Jobs

Applications Due: Monday, March 17

Job Start Date: April 14, 2025

To Apply:
Submit resume, cover letter, and three professional references to: info@auduboncnc.org with the subject title: ACNC Fundraising and Event Coordinator Application. Application materials must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 17 to be considered.

Title: Fundraising and Event Coordinator
Reports to: Executive Director

Supervises: Unpaid fundraising/event volunteers and interns (if applicable)

Grade: Part-time, hourly. Up to 1,248 hours per year.

Salary Range: $16.50/hr – $22.32/hr

Benefits Include: PTO, sick days, discounts on ACNC services, and retirement plan

Schedule: Days/hours may vary from week to week. Some Saturdays required.

Organization Overview
Audubon Community Nature Center’s (ACNC) mission is to build and nurture connections between people and nature by providing positive outdoor experiences, opportunities to learn about and understand the natural world, and knowledge to act in environmentally responsible ways.

ACNC is located at 1600 Riverside Rd in Jamestown, New York, close to the border of Pennsylvania. The 12,000 square-foot Nature Center building hosts exhibits, live animals, gift shop, classroom space, offices, and restrooms. The 570-acre grounds hosts more than 6 miles of trails which include a variety of bridges, observation towers, overlooks, and photo blinds. A year-round staff of nine full-time and three-part time staff currently oversee the programs and operations. Temporary/seasonal staff are hired to help facilitate programs throughout the winter and summer months. Over 18,000 visitors use the trails each year, in addition to thousands more students on field trips, at summer Day Camps, and other programs. Seasonal festivals, in addition to other events, attract visitors from the tri-state area throughout the year.

Audubon educators provide more than 1,000 programs each year that are designed to fulfill ACNC’s vision of creating real and healthy connections to nature for all children from within the local community.

ACNC is an equal opportunity employer. Its board and staff is committed to supporting and implementing IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) principles throughout the organization.

 General Description
ACNC’s Event Coordinator’s primary responsibilities include the planning and facilitation of new and existing annual fundraising events both online and in-person. ACNC events are designed to fulfill the organization’s mission while also raising necessary funds that support ACNC’s buildings, grounds, and staff. Explores opportunities to introduce new events and fundraisers that are mission-driven and financially sound. Events take place throughout the year, and often times require working weekend hours. This person reports to the executive director, and works closely with ACNC’s volunteer coordinator/administrative assistant and other staff members who provide event support.

Scope and Responsibilities

Fundraising and Event Coordination (90%)

• Plans and oversees annual in-person fundraising events including but not limited to the following: the holiday wreath sale, pie auction, annual t-shirt sale, Audubon Lights, Dragons and Fairies Festival, Enchanted Forest, Birdathon, with assistance from the Fundraising Committee and ACNC staff.
• Schedules food trucks/catering and musical acts
• Prepares and shares a detailed list of volunteer needs for the volunteer coordinator prior to each event.
• Submits annual food permit for all ACNC events.
• Prepares and shares a detailed list of staff needs prior to each event.
• Works with the design and marketing coordinator on event promotion materials
• Works with the executive director to create online fundraising appeals such as Warren Gives, Give Big CHQ, and Giving Tuesday

 Administrative/Other (10%)

• Assists executive director with securing event sponsorships
• Serves as the staff liaison to the fundraising committee
• Participates in ACNC’s ‘Culture of Philanthropy’ by performing tasks designated to staff
• Performs additional tasks as requested by the executive director

Minimum Qualifications

• Associates Degree or equivalent experience with event planning/coordination
• Previous experience with event planning and coordination
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage simultaneous priorities and meet deadlines
• Excellent time management skills
• Friendly, outgoing, and welcoming personality
• Proficient with Microsoft word processing and excel spreadsheets
• Self-directed, but also able to take direction from other team leaders
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively and act strategically
• Flexible and open minded
• Flexible schedule
• Organized and inspiring team leader
• Passion for contributing to a creative and professional work environment
• Committed to ACNC’s mission of connecting people to nature

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working in a non-profit, nature center, or similar setting
• Previous experience working with and or supervising volunteers

Applications accepted January 1 – March 3, 2025 for positions that run from May through August 2025.

Position

Title: Nature Education Intern
Reports to: Day Camp Director
Supervises:  Counselors in Training (CITs) and Junior Counselors (JCs)
Salary: Part-time, hourly ($15.50/hour)
Applications Accepted: January 1 – March 3, 2025
Start Date: May (more details below)
Duration: Typically through mid-August

General Description

This position is generally 35 hours per week, beginning in May and ending in August. Responsibilities include (but are not limited to): leading Discovery Walks; serving as a camp counselor through the summer; attending walks and classes led by educators and volunteers for professional development; assisting with daily operations of the nature center (including recycling, compost, cleaning, and maintenance); assisting with events such as Dragons and Festival, and assisting with trail and grounds work as needed and available.

