensure building systems follow appropriate installation and design practices
  • Assist in identifying priorities for capital improvement funding

Contractors & Vendor Management

  • Manage relationships with contractors and service providers
  • Maintain contractor documentation and process invoices
  • Seek multiple quotes for larger projects and repairs
  • May oversee renovation or construction projects

Event & Campus Operations

  • Ensure proper staffing, setup, breakdown, and cleaning for Garden Club and rental events
  • Coordinate facilities operations to support rentals, programs, and organizational activities
  • Executes some hands-on set-up, breakdown, and cleaning, as needed for events.

Staff Management & Safety

  • Manage hiring, training, supervision, and evaluation of facilities staff
  • Monitor staff performance and complete performance evaluations
  • Establish and maintain a safe work environment through inspections, audits, and training
  • Maintain ongoing communication with staff regarding safety procedures

Compliance & Administrative Operations

  • Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations
  • Complete annual Workers’ Compensation audits
  • Develop and maintain standard operating procedures for facility operations
  • Prepare and manage the facilities budget in consultation with leadership
  • Support initiatives that improve the Garden Club’s campus and operational systems

Qualifications

  • Proven facilities management leadership experience with demonstrated results
  • Strong organizational, planning, and problem-solving abilities
  • Ability to lead and supervise staff in building operations and maintenance
  • Hands-on maintenance experience with electrical, plumbing, painting, landscaping, irrigation, and related facility systems
  • Ability to communicate effectively with staff, board members, volunteers, members, and rental clients
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities
  • Knowledge of Google Workspace including Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Sheets
  • Strong analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills
  • Experience building and managing budgets
  • Ability to meet deadlines and respond to operational demands
  • Ability to stand, walk, climb stairs, crouch, and lift up to 50 pounds

Education

Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of management experience and two years of facilities maintenance experience required.

Work Schedule

Typical schedule is daytime hours with occasional evening or weekend availability required for Garden Club events and facility needs.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: $55,000. This position receives 40 hours of paid time off after completing a 90-day evaluation, an additional 40 hours after six months, and 120 hours after one year of employment. The Garden Club observes nine paid holidays each year, plus three paid floating holidays. The Garden Club provides monthly health reimbursement (QSEHRA) and a simple IRA with employer match.

Contact

Qualified applicants should send a cover letter and résumé with three professional references to Sonjajones@gardenclubjax.org.

Internships

The Garden Club offers year-round internship opportunities for college students seeking to earn academic credit while gaining significant, hands-on career related experience. Whether your field of study is horticulture, accounting, artificial intelligence, marketing, history, software development, technical support, education, law, or another discipline, we provide opportunities to apply your skills in a dynamic, community-focused environment.

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Volunteer and Community Service

The Garden Club of Jacksonville offers a variety of fun, rewarding opportunities for individuals of all ages to give back, gain experience, and make a meaningful impact. Volunteers play an essential role in supporting events throughout the year, improving our historic riverfront campus, and collaborating with community partners on garden and environmental projects.

High school students can also complete community service hours that fulfill Florida Bright Futures Scholarship requirements while building strong resumes for college and scholarship applications. Opportunities include beautification and sustainability initiatives, event support, social media and marketing assistance, historic preservation, and more.

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