Customer Experience Guide - Seasonal

Patagonia•Santa Cruz, CA

14h•Onsite

About The Position

The Customer Experience Guide is a seasonal retail team member who supports Patagonia’s core store team during peak seasons, sales, and other short-term staffing needs. The role contributes to daily front-line retail and customer experience activities, with a focus on sales, customer service, stocking, and staging products on the retail floor. Guides learn about Patagonia products, connect with the local community, and support efforts to protect the environment. Employees are encouraged to solve problems creatively and put customers’ needs at the center of their work. This seasonal position has a defined start and end date and typically lasts up to four months. Seasonal employees may be regularly scheduled but may not work more than 19 hours per week, 76 hours per month, or 500 hours in a rolling 12-month period. Employment is at-will and does not guarantee employment for a specific length of time. Current hiring needs are 8–19 hours per week with open availability required. Schedules can vary week to week, and shifts may begin or end up to two hours outside store business hours. The store is open seven days a week. Seasonal employees are not eligible for company-sponsored benefits except Wellness Time, employee discounts, and benefits required by applicable law.

Requirements

Proven customer service and/or sales skills.
Helpful and courteous approach to solving problems.
Effective communication skills with team members and leadership, including ability to participate in constructive feedback.
Ability to adapt to changing situations and priorities and pivot as needed.
Organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to prioritize and complete tasks based on urgency and importance as outlined by leadership.
Ability to report to work on time, meet deadlines, and communicate issues cross-functionally.
Self-motivation and ability to thrive in a team-oriented environment.
Basic math and computer skills; accuracy with money handling and register use is preferred.
Open availability for current hiring needs of 8–19 hours per week; schedules may vary, and shifts may begin or end up to two hours outside business hours.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, including shifts up to eight hours per day.
Ability to repeatedly reach overhead, bend, squat, kneel, and carry products needed for customer service, inventory, events, and merchandising.
Ability to regularly climb stairs while carrying boxes, products, and other necessary items.
Ability to perform store cleaning tasks such as sweeping, vacuuming, and emptying trash.
Ability to safely lift up to 55 pounds.
Comfort climbing ladders.

Nice To Haves

Previous retail or related customer service experience preferred.
Interest in or eagerness to learn about the company’s products and services.
Basic understanding of products and core sports, with commitment to continued learning.

Responsibilities

Deliver customer-centered service and use selling skills to connect the community with outdoor activities and products.
Act as a brand advocate and use the company’s purpose and core values to guide decisions.
Support community engagement and environmental advocacy, including involving customers and colleagues in the company’s mission.
Learn about products and core sports to better serve customers.
Answer phones, work events, support front-of-house and back-of-house operations, assist with inventory flow and in-store repairs, and communicate with leadership and customer service teams.
Process shipments, support physical inventory, restock the sales floor, and assist with sale preparation and breakdown, product transfers, and donations.
Maintain visual store standards by folding, hanging, buffing, steaming, dressing mannequins, and stocking the floor.
Follow security measures to help prevent theft; respond to and report safety concerns promptly; and maintain a clean, organized, safe store.
Contribute to a supportive, positive, respectful work environment free from harassment.
Complete assigned tasks according to urgency and importance, meet deadlines, and communicate issues across teams.
Interact cooperatively and professionally with coworkers, customers, and vendors and support justice and antiracism in the workplace.