VIC Summer Steward

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