Job Information
Paul Smith's College VIC Summer Steward in Paul Smiths, New York
Position: Paul Smith’s College VIC Steward
Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Temporary Seasonal
Department: Human Resources
Reports to: Director of Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC)
Hourly Rate: $16.00/hour
Description:
The Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) seeks a full-time VIC Steward to oversee operation of the summer visitor services, including front desk management, retail assistance and periodic on-trail walking to orient visitors to the site, its natural history and ecology. The Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC), is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to fostering connections with nature for students, residents, and visitors by providing outdoor recreation opportunities, experiential education programs, and year-round art exhibitions. The VIC is a 3,000-acre nature center and interpretive site, home to more than twenty-five miles of maintained hiking, running, skiing and snowshoeing trails. About 35,000 visitors travel to the VIC annually to partake in either self-guided walks/hikes/other trail use and/or to participate in program offerings.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Assist with the day-to-day operations of a large nature center.
Provide excellent, informed, and professional visitor services and public outreach for the point of entry for guests to the VIC through face-to-face contact and over the telephone.
Manage VIC program registration for visitors in person and over the telephone.
Manage inventory and re-stocking for the retail store.
Provide daily accounting of sales.
Weekly on-trail walking to provide public outreach and natural history services to guests.
Assist with administrative, maintenance and logistical needs of the center.
The VIC Steward will regularly work weekends, occasional evening events, and occasional long days.
Assist with other duties as needed or assigned by the Director of Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC).
Qualifications and Preferences:
Availability to start May 24, 2024 (Flexibility to start is possible).
Ability to work with a broad range of diverse individuals and groups to form a safe and inclusive workplace.
Certification in at least one of the following: First aid/CPR, Wilderness First Aid, or Wilderness First Responder.
Knowledge of or interest in Adirondack natural history and ecology.
Strong desire to learn, share, and teach about the Adirondacks.
Work experience in a related field including: one year of experience with retail sales (operation of cash register) and inventory management.
Experience in social media management, design, marketing, or public outreach preferred.
Experience and interest in working with diverse audiences of all ages.
Excellent communication skills including public speaking, over the phone, in person, and written communication.
Ability to work swiftly, accurately, decisively, and independently.
Superior organizational skills.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.
Ability to problem solve in a timely manner.
An acute self-awareness for professionalism.
Reliable transportation to and from work.
Paul Smith’s College values diversity in the College community and seeks to assure equal opportunity through its continued Affirmative Action program. EOE/AA/M/F/D/V