Senior Manager, Education, Events and Visitor Operations, Shaw Nature Reserve

Senior Manager, Education, Events and Visitor Operations, Shaw Nature Reserve

Shaw Nature Reserve, 307 Pinetum Loop Rd, Gray Summit, Missouri, United States of America Req #794

Friday, March 15, 2024

Summary: Manages educational programs, visitor operations, and events for Shaw Nature Reserve (SNR). Leads efforts to position SNR as a high-profile public destination and innovative center of nature experience, environmental education, and capacity-building. Responsible for the development, planning, implementation, research, evaluation, and assessment of educational programming, events, and visitor services. Leads communications, public engagement, and marketing activities and develops strategies for growth in attendance and education, retail, event, and membership revenue channels and funding opportunities. Develops successful programs, events, exhibits, and experiences to increase attendance and attract diverse visitors and stakeholders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serves on the senior leadership team of the Nature Reserve, assisting the SNR Director in achieving strategic priorities, communicating with internal and external stakeholders, and building public and private support to grow and sustain the Nature Reserve's programs, operations, and impacts.
• Ensures the ongoing success and effectiveness of Shaw Nature Reserve through site-wide strategic planning, growth in revenue, controlling expenditures, funding development and event management.
• Works closely with the SNR Director and the Institutional Advancement division to identify funding sources and secure programmatic and long-term support for sustained operations, including through grant-writing, donor and foundation relations, and the coordination of income-generating projects.
• Responsible for overall staffing needs of education, visitor services, and events, including staffing weekend and evening events; Sr. Manager will also work various shifts to insure adequate staffing during weekend and evening events, performing an integral role in executing larger seasonal events.
• Oversees and promotes professional development for education, visitor services, and events staff to ensure use of current best practices and exceptional customer service.
• Leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of education programs at SNR, including school programs, adult and family programs, interpretive programs, and community programs.
• Directs and implements strategies to provide an exceptional visitor experience, including visitor maps and wayfinding resources; self-guided and guided learning experiences; interpretive signage and digital resources; visitor amenities; retail operations; and increasing accessibility and inclusion.
• In collaboration with MBG Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, leads initiatives to actively engage audiences underrepresented in natural areas and encourage equitable access to nature.
• Collaborates with the Communications division and Print and Digital Media team on the design, development, and implementation of site-wide exhibits; interpretive, wayfinding, and operational signage; print and digital media publications; and to hire and oversee outside designers, writers, fabricators, evaluators or other contractors when necessary.
• Coordinates with the Communications division for marketing and promotion of the Nature Reserve to increase general and event attendance, memberships sales, and participation in education programs, including coordination of website updates, social media, digital media, and traditional media relations.
• Leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of exhibits and events, visitor services programs, membership programs, and retail sales at SNR.
• Coordinates with SNR Horticulture, Ecological Restoration, and Facilities teams to ensure inter-departmental collaborations and operational support for Education, Events, and Visitor Services.
• In coordination with the MBG Volunteer Programs team, fosters the further development of volunteer programs at SNR, through oversight of site-wide newsletter and events.
• Develops and manages the SNR Education, Events, and Visitor Services budgets, including earned income revenue, grant and contract support, and operational expenses; identifies opportunities to improve financial performance.
• Serves as the acting Division Head in the absence of the SNR Director, including delegation of authority for operational decisions and approval of financial documents.
• Determines when public closure of the Nature Reserve is necessary due to unsafe visitor conditions, in cooperation with Facilities Manager and Site Operations Coordinator, and in support of SNR safety guidelines
• Ensures that all applicable safety standards are followed; informs employees, students, and volunteers of safety guidelines and methods to reduce hazards. Reports all accidents, injuries and near-miss accidents immediately.
• Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.
• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork and cooperation, within our division and throughout the Garden, with co-workers, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and employees.
• Meets expected attendance guidelines.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has supervisory responsibilities for:

• Coordinator, Public Programs
• Coordinator, School Programs (preK-3)
• Coordinator, School Programs (4-12)
• Coordinator, Events and Outreach
• Coordinator, Site Operations
• Supervisor, Visitor Services
• Volunteers

Competencies:

