Hiring Seasonal Welcome Center Host/Naturalists
JOB DESCRIPTION (Revised October 2023)
WELCOME CENTER HOST/NATURALIST (Friends of Sax-Zim Bog)
As a Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Host you will meet and greet visitors who come through the Welcome Center. You will be the face of our organization, and your goal will be to make every visitor’s trip to Sax-Zim a memorable experience. Answering questions will be a big part of your job, as well as maintaining the Welcome Center, outhouse, and bird feeders.
Seasonal Position
Season 1: early December through mid-March
Season 2: June 1 through August 31
(Applicants must apply for each season separately)
Wage:
$16/hour starting
Benefits:
Flexible scheduling
Free field trips
Fleece vest “uniform”
Paid on-the-job training for natural history skills, etc
Working in a natural setting
—FOSZB would like employees to limit time-off requests during peak times of Season 1 (mid Dec to mid
March).
Home work location: Welcome Center in the Sax-Zim Bog.
Mileage/Meals: No reimbursement for travel to and from Home work location (Welcome Center). Mileage reimbursed for approved work-related travel away from Home work location (Welcome Center) including, but not limited to, filling feeders, boardwalk maintenance, purchasing materials, construction projects in and around the Sax-Zim Bog.
Hours: Variable; Welcome Center Manager will schedule host/naturalists with consideration to host/naturalists needs and availability. Work load may vary from week to week and month to month.
Welcome Center Host/Naturalists report to Welcome Center Manager.
EDUCATION
High school degree or equivalent.
PERSONAL TRAITS
- Love of our natural world and dedication to preserving it for future generations
- Effective communication skills
- Takes initiative with a “can do” attitude
- Able to work with a wide range of individuals
- Comfortable talking and sharing info with the public
EXPERIENCE
An appropriate level of relevant work experience is required
BONUS EXPERIENCE
- Environmental education skills
- Retail sales
- Natural history knowledge
- First Aid/CPR qualifications
REQUIREMENTS
- Must have reliable transportation
- Must be able to lift 40 pounds, and 10 pounds overhead
TO APPLY
Send Resume and Cover Letter to info@saxzim.org between Oct 1, 2023 and November 15, 2023. Sooner is better as job position/s will be closed once filled.
WELCOME CENTER HOST/NATURALIST DUTIES
Welcome Center Host/Naturalist will meet and greet visitors who come through the Welcome Center. You will be the face of our organization, and your goal will be to make every visitor’s trip to Sax-Zim a memorable experience. Answering questions will be a big part of your job, as well as selling merchandise, maintaining the Welcome Center, outhouse, and bird feeders.
Welcome Center Host/Naturalist will also perform other duties as assigned.
WELCOME CENTER HOSTING
All duties associated with keeping the visitor experience positive at the Welcome Center
Including, but not limited to:
- Greeting and engaging visitors in conversation
- Answering visitor questions about the Sax-Zim Bog
- Sharing bird locations, suggesting boardwalks to visit, etc
- Selling merchandise via Point-of-Sale software
- Inventorying merchandise, food & drink, cleaning supplies, bird seed, etc
- Storage and pricing of merchandise
- Communicating with WC Manager about items that need ordering/reordering
- Suggesting new merchandise needs
- Stocking brochures, maps, calendars, annual reports
- Updating “Bird & Wildlife Sightings Board”
- Vacuuming, sweeping, washing windows, general cleaning, organizing
- Setting up chairs and tables for events, workshops, programs
- Assisting Head Naturalist with in-building programs
- (optional but encouraged) Creating and presenting short natural history programs for the public
MAINTENANCE
All duties associated with keeping the exterior of the Welcome Center neat, clean, safe and welcoming
Including, but not limited to:
- Regular maintenance outside the Welcome Center (as directed by WC Manager)
- Mowing lawns, weedwhacking along sidewalks, parking areas, around signage (Summer only)
- Bird feeders: hanging, filling, cleaning (Winter only)
- Sweeping and Snow shoveling of Welcome Center sidewalk
- Outhouse cleaning
- Pollinator Garden weeding (Summer only)
- Filling hummingbird feeders (Summer only)
- Little Free Libraries; stocking and maintenance
TRAILS & BOARDWALKS
All duties associated with keeping trails and boardwalks on FOSZB parcels safe and presentable
Including, but not limited to:
- Maintaining trails and boardwalks (as directed by WC Manager)
- Stocking maps at trailheads
- Shoveling of boardwalks
- Brush/tree clearing of trails
- Bird feeders at WC and all FOSZB properties (as directed by WC Manager)
- Hanging, filling, cleaning feeders
- Participating in construction projects for boardwalks and trails (as directed by WC Manager)
SOCIAL MEDIA
(Optional and as approved by WC Manager)
Including, but not limited to:
- Taking photos and video clips of WC and FOSZB “shareworthy” items, including wildlife/bird sightings, event and field trip photos, weather-related news, etc
- Posting to “Friends of Sax-Zim Bog” Facebook Page and Group, and Instagram.
TO APPLY
Send Resume and Cover Letter to info@saxzim.org between Oct 1, 2023 and November 15, 2023. Sooner the better as job opening/s will be closed once filled.