Observatory Operations Intern

COMPANY SUMMARY

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) is a NYC-focused REIT that owns and operates a portfolio of well-leased, top of tier, modernized, amenitized, and well-located office, retail, and multifamily assets. ESRT’s flagship Empire State Building, the “World's Most Famous Building,” features its iconic Observatory, ranked the #1 Top Attraction in New York City for the fourth consecutive year in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do. The Company is a recognized leader in energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. As of September 30, 2025, ESRT’s portfolio is comprised of approximately 7.8 million rentable square feet of office space, 0.8 million rentable square feet of retail space and 743residential units. More information about Empire State Realty Trust can be found at esrtreit.com and by following ESRT on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.

The dedicated team at ESRT is a collection of diverse individuals with a shared passion for excellence and a keen eye toward future growth. Headquartered in New York City, we harness the energy of the city in everything we do. We care for one another, work hard, and have a lot of fun doing it! We are Certified™ as a Great Place to Work® by the global authority, Great Place to Work®, on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviors. We prioritize and invest in the health and wellness of employees to attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent. ESRT values continuous employee development and encourages colleagues to excel in their roles and adapt to emerging business needs. From our crown jewel, The Empire State Building, to incredible buildings modernized for the 21st century, to outstanding customer service, and our decade-long leadership position in sustainability and energy efficient portfolio that is 100% fully powered by renewable wind electricity, we take pride in our work. ESRT seeks an equally passionate colleague to join the team, understand the vision and help achieve that vision. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Observatory Operations Intern will lend support to our onsite guest experience initiatives and help drive measurable increases in positive customer reviews. This role focuses on analyzing the visitor journey, identifying operational improvements, and leveraging AI tools to enhance our “best-in-class” experience and maintain our status as the #1 Attraction in the US.  

Full-time: 40 hours per week from June 1st, 2026, until August 7th, 2026 

Location: Onsite at 111 W 33rd Street, New York, NY 

• Survey guests throughout their visit to gather real-time feedback 
• Observe the full visitor journey to identify experience “highs” and “lows” 
• Collaborate with the Operations Director, Director of Visitor Experience, and Operations Manager 
• Analyze current ways of working and recommend improvements to enhance the customer experience 
• Utilize AI tools to streamline data collection, automate analysis, and support decision-making 
• Benchmark the current visitor experience using available data sources 
• Develop clear, actionable recommendations for elevating the guest experience 
• Assist in creating a repeatable framework the Operations team can use beyond the internship 
• Provide additional support as needed 

• Must feel comfortable initiating conversations with guests 
• Strong analytical and computer skills 
• Ability to articulate ideas and recommendations to senior leadership  
• Proficient in Power Point  
• Demonstrated teamwork and collaboration skills 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and customer service skills 
• Self-motivated, driven, organized, detail oriented, and hard working 
• Integrity and a commitment to excellence 

• A Junior enrolled in a four-year or five-year undergraduate program in the graduating class of 2027 is preferred.  

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times

• At ESRT, like our tenants, our employees come from everywhere. We foster a collaborative work environment that captures top talent and cultivates the best ideas. As a Great Place to Work® Certified employer, we are committed to maintaining our positive work culture where employees are engaged and can grow and develop. In addition, ESRT employees embody our Company Culture & Success Factors -
• Adaptable – you are a self-starter who’s able to quickly digest and execute new processes to work both collaboratively and independently
• Dynamic – you are solutions-oriented, aim to improve processes and implement efficiency, and offer insightful feedback to improve ESRT
• Dependable – you take a strong sense of ownership and accountability over your work
• Passionate – you keep up with industry trends and are excited about the potential to propel the industry forward with a “roll-up-your-sleeves” attitude
• Curious – you consistently look for new ways to work smarter, not just harder
• Ethical – you treat others with respect, act with integrity in how you perform your work, and embrace our collaborative culture
• Positive – you possess a service-oriented attitude with excellent follow through

• 40-hour work week, paid at a rate of $22.50 p/h
• A challenging, exciting, and meaningful 10-week experience
• Networking opportunities to get to know fellow interns and key leaders throughout ESRT
• An individual project to be presented to executive leadership
• Company sponsored lunches with leadership and outings
• Tour of the Empire State Building Observatory
• Summer Friday Early Release

ESRT is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We celebrate the unique differences of our employees because they drive curiosity, innovation, and the success of our business. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, reproductive choices, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy, parental status, caregiver status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue hardship for the Company are available for applicants and employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs.