Botanical Events Assistant, On Call

At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.

Founded in 1919, The Huntington is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences.

Here we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do – from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond.  Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies. 

At The Huntington, our organizational Culture is shaped by the following core values: Intellectual curiosity, Collaboration, Stewardship, Belonging, and Integrity.

• Intellectual Curiosity: Knowledge, lifelong learning, and a spirit of inquiry are at the core of our mission and organizational culture.

• Collaboration: Teamwork and a collaborative attitude are important at all levels of The Huntington. We foster relationships internally among our departments and externally with organizations throughout the community.

• Stewardship: We are committed to the care and development of our collections, our financial and physical resources, our staff, and our community.

• Belonging: We strive to attract and maintain a workforce of individuals with diverse talents, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our organizational culture promotes a sense of welcome, inclusion, and connection.

• Integrity: We value respect and honesty, working to fulfill our mission with honor and ethical principles.

About the Role

The On-Call Botanical Event Assistant supports the Botanical Department by providing on-site operational support for events, programs, and meetings, with a focus on evening and weekend coverage as needed. This role serves as the primary day-of contact, helping ensure events run smoothly and in accordance with institutional policies and approved event plans. Responsibilities include opening and securing facilities, supporting event setup and logistics, and coordinating with staff, vendors, volunteers, and Security. The position plays an important role in protecting Huntington property while providing professional, responsive support to facilitate successful events and programs.

S/he/they will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach.

Essential Duties

• Serves as On-Site Event Contact – Act as the primary day-of liaison between Huntington staff, vendors, volunteers, and event personnel, helping to address questions and resolve issues in coordination with Botanical Division staff.

• Supports Event Operations – Assist with day-of event logistics and operations, which may include opening and securing facilities, coordinating vendor activity, supporting guest transportation, assisting with check-in and wayfinding, providing basic A/V support, and helping with light hospitality setup such as coffee service.

• Monitors Event Activity and Compliance – Observe and monitor assigned event areas, vendors, and personnel to ensure adherence to The Huntington’s property policies and the approved Event Plan provided by the Botanical Office Manager.

• Coordinates with Security – Communicate with assigned Security Officers to support appropriate access, movement, and adherence to established protocols for vendors and event personnel.

• Protects Facilities and Grounds – Oversee event setup and equipment placement to prevent damage to Huntington property and minimize disruption to visitors, staff, and garden operations.

• Provides Occasional Administrative Support – Assist the Botanical Office with administrative tasks as needed, including responding to inquiries and supporting Botanical Division programs and client-facing events.

• May perform other related duties as assigned

Candidate Requirements and Experience

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• High school diploma or relevant work experience.

• Event production and/or hospitality experience preferred.

• An active California driver’s license is required.

• Strong written and verbal skills.

• Well-organized and detail oriented.   

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of

• constituents.

• Ability to problem-solve and adapt to unexpected circumstances.

• Motivated self-starter with a passion for providing excellent customer service.

• Able to manage and prioritize multiple tasks and projects while maintaining a positive and calm

• demeanor.

• Able to work nights and weekends.

• Have the strength to lift, move, or pull up to 30 pounds.

• Must be proficient in the latest versions of Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Working Conditions  

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must have visual acuity and ability to communicate quickly to identify and address safety and security concerns.

• Must be able to access and traverse across a large campus on paved and unpaved roads and work in all weather conditions.

• Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to operate a motor vehicle.

• Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds at times.

Compensation & Benefits

We provide competitive compensation, generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees including:

• Pay Rate: $20.00/hr.

• Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants

• Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions

• Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds

The Application Process

Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume as a single PDF attachment. 

You will have the opportunity to submit additional documents on the “My Experience” section of the application.