Manager, Group Tour Sales [Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Philadelphia, PA]

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site (ESPHS) seeks a self-motivated and highly organized team player with strong communication skills, the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment, a passion for the arts, and a sense of humor for the position of Manager, Group Tour Sales.

This position oversees all aspects of the group sales program for both the daytime prison tour program and Terror Behind the Walls,Eastern State’s annual haunted attraction fundraiser.  In addition, this position oversees the guest support department for individuals contacting the organization via phone or email and is the initial point of contact for facility rentals.

This position is responsible for cultivating sincere, lasting relationships with group leaders and tour operators and should understand group specific needs, trends, and concerns across all market segments (tour operators, student groups, leisure travel, etc.).  The Manager, Group Tour Sales represents the organization at a variety of events and tradeshows, including RSAA, ABA MarketPlace, PHLCVB quarterly meetings and educational outreach fairs.

This position is the primary contact and key processor for all group visits.  (Approximately 1000 group visits annually totaling about 40,000 individual guests).  Responsibilities include answering all group inquiries, scheduling tours, creating all group correspondence and collateral, sending confirmations and receipts, maintaining the group tour databases, communicating changes with the frontline management team, preparing/processing payments and refunds, and ticket packets, personally following up with each group after their visit, as well as the direct supervision of the Specialist, Guest Support and two seasonal assistants.

Other responsibilities include analyzing group sales data and trends, maintaining the organization’s master calendar, hiring, training and scheduling the seasonal assistants, communicating with staff across the organization, and working closely with the operations, visitor services and marketing teams.

Salary and benefits:

Competitive salary and benefits.

To Apply:

Please send a resume and cover letter to Brett Bertolino, Director of Operations, at bb@easternstate.org. In your letter, explain why you are passionate about group sales and guest support. The deadline for applications is Monday, August 3, 2015 at 5 PM. No phone calls please.

About ESPHS:

When Eastern State opened more than 180 years ago, it changed the world. The first prison of its kind – a penitentiary – it was designed to inspire true regret in the hearts of criminals. The building itself was an architectural wonder; it had running water and central heat before the White House, and attracted visitors from around the globe. Although the prison now stands in ruin, its story remains relevant today.

Eastern State Penitentiary opened as a historic site in 1994, and attracted just over 10,000 daytime visitors – in 2013 it was visited by more than 180,000.  The penitentiary is open every day, year-round from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  For more information please visit easternstate.org.

About Terror Behind the Walls:

2015 will mark the 25th year that Eastern State Penitentiary has held a Halloween fundraiser.  Since 1991, Terror Behind the Wallshas grown to become one of the largest and most sophisticated haunted attractions in the country. Today, Terror Behind the Walls is the single largest source of revenue for Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc., the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization that administers both the daytime prison tour program and the Halloween fundraiser.

Terror Behind the Walls runs on select evenings from mid-September through mid-November and does not affect operation of the historic site, which remains open for daytime tours seven days a week, year round.

•Bachelor’s Degree with course work in hospitality, hotel management, business or arts administration preferred.
•A minimum of three years of group sales experience for a mid to large size museum or attraction; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
•Knowledge of group sales principles, practices, and procedures; knowledge of arts and/or leisure audiences preferred.
•Experience representing an attraction or organization at events and tradeshows like RSAA or ABA MarketPlace.
•Commitment to team process and fostering a collaborative working environment.
•Passion for working with visitors from a wide range of ages, backgrounds and interests.
•Comfortable communicating via phone and email.
•Ability to be an energetic leader that models best practices for staff.
•Skilled in problem-solving, multitasking and time management.