SENIOR ASSISTANT, GUEST RELATIONS
: Job Details :

Overview:

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds and our planet are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community. Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Position Summary:

Audubon South Carolina's mission is to protect birds and the places they need. For more than 40 years, Audubon South Carolina has achieved this mission through land protection and restoration, education, outreach, and advocacy.

In South Carolina, Audubon owns and operates two centers and sanctuaries, the largest of which is at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest in Harleyville. At this location, Audubon protects and manages over 18,000 acres of land in the Four Holes Swamp watershed. The crown jewel of this sanctuary is the 1,800 acres of virgin, cypress-tupelo swamp, the largest habitat of its kind left in the world.

While functioning as a sanctuary for birds and other wildlife, Beidler Forest is also a hub for education and conservation. At the Beidler Forest visitor center, a 1.75-mile ADA-compliant boardwalk takes guests on self-guided tours of the swamp. Many guided tours are also available, including bird walks, night walks, and canoe trips.

Reporting to the Center Manager, the Senior Assistant, Guest Relations will function as an ambassador for Audubon and add capacity at our visitor center, helping check-in guests, answer phone calls, maintain our interpretive exhibits and gift shop, and assist with upkeep of the center and boardwalk. In addition, this position may be asked to lead guided tours, as well as assist in training and scheduling volunteers. This role is onsite based out of Audubon South Carolina Center & Sanctuary at Beidler Forest in Harleyville, SC. This is a full-time, 32 hours a week position.

Compensation:

$17.00-$19.00 / hour

Essential Functions:

• Work at the front desk of the Visitor Center on days open to the public and for private groups, ensuring building and facilities are opened and closed at appropriate times.
• Greet and check-in visitors, answer questions, oversee admission and gift shop transactions, conduct general opening and closing reporting.
• Maintain cleanliness of visitor center, boardwalk, and other facilities, ensure gift shop is fully stocked with merchandise, and all public spaces and paths are accessible.
• Frequently serve as an interpretive guide, leading tours of the swamp for groups of all ages.
• Provide staffing support for offsite programs and events with community partners.
• Participate in virtual and in-person staff meetings and trainings.
• Assist the Center Manager with the gift shop as needed, including ordering items and conducting annual inventory.
• Assist in supervising volunteers assigned to support the front desk, gift shop and boardwalk operations.
• When time permits, assist with other operations and priority projects, including writing blog posts for website and digital communications and creating content for social media.
• Develop and upkeep of Visitor Center displays, educational interpretation, signage, one-pagers, and guides.
• Support other departments, programs and events as needed.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required. Associate degree preferred; Bachelors degree in a natural science field is a plus and 1-2 years' experience in a nature center or similar facility. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Excellent customer service, written and verbal communication skills.
• Applicant should have a positive attitude who is friendly and engaging with others.
• Outgoing and people-oriented, comfortable interacting and communicating with a wide variety of audiences.
• Experience interacting with the public and ability to remain composed under pressure.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload and complete assignments on time.
• Comfortable working in Microsoft Office applications such as: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Willingness to learn about natural history of southeastern habitats and Audubon South Carolinas programs statewide and interpret this information for visitors.
• Willingness to learn about, and interest in educating the public about, the cultural history of the landscape around Beidler Forest including the history of Beidlers designation as a site on the Underground Railroad as part of Audubons efforts to tell a complete history of the land we steward today.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends, and occasionally evenings and holidays.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, including some moderately heavy objects such as furniture, boxes, file cabinets, equipment, etc. with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must have valid drivers license with reliable transportation.

EEO Statement:

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

Accessibility Statement:

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact ...@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.