Qualifications

• At least 18 years of age
• Interest in, comfort in, and knowledge of the natural world
• Experience working with elementary-aged children
• Must be in good physical condition, able to navigate up to three miles a day on rough terrain in variable weather conditions.
• Able to lift up to 40 lbs.

Preferences

• Enthusiasm for learning and sharing
• Familiarity with Audubon Community Nature Center
• Are planning to enter an environmental or education field
• Certified in first aid care, or at minimum, a comfort with providing basic first aid.

Details

Wage: $15.50/hour

Benefits: Accrued sick leave

Dates: May through August (exact start and end dates are somewhat negotiable).

Schedule: 25 – 40 hours/week, occasional weekends in May and June, up to 30 hours per week, usually Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Once camp starts (June 24 – August 15), a maximum of 40 hours per week, usually 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. weekdays. There may be some weeks when you are asked to work Saturday instead of Monday. You may not reach the maximum hours listed for each week.

School Credit: If you are applying for school credit, you must submit the internship requirements from your school with your application (number of hours/credit, if a project is required, if certain activities must be completed, etc.)

Discovery Walks: In May and June, and occasionally throughout the summer, ACNC offers guided walks to schools and organizations. Your job is to engage the students in meaningful learning activities along the way and to make sure you keep to a specified schedule. You receive training and observation time before you lead your first solo walk.

Summer Day Camp: Starting in late June, eight weeks of summer Day Camp begin. You assist and observe during the first week or two of camp, then lead your own groups for the remainder of the summer. Written outlines and schedules of each camp are provided. It is your job to fill the schedule with activities, lessons, and projects depending on the theme of the camp. Camps run Tuesday – Fridays. Monday is a planning or project day.

To Apply

Send a cover letter, resume, and three references to:
Audubon Community Nature Center
Attn: Katie Finch, Day Camp Director
1600 Riverside Road
Jamestown, NY 14701 or to kfinch@auduboncnc.org.

Application Deadline: Monday, March 3, 2025

Position

Title: Invasive Species Management Intern

Applications accepted through March 10, 2025 for two seasonal, part-time positions that run from early June through late August.

General Description

ACNC Seasonal Invasive Species Management Interns work onsite to remove Water Chestnut, an aquatic invasive species. Invasive Management Interns will work with the ACNC Volunteer Coordinator to recruit volunteers and oversee all hand-pulls and treatments of Water Chestnut within the ACNC property. Work to remove additional aquatic and land-based invasive species may also take place.

Additional responsibilities include properly maintaining ACNC equipment and cleaning up after hand-pulls. Assistants will also be asked to take photos of their progress, document the number of plants removed, and present an end-of-year synopsis to the Executive Director of ACNC.

Invasive species identification and removal information to be provided at the beginning of the season. Prior experience is not required, but is preferred.

Qualifications

• At least 18 years of age
• Able to work independently
• Understanding of and appreciation for safe methods to work around and in water
• In good physical condition, willing and able to work outside in all weather and in up to 4.5 feet of water while wearing chest waders
• Enthusiasm for learning and sharing information with others

Preferences

• Familiarity with Audubon Community Nature Center
• Experience overseeing, and or working with volunteers
• Detail oriented
• Previous Experience removing Water Chestnut, a floating aquatic non-native invasive species
• Experience and or comfortability using kayaks and or canoes
• Interest in, comfort in, and knowledge of the natural world

Details

Wage: $15.50/hour, no benefits
Timeframe: June through August; Hours will vary based on scheduled activities, weather, and intensity of Water Chestnut infestation.
Schedule: 200 – 250 hours in total. Some weeks of work will be more intense than others based on weather and scheduled volunteer Water Chestnut pulls.

To Apply

Please send a resume, cover letter, and three references to:
ACNC: Invasive Species Management Project
1600 Riverside Road
Jamestown, NY 14701
or email info@auduboncnc.org with “Application for Seasonal Invasive Species Management Interns” as the subject line.

Application deadline: Monday, March 10, 2025

Special thanks to Northern Allegheny Conservation Association (NACA) for providing grant funds to support this program for ACNC. To learn more about NACA, visit warrengives.org/2024/02/northern-allegheny-conservation-association