Visitor Services Program Coordinator

Penn State University • Stone Valley Area, SC

1d • $38,300 - $55,500 • Onsite

About The Position

Shaver's Creek Environmental Center within Penn State Outreach is looking for an organized, energetic, dedicated, and responsible individual to fill the role of our Visitor Services Program Coordinator. This position is the front-line staff for our visitor center, Weidemann bookstore and gift shop, and Litzinger Herpetarium, and is a primary liaison to our community of members. The Shaver's Creek visitor services program enhances the educational mission of Shaver's Creek for visitors looking to learn more about the natural world. This position is an integral part of those day-to-day operations.

Requirements

• General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or High School (HS)
• 2+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Required Certifications: None
• Candidates must be proficient with database management, e-mail, and word processing.
• PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check, and the National Sex Offender Registry Clearance (NSOR).
• Additional clearances may be necessary if you resided outside of Pennsylvania in the past five years.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

• Successful candidates should have excellent interpersonal skills, past retail experience, and must feel comfortable answering phones and enjoy interacting with the public.
• Experience with natural history interpretation is a plus.
• Candidates should also possess a strong environmental ethic consistent with the mission of Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, situated 12 miles from University Park campus within Penn State’s 7,000 acre Stone Valley Forest.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate the administration of an educational program to ensure program quality and effectiveness
• Process course/program registrations; identify and recommend efficient workflows
• Coordinate budget preparation, monitor budgets, analyze data, and initiate payments
• Coordinate the recruitment and hiring of instructors/presenters
• Participate in the development of marketing strategies to promote programs; oversee the creation and distribution of marketing materials, advertising, etc.
• Design layout and format of project-related documents, web content, and materials
• Make recommendations on changes/additions to both policies and portfolio of offerings based on customer feedback, evaluations, historical data, and systems capabilities
• Recommend innovative plans for design or quality improvement of unit programs/procedures
• Assist in developing operational goals, objectives, and standards for unit, programs, projects, etc.
• Represent unit at internal and external meetings with stakeholders
• The VSPC independently coordinates, develops, and maintains the Weidemann Bookstore and Lobby as a welcoming space for 20,000 yearly drop-in visitors and facilitates a positive, educational program experience.
• The VSPC has daily interactions in this non-formal setting with the visiting public, answering questions and offering educational information about the natural world and our resident animals.
• The VSPC manages bookstore operations by developing the yearly bookstore budget, making sales, updating inventory, managing the online store, placing orders and maintaining vendor relationships, training interns and staff on bookstore processes, coordinating local art consignment, and completing weekly reconciliations.
• The VSPC also collaborates with our Program Registration Coordinator and other colleagues to manage the Shaver’s Creek membership program and assist with seasonal spikes in registration management, including Summer Camp.
• Other duties include helping with intern hiring, facilitating internal communications, and assisting with program marketing through website updates, community calendars, and email lists.
• On the phone, through email, and in person the expectation is to provide excellent customer service to our diverse population of visitor center participants, including Penn State students, nature center visitors, program attendees, camp parents, work-study students, volunteers, staff, and interns.

Benefits

• comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• robust retirement plans
• substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time
• generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED