As the Neighborhood Engagement Coordinator, you will promote the mission and activities of the Urban Ecology Center as the primary initial contact for visitors and guests at the branch. The Neighborhood Engagement Team strives to create long-lasting and meaningful relationships with neighborhood and community partners through community events and member initiatives that allow us to be a safe, equitable and welcoming resource for our communities to connect with nature. You will guide the visitor on-site experience which includes coordinating the reception area, equipment lending program, and Neighborhood Engagement initiatives.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
On-Site Visitor Experience
- Welcome visitors. Engage them to meet their needs, interests, or curiosity about the Center and advance the Center’s mission. Promote program participation, membership, volunteerism, rental, and community involvement to visitors. Connect visitors to other staff members when appropriate.
- Train and oversee volunteer receptionists, assist them with reception duties, manage the front desk schedule and fill in at the front desk when volunteers or other staff are not available.
- Answer the phone in a friendly, professional manner and direct calls to the appropriate person.
- Enforce visitor and building policies for children and adults.
- Keep the reception area looking neat, clean, and professional.
- Handle cash, checks, and credit cards for program payments and memberships.
Room Usage
- Coordinate room use for community meetings during open hours at the Center.
- Greet renters, program participants, and volunteer groups as they arrive at the Center and help direct them to the appropriate location/staff member.
- Help to facilitate room usage with Rental Team and Neighborhood Engagement Assistance.
Equipment Lending
- Manage the Equipment Lending Program, a unique membership benefit where members can borrow outdoor adventure equipment including kayaks, camping gear, snowshoes, and cross-country skis at no cost. Ensure policies and procedures are followed to maximize member satisfaction and safety.
- Manage Checkfront (Equipment Lending Computer System)
- Manage the procedures that staff, volunteers, and members follow in order to properly use the equipment lending program. Train staff and volunteers on the procedures.
- Coordinate equipment inventory
- Coordinate equipment lending messaging with Marketing Team
- Assist the Community Programs Manager with adventure equipment purchasing and gear distribution
- Work with the Branch and Membership Managers to recommend and implement changes to the equipment lending policies and procedures with a mind to future growth
- Facilitate the organization of all equipment used by the equipment lending program, and coordinate volunteer efforts to keep the equipment maintained. Support This includes lendable watercraft, camping equipment, lawn sports, cross-country skis, snowshoes, fishing equipment, and other lending equipment added in the future.
Neighborhood Engagement
- Coordinate and participate in efforts to engage people in the neighborhoods we serve in our offerings and work.
Foster partnerships and relationships with local businesses, organizations, government officials and agencies, and community members by attending meetings, co-hosting events, or through community outreach initiatives. - Work with Branch Manager and Neighborhood Engagement Team to engage and support our communities through various programs and engagement opportunities.
- Plan & assist with neighborhood events.
- Coordinate and plan community-specific program events in cooperation with the Branch Manager and Community Programs Manager.
- Assist with visitor experience projects related to signage and exhibits in cooperation with the Branch Manager and Neighborhood Engagement Team.
Supervisor Duties
- Serve as site manager for 4 – 6 high school outdoor leaders (8 hours/week each), approving timesheets and offering support to rotation supervisors as the outdoor leaders rotate through other various departments.
- Serve as rotation supervisor by setting the schedule, assigning tasks, and mentoring one outdoor leader directly during each three-month rotation.
- Serve as the supervisor for the Neighborhood Engagement Specialist.
Building Support
- Safeguard money; ensure revenue and petty cash is safe and secure.
- Collaborate with the Administrative Coordinator to coordinate the branch calendar to ensure on-site coverage is adequate.
- Assist around the branch with various tasks as part of the branch team.
TEAM AND SUPERVISION
- As a member of the Neighborhood Engagement team, You will be managed by the Branch Manager at Menomonee Valley and will manage the Neighborhood Engagement Specialist and Outdoor Leaders.
- Though all of our teams work together in some capacity, you will most frequently collaborate with NE Coordinators at other branches, Green Career Pathways, Animal Care Specialist, and the Facilities team.
- In this role, you will serve on the Safety Committee and may have the opportunity to join others as your schedule and interests allow.
- All UEC team members should expect interaction with volunteers, members, and youth participants.
ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT
- All team members of the Urban Ecology Center work a minimum of 1-2 weekend or evening events each year. Our events are a great way to engage with our communities and see our mission in action; examples include Urban Candlelight Hike, Autumn Celebration, and HKE MKE. Some roles may have increased responsibility for event leadership.
- All team members are asked to support our building hours by providing building coverage, which may include opening/closing the building, communicating with staff on-site, and welcoming visitors or guests. You may sign-up for an ongoing shift or provide backup support.
OUR EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE
- We nurture an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative workplace culture. Many of our staff serve on cross-departmental committees for internal and external events, employee engagement, our equity, dignity, and justice (EDJ) focus, and safety initiatives, to name a few.
- We host a 2-day all-staff retreat each fall, with quarterly all-staff meetings, regular department meetings, and ongoing communication in-between. We make frequent use of Slack and utilize the Google platform for email and cloud computing.
- UEC staff work on-site a minimum of twice per week at one of our 3 branches, though many choose to work in person more frequently. Several of our roles do not have remote capabilities by the nature of their responsibilities.
- UEC staff are automatically members of the Urban Ecology Center with the ability to attend all events at a low or no cost. Children of staff members attend programming, including summer camps, at reduced rates.
- Full-time staff at the Urban Ecology Center are offered very competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance rates, a 3% 403(b) matching contribution, 24 days of PTO in year 1 (29 in year 2), 4 additional paid holidays, a UEC membership, and other great benefits.
- The starting compensation range for this position is $16.75 – $18.00 per hour.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Skills and Abilities
- Bilingual in English and Spanish is required. (professional working proficiency, at minimum)
- Collaboration: You have a strong ability to collaborate and share responsibilities with peers while providing guidance on organizational processes.
- Effective Communicator: you can articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to gain understanding. The ability to deliver information in person, in writing, and in a digital world.
- Relationship Development: you have the ability to identify and initiate working relationships and to develop and maintain them in a way that is of mutual benefit to both yourself and others.
- Event/Project Management: you are able to turn ideas into action by creating a plan, setting priorities and deadlines, and holding others accountable. You are a critical thinker and problem solver.
- Strong cultural competency and commitment to equity, dignity, and justice.
- Affinity to the Urban Ecology Center’s mission, vision, and values.
- Proficiency in utilizing the Google Suite is recommended.
- Strong community connections within the Menomonee Valley Branch neighborhood are preferred.
Experience, Education, and Certifications
- You have a minimum of two years of experience working in customer service.
- Experience working with or leading volunteers is preferred.
- Experience utilizing a CRM or similar software is preferred.
- A high school degree or equivalent is required; 2 or more years of higher education is preferred.
WORKING CONDITIONS, LOCATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Schedule: you must be available to work this position’s regular schedule: Tuesday through Thursday 10-6, Friday 9-5, and Saturday 9-3. Some weekday evenings beyond 6pm should be expected.
Condition & Location: Open office workspace with an active team atmosphere. Using shared workspaces at all three UEC locations.
Physical Requirements: Sitting for prolonged periods, typing on a computer keyboard, Lifting and carrying kayaks, bikes and other outdoor adventure equipment as necessary, up to 50 pounds with or without accommodation
Equipment Used: Computer equipment, CRM software, Google software, copy/fax machine, printer, outdoor adventure equipment
The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status