Applications are welcomed and encouraged from all qualified individuals regardless of background and identity. A one-page cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume in a single pdf file. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experiences that directly relate to it.

Within the Visitor Experience department, the SITA Production Assistant position is a 6 (six) week position working closely with MBGNA staff and SITA directorial teams to manage the operations of staging a Shakespeare play for the complete run of the show. This position will be based primarily at Nichols Arboretum and will run for six weeks beginning Wednesday, May 27, 2026 through Sunday, June 28, 2026.   Work hours are 2pm to 10pm, Wednesdays through Sundays.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) is a transformative force for social and ecological resilience through the waters and lands we steward.

We turn this commitment into action by:

• Positioning humans as active participants within the natural world and compelling the university community and our publics to negotiate the full complexity that entails
• Advancing partnerships, programs, user experience, and all that we steward to catalyze access and impact in a radically changing world
• Emerging as University of Michigan's premier partner for research, teaching, and public impact in sustainability, climate-forward practices, and biocultural diversity
• Promoting healthier communities, cultures, and ecosystems through active care and cultivation of the gardens, fields, natural habitats, and dynamic systems that sustain our world.

As part of the Shakespeare in the Arb Production team, this position will regularly interact with visitors, volunteers, and other MBGNA departments during the course of a workday.  

This position will support the goals of the Shakespeare in the Arb production through the following: 

• Training and managing volunteer ushers
• Audience management which includes preparing tickets, managing box office reports, directing attendees
• Transporting personnel and equipment with a golf cart
• Opening and closing the Nichols Arboretum Visitor Center

• This position may require a valid driver's license and a motor vehicle record check in order to operate MBGNA vehicles.
• Willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Willingness to do physical work.
• Must have a flexible schedule with weekend and evening availability.

32-40 hours per week Wednesday-Sunday

MBGNA comprises 841 total acres, spanning across four sites, including the gardens, arboretum, a bog, and natural areas. This internship takes place mainly at Nichols Arboretum, 1600 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

The application will be open Wednesday, January 6 - Sunday, March 1, 2026.  Selected candidates will be contacted for interviews beginning Monday, March 9, 2026.  Final candidates will be notified by March 27, 2026. 

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.