Beach Operations Lead

Who We Are

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the nation’s premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org

Hourly Rate: $25-27/hour

Hours per week: 40

Job Classification: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Location: Onsite, Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge

What You’ll Do

The Beach Operations Lead at Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge will assist the Refuge Manager with the distribution of over 6,000 passes for Over Sand Vehicles (OSVs) and the day-to-day operation of the Wauwinet Gatehouse, which is open May through October and for off-season distribution of permit sales.

You’ll also assist with the day-to-day operations of the 1,100-acre wildlife refuge in Nantucket, which includes Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the Trustees through a management agreement; a partnership with Nantucket Conservation Foundation, who own the property on which the gatehouse is located; and multiple neighbors of the Trustees including inholdings, property donors, and their families as well as a homeowners association in Wauwinet.

 Specifically, you’ll:

 Operations

• Assist the Refuge Manager with leading the team to implement property vision and drive performance goals that are aligned with statewide, regional, and local strategies and key performance indicators.
• Manage gatehouse operations and visitor experience.
• Partner with the Refuge Manager to hire, train, and manage seasonal and gatehouse staff.
• Ensure excellent recruitment, training, management, and recognition of staff and volunteers.
• Help the refuge manager lead, inspire, motivate, and mentor a diverse team by creating an inclusive team environment that fosters individual commitment, enthusiasm, and confidence and ensures effective teamwork, collaboration, and communication.
• Model and set a culture of implementing the core values of The Trustees and how we work.
• Communicate public access through social media.
• Identify and communicate the resources needed for delivery of an exceptional visitor experience (both financial and human)
• Communicate opportunities and challenges to key staff, volunteers, and internal and external stakeholders.
• Create an engaging visitor experience and audience engagement plans that grow the involvement of members and visitors, including programs, events, and tours.
• May schedule and lead visitor tours of the Refuge.
• Look for and facilitate the implementation of process improvements within operations.
• Act as go-to support for key operations.

Business and Financial Performance Management

• Identify new opportunities for enterprise growth that generate income, expanding visitor amenities and ensuring the optimum use of all assets.
• Oversee accounting of Gatehouse operations and general Gatehouse business management.
• Oversee critical database operations to prevent loss of data.

 Community Building

• Oversee management of visitor expectations around evolving organizational goals.
• Develop systematic approach and processes for ongoing proactive community engagement.
• Foster authentic and proactive community relations and local partnerships that invite deeper local engagement and support from the community.
• Create and steward partnerships within the Nantucket community to expand access, develop new audiences, and continue to create an accessible welcoming space to all.
• Serve as a liaison for the Trustees’ participation in community-partner relationships and local initiatives such as the Nantucket Biodiversity Initiative (NBI).

 Cultural and Natural Resources-Ecology

• Support the Islands Ecologist and the shorebird monitoring program.
• Support the Manager of Coastal Communications by providing reports and documentation with photographs of refuge.

This is a full-time (40 hours/week), non-exempt position reporting to the Refuge Manager.

What You’ll Need

Skills and Experience

• 3-5 years of relevant experience
• 3+ years of management experience (preferred)
• Experience with social media management and communicating sensitive information to the public
• Bachelor's Degree in Ecology, Marine Conservation, Forestry, Recreation Management or related field (preferred)
• Proven track record of strong management skills and the ability to lead a team across multiple departments
• Strong customer service, communication, and organizational skills
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor both inside and outside of work as you engage with the public
• Strong knowledge of business administration
• Proficiency in Microsoft, Excel, scheduling, and other technology
• Advanced familiarity with local coastal resilience initiatives
• Ability to navigate the balance between public enjoyment and conservation
• Ability to work independently and with teams
• Willing to operate Trustees vehicles
• An eye for detail, as well as the ability to look at the ‘big picture’ and be able to guide staff and beach towards a common goal. 
• Additional experience/background in the following areas is a plus: travel/tourism, service industry, teambuilding, and outdoor facilities
• Chainsaw and basic carpentry skills (preferred)
• Two years of supervisory experience in a service industry or customer-facing role
• CPR and First Aid training preferred (training provided)

 Eligibility Criteria

• Ability to work weekends and some overnights and accommodate flexible programming hours
• Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment
• A valid driver’s license, as well as a satisfactory driving record as outlined in The Trustees’ driving policy 

Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.

Want to learn more? Set up an informational call with a member of our People Team by emailing people@thetrustees.org.

Your Benefits

• Sick time: 80 hours
• Vacation time: 15 days per year
• Early release time: 36 hours per year
• Floating holidays/personal days: 15 Floating Holidays (13 observed holidays; 2 floating)
• Health insurance: You are eligible to participate in the Trustees health insurance benefit via Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). BCBS also offer additional benefits, such as fitness reimbursement and rewards for healthy habits.
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave
• Life Insurance
• 401k
• Employee Assistance Program: Free access to a confidential service that helps employees and their communities with personal and work-related issues, such as mental health support, counseling, and financial advice.
• Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admissions and memberships to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions.
• Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns.
• Day of Wonder: Spend one workday per year to exploring a Trustees property
• Day of Service: Spend one workday per year to helping with a project at a Trustees property

Equal Opportunity and Diversity:

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.   

The Trustees commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.