Join our team as the Nature Center & Store Manager!
Status: Salaried (Exempt), Full-Time
Compensation: Up to $40,000, depending on the candidate’s skills and experience. Housing assistance may be available.
Position Location and Environment: The Manager position is based at FOMR’s Crane’s Nest Nature Center & Store located at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, 32 miles SSE of Burns, Oregon.
The Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (FOMR) was formed in 1999 and is an independent non-profit 501(c)3 corporation with the mission of supporting Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. FOMR promotes the conservation and appreciation of natural and cultural resources at Malheur Refuge through education, advocacy, and on-the-ground stewardship. Our projects aim to improve wildlife habitat, provide public education opportunities, and enhance the Refuge’s visitor experience. FOMR’s Board of Directors is led in partnership with its Executive Director (ED).
We are seeking a detail-oriented people person who is aligned with our mission to support Malheur NWR. The Nature Center & Store Manager (Manager) will be enthusiastic and committed in their efforts to maximize the benefits of the Nature Center & Store to the organization in that this site is where we connect with and educate visitors while operating a retail store whose revenue funds Conservation and Stewardship programs. Furthermore, the Manager will maintain a supportive environment for volunteers and a welcoming environment for visitors.
Nature Store
The Manager will support the day-to-day retail operations of the Nature Store including ordering and tracking inventory, managing pricing and stock control, maximizing profitability and meeting sales targets. The Manager will prepare monthly sales reports and engage in managing the store budget. On a regular basis, the Manager will work closely with the FOMR Treasurer to maintain inventory records, income/expenses, and deposit reports.
In the store and via email, the Manager will engage with visitors/customers and manage queries and complaints. FOMR has an online store in which stock must be managed and sales will be fulfilled in a prompt manner. The Manager will work with the ED on marketing and promotion of the Crane’s Nest and online stores through the monthly newsletter, social media, and outreach opportunities as they arise.
Nature Center
The Manager will serve as caretaker of the grounds associated with the Crane’s Nest Nater Center & Store. This includes but is not limited to the tidy upkeep inside and out of the Civilian Conservation Corps era buildings, the Pollinator Garden, the adjacent Marshall Pond Wildlife Observation Trail & Blind, and the George Benson Memorial Museum.
The Manager will maintain the Nature Center lobby and grounds as a welcoming and informative environment for visitors. This includes upkeep of the eBird Kiosk, stocking brochures, interpretive displays, promotion of the Friends of Malheur programs, etc.
The Manager will work closely with the Executive Director to develop educational and interpretive materials for display, to support school field trips, tabletop nature talks and more. The educational and interpretive opportunities are truly limitless.
Volunteer Management
The Nature Store is largely staffed by volunteers who are invaluable to store operations. The Manager is responsible for the training and ongoing support of Crane’s Nest volunteers.
Coordination of schedules to keep the store staffed 7 days/wk from March 1st – October 31st will require the Manager work store shifts when volunteers are unavailable. The candidate will maintain a volunteer database of volunteer history, hours, interests, etc. Working closely with the Executive Director, the Manager will develop, implement, and evaluate the Volunteer Program on an annual basis in order to update and manage volunteer policies and procedures.
The Manager should be committed to growing and diversifying the volunteer base and the opportunities available to them.
Other Duties as Assigned: FOMR is a small organization with diverse mission driven projects and programs. The nature of this position will be to occasionally support activities that are not outlined above in the primary responsibilities. These duties may be associated with event planning, fundraising, etc.
Staff, Board, and Partner Communications: The CNM will report to the ED who works closely with Malheur Refuge staff and reports to the FOMR Board of Directors.
Desired Qualifications:
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- Commitment to the mission and values of Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and the National Wildlife Refuge System.
- A genuine, personal interest and appreciation of nature and the natural world.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively as needed.
- Retail experience including inventory and cash management and generating reports.
- Comfort with digital systems and software such as NeonCRM, Shopventory, Clover, Microsoft 365 applications, WordPress, Constant Contact, Canva, etc.
- Leadership experience working with volunteers or on a diverse and collaborative team.
- A team player who is an enthusiastic, creative, self-motivated, critical thinker with strong organizational and math skills.
- Ability to work weekends and evenings when necessary.
- Experience with fundraising, networking, and event planning a plus, but not necessary.
- Candidate must be a US Citizen.
To Apply (email submissions preferred): Prior to submission, interested candidates are encouraged to review FOMR’s website, www.malheurfriends.org for background on our organization. Please send a cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references with the subject line “Nature Center & Store Manager” to friends@malheurfriends.org.
Professional references should include at least two people who can speak to the applicant’s experience relative to the position requirements. We require pre-employment background checks. Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is an equal-opportunity employer.
Closing Date: Open until filled.
Submit application materials via email to: friends@malheurfriends.org
Be a Malheur Refuge Advocate.
You can become a Malheur Refuge champion by joining the Friends of Malheur and together we can advocate for a secure and more prosperous future for Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and our national wildlife refuge system.
