Parking Attendant

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is seeking friendly, dependable, and service-oriented Event Parking Attendants to support the annual Glow Wild Lantern Festival, held Thursday through Sunday evenings from October 1 through December 20.

Parking Attendants help create a safe, organized, and welcoming arrival and departure experience by directing vehicles, assisting guests, monitoring designated parking areas, and communicating parking or safety concerns to event leadership.

This position requires reliability, strong customer service skills, good situational awareness, and the ability to work outdoors throughout evening event operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Parking Lot Attendants may be responsible for the following duties based on nightly operational needs:

• Arrive at the scheduled start time and participate in pre-event preparations and assigned opening activities.
• Prepare assigned parking areas prior to guest arrival and confirm that designated vehicle and pedestrian routes are ready for event operations.
• Direct vehicles into and through designated parking areas in a safe, orderly, and courteous manner.
• Assist guests with parking-related questions, directions, accessibility needs, and general event information.
• Monitor parking areas and pedestrian activity and promptly communicate traffic, safety, lighting, maintenance, or guest-service concerns to the Glow Wild Event Lead or appropriate manager.
• Help maintain clear vehicle travel lanes, pedestrian pathways, entrances, exits, and other designated access areas.
• Assist with guest departure and vehicle flow at event closing and follow instructions regarding designated gates or parking areas.
• Respond promptly to instructions from the Glow Wild Event Lead, Director of Rentals and Events, or other designated Zoo leadership.
• Report accidents, incidents, guest concerns, safety issues, equipment problems, or other significant operational concerns promptly to the appropriate Event Lead or manager.
• Perform other parking or event-support duties as assigned to meet operational needs.

Timekeeping and Compensation

Parking Lot Attendants are hourly, nonexempt employees and must accurately record all hours worked.

Employees must record all Glow Wild hours under the designated Glow Wild department, separate from their home department, in accordance with the Zoo’s Timekeeping Policy.

Employees may not perform work before or after their scheduled shift without accurately recording all time worked. All compensable time must be recorded, regardless of whether additional work was requested or approved in advance.

Overtime will be paid in accordance with applicable federal and Connecticut wage-and-hour requirements. Generally, nonexempt employees are entitled to overtime at one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for actual hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

Employees should obtain appropriate authorization before working overtime whenever practicable; however, all hours actually worked must be accurately reported and will be compensated as required by law.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The physical demands and working conditions described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.

• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including cold, heat, wind, and rain. Glow Wild operates rain or shine unless otherwise determined by Zoo leadership.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, including across parking areas and uneven terrain.
• Ability to remain alert and responsive around moving vehicles, pedestrians, crowds, noise, and changing lighting conditions.
• Ability to bend, reach, and move throughout the shift as necessary to support parking operations.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Strong communication and customer service skills.
• Dependable, team-oriented, and able to remain calm and professional during periods of heavy vehicle and pedestrian activity.
• Ability to follow instructions and established parking, operating, and safety procedures.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced public event environment.
• Ability to interact professionally with guests, employees, volunteers, vendors, and other event partners.
• Evening and weekend availability required during the Glow Wild season.
• Minimum age of 16; certain assignments, equipment, or operational responsibilities may require employees to be at least 18 years of age.

Additional Information

This is a temporary, seasonal position that plays an important role in the successful operation of Glow Wild.

The duties and responsibilities described in this job description are not intended to be exhaustive. Employees may be assigned additional responsibilities based on operational needs, qualifications, training, and applicable age or safety requirements.