16 Jun
Conference and Retreat Manager
Washington, Bellingham , 98225 Bellingham USA

Vacancy expired!

Summary of Position

North Cascades Institute is seeking a dynamic, energetic leader to be its new Conference and Retreat Manager. Working from the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center on Diablo Lake in the heart of North Cascades National Park, the Conference and Retreat Manager is responsible for managing NCI’s Conference and Retreat programs. We expect the Conference and Retreat Manager to build upon our strong reputation as a leading place-based educational institution with broad regional and national reach.

Candidates must have a strong connection to, and passion for, the Institute’s mission to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature. The ideal candidate is a creative, energetic, professional, cooperative team player. They possess a strong work ethic with motivation to grow professionally as a key staff member of a mission-driven organization.

Supervised by the Learning Center Director, this position works closely with Institute staff, partners and contractors to support a wide array of youth, family, and adult educational programs. The Institute strives to further our identity as an institution that welcomes and embraces diversity in community and curriculum, works to redress historical inequities, and seeks a diverse pool of candidates.

Position Location

The work location for the Conference and Retreat Manager is at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center located in the heart of the North Cascades National Park near Diablo, WA. This region of North America has been inhabited by native tribes for over 9,000 years and continues to be a meaningful location for thousands of visitors each year. Opened in 2005, the Learning Center is a collaboration between North Cascades Institute, the National Park Service, and Seattle City Light, the public utility that owns and operates the hydroelectric project that includes Diablo Lake and provides electricity to the residents of Seattle. The Learning Center is approximately 24 miles from a gas station and private housing and 40 miles from the nearest grocery store.

The manager is responsible for developing and implementing a plan to generate earned income through the use of the Environmental Learning Center (ELC) as a conference site to support our other mission based programs. Typical conference and retreat events include staff retreats, luncheons, school programs, wellness retreats, educational conferences, weddings, and medical classes. This position coordinates and manages all aspects of the event from the initial client contact through the execution, billing, and feedback for events. They supervise the conference and retreat coordinator and collaborate with program managers to oversee staffing of events. They work with the facilities, kitchen team, and education staff to ensure programs achieve the goals of the institute, while also tailoring the events to the needs of the guests. In addition to program operations and instructional duties, the Conference and Retreat Manager provides instructional support for other Institute programs, including adult and family programs, Base Camp, etc. The Conference and Retreat Manager will also be responsible for occasional overnight supervision of the ELC campus under the direction of the Learning Center Director.

Qualifications

Commitment To Mission And Values

Successful candidates will have a commitment to the mission of North Cascades Institute and the organization’s effort to promote diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the Institute’s culture, work and partnering relationships to ensure that the Institute and its programs are welcoming, relevant and accessible.

Required Qualifications (Competencies)

● Professional experience with program management/coordination and/or hospitality

● Experience working with a database system (such as Salesforce)

● Ability to communicate kindly, clearly, and productively through email, in person, and over the phone or TTY

● Strong customer service skills

● Experience working successfully in teams

● Ability to accommodate a varied work schedule including some evenings, nights, and weekends

● Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and ages

● Ability to work overnight supervision shifts, on average once a week

Preferred Qualifications

● Teaching or leading programs for Residential education centers, camps, schools or similar facilities

● Hospitality and travel coordination

● Supervision of staff

● Current Wilderness First Responder certification or higher

● Fluency in two or more languages, Spanish preference

Other Requirements

● Ability to comply with a smoke- and drug-free work environment

● Valid driver’s license and driving record check must have no more than one moving violation in the past three years, no DUI, reckless driving, or serious moving violations, etc.

● Final offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check that may include employment history, national criminal background check, national sex offender registry search and a driving history check

Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Program Coordination, Development and Instruction

● Oversees the development, planning, implementation of Conferences and Retreats

● Coordinates program logistics with client and necessary Institute operational and program staff

● Coordinates all operations and production of conferences and retreats with NCI administrative, facilities and kitchen staff

● Collaborates with program staff to manage these programs effectively and efficiently

● Manages instruction of programs

● Oversees collection of feedback from program participants and staff, and evaluation of programs

Host

● Serves as a host, instructing naturalist programs, field guide, etc. for conferences and retreats and other Institute programs as required

● Responsible for the set up and clean up for each conference and retreat

● Develops, instructs and evaluates lessons in natural and cultural history, science and other subjects for youth and adult programs at the Learning Center

Administration

● Manages pricing, contracts and invoicing for conference and retreat programs

● Develops and implements procedures for program administration and customer service (e.g., scheduling, evaluations, liability release forms, etc.)

● Tracks income and expenses for conferences and retreats, assists Learning Center Director with preparation of annual program budgets

● Keeps accurate and timely details for programs in the Salesforce database

Sales and Marketing for Conference and Retreat Program

● Works with clients to facilitate conference and retreat sales and successful programs

● Effectively communicates features, advantages and benefits of the facility

● Understands and articulates services, programs, pricing structure and contracts

● Negotiates and creates contracts, schedules conferences/retreats and coordinates details with ELC staff

● Ensures fulfillment through follow-up communications with clients

● Tracks sales and earned income through Salesforce database

● Collaborates with the marketing team to create marketing content and materials, publicity materials and distribution plans

● Outreach to prospective clients

● Represents the Institute at conferences, festivals and community events as appropriate

● Auxiliary work as ELC contact for marketing includes updating event posters, posting to social media, and other projects as needed

General

● Assists in all facets of Learning Center programs and operations (e.g., educational programs, maintenance, host) as needed

● Participates in Institute’s program, risk management and Learning Center teams as needed

● Supports NCI’s risk management program by sharing campus IC responsibilities with other staff, ensuring that CR programs meet all RM protocols, and by contributing to overall risk management oversight

● Participates in strategic planning, inter-office communications and other duties as assigned by the Learning Center Director and/or Executive Director

● Supervises, trains, and collaborates with conference and retreat coordinator and program instructors as assigned

● Supports equity initiatives at North Cascades Institute and actively contribute to NCI as a community of belonging that is welcoming and accessible to everyone. Develop a personal equity, diversity, and inclusion related goal(s) and track progress towards your goal(s) with your supervisor.

Compensation, Benefits and Housing

Salary range is $43,000-$49,000 depending on experience. This is a regular, full-time, exempt position. We offer a competitive compensation package; benefits include paid time-off, medical/dental insurance, short and long-term disability, tax-deferred annuity and defined contribution retirement plans.

Institute housing may be available for rent. Pets and smoking are not allowed on-site, in NCI housing or on field programs.

Start Date

August 1, 2021

Application Deadline

Review of applications will begin immediately. Position will remain open until filled. Ideal start date is August 1, 2021.

To Apply

Please apply online on our website at: http://ncascades.atsondemand.com/

Complete the online application and upload a cover letter and resume.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce is a high priority at North Cascades Institute. The Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, military, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, citizenship or any other basis prohibited by law in any of its policies or programs.

About North Cascades Institute

North Cascades Institute's mission is to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature. Since 1986, we have helped connect people, nature and community through science, art, literature and the hands-on study of natural and cultural history. Our goal is to help people of all ages and backgrounds experience and enjoy the mountains, rivers, forests, people and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest – so all will care for and protect this special place.

North Cascades Institute is a respected leader among U.S. environmental education organizations, and we believe that sustainable communities are built on healthy environments, vibrant economies and social equity. The Institute is in sound financial health with a $4 million budget and strong reserves, and 15 four-star ratings with Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

Vacancy expired!


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