Careers

Visitor Center Assistant

• Employment Status: Full Time (40 hours/week)
• This job is onsite in Donalsonville, GA.
• Please e-mail resume and cover letter to:  hiram@mcfaddennature.org and kim@mcfaddennature.org
• Applications accepted until position is filled

Organization Overview

In 1999, Pat McFadden established the Lokchasassa Wilderness Project, a 1,260-acre Seminole County protected area for the wetlands, native plants, and native wildlife. This Project was renamed after he died in 2008 and is now known as the McFadden Nature Center. The Nature Center Museum is planned to open in the spring of 2027. www.mcfaddennaturecenter.com

Mission

To share and care for the land, air, water, and animals entrusted to us through meaningful environmental education, balanced conservation, and preservation, for the benefit of our community now and future generations.

Vision

Our vision is to share a responsibility to conserve and preserve our natural places and enhance appreciation and love for the land, water, and air that we share; to spark curiosity and joyfully share the quiet peace that comes from time and close attention to nature and our own human spirit; to link actions to hearts; to be a place to grow…for nature, for people, for community, for ideas, and for hope.

Values

• Stewardship – Pass it on. Considering what comes next in conservation and preservation, that envisions a sustainable future for generations to come. 
• Educate – To cultivate curiosity and create opportunities for study, observation, research, awareness, and lifelong learning.
• Tranquility – Encouraging quietness, peace, and harmony for enjoyment and health.
• Respect – For the bigger picture that includes but is not limited to, land, water, air, farming, plants, animals, birds, reptiles, and insects. 
• Community – Sharing responsibility through connections and partnerships for our watershed and land, whether it’s in our backyards or farmlands or forests.
• Passion – Excellence and enthusiasm in all we do, to the best of our ability. Asking ourselves – what is the next best thing?

Occupational Summary

This position is responsible for a wide range of guest service elements and maintenance of the McFadden Visitor Center.This role will assist team members in supporting events and maintaining cleanliness across the property.

• Visitor Engagement – Welcome, assist, and sign in visitors, campers, and guests of all ages as they explore and participate in various activities.
• Customer Service – Serve the public, addressing and resolving visitor concerns. Communicate well with visitors of all ages and abilities. Orienting guests to the McFadden property.  Accepting payment from guests who want to rent a golf cart and giving clear instructions to guests on golf cart safety.
• Daily Duties – Selling gift shop products using point-of-sale software, assisting with retail camp store inventory, disc golf equipment, scorecards, golf cart rentals, assisting with RV and camping reservations online and in person, and assisting with special events. Ensure that golf carts are clean, plugged in after they are returned, and report maintenance issues or repairs that the golf carts need.  Making sure trash cans are emptied daily around the property.  Mowing, weed eating, watering gardens, and other duties as needed.
• Team Collaboration – Work with fellow McFadden team members to maintain the Visitor Center building, clean bathrooms at the Visitor Center and Canopy Oaks Place RV park and other bathrooms as needed.  Work with others to maintain golf carts, disc golf course, trails, camping areas, pasture, and grounds around the center.
• Administrative – Assist with reporting weekly sales. Keeping track of and documenting routine maintenance on the visitor center, golf carts, RV park, camping areas, disc golf course,and grounds around the Welcome Center.  Opening and closing the Visitor Center and other facilities as necessary.

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service skills, professional demeanor, and excellent phone etiquette.
• Commitment, reliability, and organizational skills.
• Experience in customer service or public-facing roles.
• Experience with landscaping equipment and willingness to learn new equipment.  Especially mowers, weed-trimmers, chain saws, 4-wheeler, and other landscaping equipment.
• Experience with herbicide spraying and landscape irrigation helpful.
• Enthusiasm for environmental education and sustainability.
• Willingness to learn various conservation practices or land management techniques.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work with and build relationships with volunteers, community members, and neighboring property owners.
• Ability to read work orders, equipment maintenance manuals, employee handbooks, records,  maps, policies, labels, informational documentation, directions, methods, and procedures. Requires the ability to complete daily work reports, notifications, and documentation.
• Must be computer literate, with knowledge of Microsoft Office, emailing, and some social media management (answering customer questions that come through social media sites).  Must be willing to be trained in other software as needed.
• Ability to walk, stand for long periods, bend, stoop, push, pull, lift, climb, kneel, crouch, balance, finger dexterity, grasp, feel, and have moderate eye/hand/foot coordination levels.
• Ability to assist with moving downed trees and tree limbs.
• Must be able to work from heights, with necessary safety equipment, as may be needed.
• Must be able to properly lift 50 pounds.  Must be able to carry 25 pounds for a short distance.
• Must be able to work outside in a woodland environment including hot or cold weather, with bugs, and poisonous vines.
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Must pass a background check.
• A willingness to learn new things and be trained in new tasks, skills and areas as needed is a must.
• Must comply with McFadden Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.

Experience

• At least 2 years of prior work experience (any field of work).  Related work experience preferred.
• Practical knowledge of using Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Calendar, and Teams) and understanding basic point-of-sale software.
• Small landscaping equipment experience desired.

Time Commitment

• 40 Hours per week.  Time of day and day of week will vary with seasons and other variables.
• Saturdays and Sundays are required every week.
• Some holidays are required.
• Promptness is required.
• Willingness to alter hours to meet the needs of the job.

Salary

• Salary range depending on experience.

Benefits include

• Earned Paid Time Off and Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays:
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Eve Day ½ day
  • Christmas Day
  • New Year’s Day
• Medical Insurance 50/50
• Accidental Death Insurance

We’re building a team of passionate people committed to fulfilling our mission and vision while inviting guests to escape into nature. If you are looking for a purposeful career in conservation, conservation education, contributing to meaningful environmental conservation, visitor recreation, and educational programs, in a beautiful setting, then this is the opportunity for you.