Community Experience Coordinator
Want to know what the UEC is all about? Check out our mission, vision, and values. Or, visit our Instagram to see us find fun and share it!
Compensation: This position starts at $42,685 – $47,600
Benefits:
Our full-time employees receive 24 PTO days annually (29+ following Year 1 of employment) plus 7 paid organizational holidays, medical/dental/vision insurance with above-average employer premium contributions, a 3% match on our 403(b) retirement plan, program registration and facility rental discounts, plus a strong commitment to work/life balance and great organizational culture. Additional benefits will be outlined in the hiring process.
Location: Home branch of Riverside Park, Washington Park, or Menomonee Valley (your interest will be indicated in an application question below)
Position Summary
As the Community Experience Coordinator, you provide the initial on-site connection between the Urban Ecology Center and community members visiting the branch and our green spaces. Guided by our niche in urban foundational nature-based educational experiences and ecological revitalization, this position focuses on a connection to space, staff, and each other. You will provide exceptional customer service to all visitors; as the primary intake coordinator, you will implement all messaging priorities and support visitors in connecting to the UEC. You will be the communications expert in all UEC programming, including private and public programs, development opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and facility rentals and events offerings. You will also support internal communications as it pertains to the on-site community experience, tracking and data management, and program registration. In addition, the coordinator will ensure that all public spaces are clean and resourced/stocked to meet the goals of the on-site experience. This is a NEW opportunity at the Urban Ecology Center, building on our team’s great work to engage people in our mission at each of our branches.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Onsite Community Experience
- Intake
- Warmly welcome and connect with all visitors
- Communicate, connect, and orient visitors with experiences and opportunities in the branch and park
- Support visitors in deepening their experience and relationship with the UEC to identify opportunities to engage and inspire repeat visits.
- Answer questions, assist with wayfinding, and provide access to resources through strong in-person, written, and over-the-phone communication.
- Monitor and respond to the UEC branch phone and email inbox
- Communication & Messaging
- Serve as the primary point of contact during open hours for visitor-related situations
- Ensure current marketing materials are visible and available for visitors
- Update and align daily communication and messaging based on department and organization goals and priorities
- Evaluate and communicate public feedback, questions, and needs with internal teams
- Provides safety and emergency communications relevant to the community experience to ensure visitor safety in the building and park.
- Assists in the creation of wayfinding materials based on visitor feedback
- Has deep knowledge of the neighborhood and community to connect visitors with local resources and organization
- Administrative
- Coordinate, record, and analyze visitation data and trends
- Assist visitors in program registration and sign-in process
- Order supplies for the branch CE team and operations, which includes hospitality, reception supplies, and community resources
- Coordinate building opening and closing procedures
- Support safety coverage during open public hours
- Coordinate internally to ensure public spaces and resources are available, clean, and well-maintained
- Identify and delegate ongoing or special projects to Community Experience Assistant(s) and volunteers
- Support projects identified by the Community Experience Manager related to public space visitor experience
TEAM AND SUPERVISION
- As a member of the Community Experience team, you will be supervised by the Community Experience Manager.
- Though all of our teams work together in some capacity, you will most frequently collaborate with the Community Experience team across all three branches, the Community Programs team, and the Facilities team.
- In this role, you may support many organizational circles and committees, including Employee Engagement, Equity, Dignity, and Justice, Safety, or other related initiatives.
- 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 and Autumn Celebration. Some roles may have increased responsibility for event leadership.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Skills and Abilities
- Collaborates: You build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
- Communicates effectively: You develop and deliver multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
- Reliability/action-oriented: Deliver on commitments and act with a clear sense of ownership.
- Interpersonal savvy: Relate openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people while
- recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
- Adaptability: You recognize individual control of self and actions; you rebound from setbacks and adversity.
- Addresses conflict: You courageously address conflict by caring personally and challenging directly (radical candor).
- Growth mindset: You demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and professional development and are willing to incorporate feedback into the ways you approach work.
- Values differences: You recognize the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
- Organizational savvy: maneuvering comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics; is sensitive to how people and organizations function.
- Relationship Stewardship (Individuals/Community): the ability to build, maintain, and nurture positive and productive relationships with others; taking responsibility for connections and fostering them to achieve shared results and mutual benefit.
- Data Management: Ensures accurate and consistent tracking, organization, and analysis of program and constituent data; maintains systems in a way that enhances organizational insight and usability.
- You can demonstrate strong cultural competency and commitment to equity, dignity, and justice.
- You have an affinity for the Urban Ecology Center’s mission, vision, and values.
Experience, Education, and Certifications
- 3 years of professional work experience is required; nonprofit experience is recommended.
- An associate’s degree or equivalent education experience is highly preferred; relevant work experience is a great alternative.
- Experience utilizing the Google platform, fundraising/CRM software, and graphic design/communication platforms such as Canva or S’more is recommended.
- First Aid/CPR Certification is required (UEC will provide training as needed).
WORKING CONDITIONS, LOCATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- Schedule: This is a full-time, non-exempt role working a standard 40-hour week from Tuesday to Saturday, with occasional alternating Saturdays/Mondays. The schedule will reflect the center’s open hours, which may fluctuate seasonally.
- Condition & Location: Works from the branch front desk to greet all visitors during open hours. Branch lobbies are lively and engaging. Open desk spaces are available during non-public hours.
- Physical Requirements: Sitting for prolonged periods, typing on a computer keyboard, lifting objects of 25 pounds or less
- Equipment Used: Computer equipment, CRM/fundraising software, Google software.
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.