• Communication - Listens to others and asks questions for clarification; Writes clearly and presents information accurately; Speaks professionally and responds well to questions; Supports positive visitor relations.
• Collaboration - Demonstrates teamwork and promotes respect in the workplace; Engages in problem solving and group initiatives; Cooperates in implementing procedures and process improvements; Strives for positive visitor experiences.
• Accountability - Demonstrates commitment to responsibilities and adaptable to changes; Effectively prioritizes, troubleshoots and takes appropriate actions; Follows policies and procedures, meets deadlines, quality, and safety standards; Strives to proactively, address visitor and internal colleagues' concerns.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems; Includes supervisor before taking action as necessary; Recommends solutions, demonstrates creativity and resourcefulness; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment in decision making process; Includes appropriate people in making decisions.
• Stewardship - Promotes and adheres to sustainability, safety and security protocols; Fosters a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion; Demonstrates effective and prudent use of Garden resources; Maximizes contributions during work hours.
• Senior Leadership: Senior Leadership competency incorporates a cluster of knowledge, skills and abilities including business acumen, strategic thinking and people leadership

Qualifications/Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of related experience, including leading educational visitor experiences in informal learning environments (nature reserves/centers, wildlife refuges, parks, botanic gardens, museums, science centers, zoos/aquaria, etc.)
• Administrative and supervisory experience similar in scope to this position, with a record of successful career growth leading to significant management responsibilities.
• Knowledge of, and experience with, applying best practices in the fields of interpretation, informal learning, experiential learning, science education, environmental education, and conservation capacity-building.

• Previous guest relations, customer service, and volunteer coordination experience; ability to effectively manage and foster professional working relationships.
• Demonstrated abilities in successful marketing, fundraising, negotiating and managing budgets.
• Must enjoy and feel comfortable and confident interacting with general public audiences, in a variety of outdoor and indoor settings, in a safe and friendly manner.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with internal team members and external organizations for the purposes of creating a commitment to common goals, prioritizing, minimizing obstacles, and executing realistic priorities in a sophisticated environment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at all levels: must feel comfortable interacting and working with other MBG departments and all levels of management.
• Motivated learner who possesses a professional attitude, good team orientation, excellent customer service skills, ability to communicate effectively and personal integrity.
• Must be a self-starter, creative, flexible, and possess ability to effectively multi-task, assess and prioritize workload in a deadline-driven environment and produce accurate results.
• Must demonstrate and instill in staff members a high degree of professionalism, integrity, dedication and service to the organization.
• Experience in personnel management including conflict resolution, team building and other related management experience.
• Demonstrates highest level of professional and ethical conduct, knowledge and understanding of organizational policies, procedures and systems, maintains confidentiality.

• Scheduling flexibility is required to work evenings, weekends, or holidays.
• The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers and guests. All staff are strongly encouraged to receive all vaccinations as recommended by your healthcare provider prior to hire date. The Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based on local health department guidelines. When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtain required travel clearances, driving permits, and vaccinations for all countries where travel is required.
• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in science education, environmental education, or related fields is required; master's degree in stated fields of study is preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education, skills and experience, may be considered.

Language Skills: Ability to communicate effectively in English (oral/written).

Mathematical Skills: Requires ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate percentages and decimals; etc.

Reasoning Ability: Requires ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution. Must have exceptional decision-making and strategic reasoning skills.

Computer Skills:

• Proficient experience using Microsoft Office suite (i.e., Outlook, Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher
• Proficient experience using financial systems for tracking and reporting.
• Strong Internet research skills.
• Comfortable and confident with social and digital media forms of communications and engagement.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Must be able to obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid certification.
• Must possess and maintain valid driver's license.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing).
• Ability to lift up to (30) pounds (i.e., load, unload and move boxes, supplies and equipment).
• Requires standing, walking, bending, stooping, and reaching for extended periods of time.

Work Environment:

• Enclosed office space within an open, shared office environment.
• Daily interaction with general public.

• May require working indoors and outdoors throughout day in all seasons - Ability to work outdoors in temperatures over 100F as well as temperatures below 0F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions as needed.

Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Garden:

• Garden Senior Management and Managers across Garden Divisions
• Staff throughout Shaw Nature Reserve and the Garden's Education Division
• Community organizations, non-profits, and other outside educational organizations
• Organizations and Agencies providing funding for education and visitor experience
• Volunteers
• Visitors
• Vendors and Contractors for Events, Exhibits, and Retail
• Educators
• Students

Supervisor: Director, Shaw Nature Reserve

• Shaw Nature Reserve, 307 Pinetum Loop Rd, Gray Summit, Missouri, United States of America