Manager- PA Wilds Conservation Shop at Leonard Harrison State Park

Organization Overview

The PA Wilds Center is a regional nonprofit whose mission is to integrate conservation and economic development to strengthen and inspire communities in the Pennsylvania Wilds. The Pennsylvania Wilds, a 13-county region of rural Pennsylvania, has seen decades of population decline, and the PA Wilds Center works with stakeholders to lead a landscape-level strategy to use the region’s vast public lands, unique community character, and vibrant maker culture to grow the outdoor recreation economy as a way to diversify local economies, attract new investments, improve quality of life, inspire stewardship, and attract and retain the region’s working age population. 

PA Wilds Conservation Shops are gift shops run by the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship (PA Wilds Center), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our physical and online stores focus on locally made and value-added products so visitors can take home a piece of the Pennsylvania Wilds while making a difference! PA Wilds Conservation Shop purchases have a ripple effect on the local economy while also supporting our nonprofit mission to integrate conservation and economic development in a way that strengthens and inspires communities in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Summary

The PA Wilds Conservation Shop Team is considered the front line to a positive and memorable experience for Leonard Harrison State Park (LHGS) guests. Charged as Community Connectors, their role is to enhance a visitor’s experience by providing unsurpassed, friendly customer service relative to the PA Wilds Conservation Shop, answering general park questions, and encouraging the exploration of the surrounding communities in the PA Wilds region.  

The Conservation Shop Manager is a lead Community Connector responsible for overseeing the day-to-day shop operations. This position requires adaptability, strong organizational and communication skills, and collaboration. The manager will be responsible for recruiting, hiring, and training the Community Connector team. They will foster an environment of leadership, learning, and teamwork promoting knowledge of the PA Wilds region and the PA Wilds experience internally and with all visitors. Management will work closely with other Conservation Shop managers and staff and will maintain and build relationships with the value chain of Wilds Cooperative vendors, curating an exciting and robust product assortment. 

Due to the seasonal nature of visitation at Leonard Harrison State Park, the manager must be willing to work a flexible schedule and hours. The gift shop will operate under limited hours in the off-peak season. As a full-time, full-year employee, management will perform some essential duties remotely during the off-peak season. The duties will include but are not limited to recruitment of vendors to the Wilds Cooperative of PA, working with other Conservation Shop managers on new product designs, special organizational projects, and creating annual budgets.

Interviews will be conducted in February with an anticipated start in early March. 

Essential Job Functions

• Oversee the daily shop operations.
• Champion the PA Wilds mission, brand, and Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania (WCO)
  
• Act as the store’s representative and set an example for the staff
• Ensure all employees adhere to the organization’s policies and guidelines
• Possess strong interpersonal skills
• Create and foster methods for internal communication
• Must engage directly with customers either by telephone, electronically, or face-to-face
• May be required to present PA Wilds programs to the public
• Evaluate employee performance and identify hiring and training needs
• Recruit new talent and offer support and training to all employees
  
• Manage shop schedule according to the payroll budget
• Confirm the accuracy of timesheets (using the cloud-based application) and submit to the payroll department for bi-weekly processing
• Maintain a visitor-focused team. Accurately answer visitor's questions about the park, exhibits, PA Wilds, and surrounding communities. Provide insight into shop products and their creators
• Must handle and resolve customer complaints
• Work closely with the Sustainable Commerce Director (SCD) and Chief Operations Officer (COO) to develop budgets and achieve target outcomes
• Motivate and inspire the team to achieve sales goals
• Track the progress of weekly, monthly, and annual goals
• Identify and facilitate opportunities to increase efficiency and productivity
• Develop and maintain relationships with vendors and producers
• Work closely with the Value Chain Manager on WCO membership recruiting
• Work with Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Director (EED) to create and implement professional development opportunities for Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania producers
• Develop and curate product designs using the PA Wilds logo in partnership with SCD
• Manage shop inventory ordering from the WCO and other responsible sources
• Submit purchase orders within the allotted budget
• Process invoices per policy 
  
• Store maintenance and merchandising
• Prepare merchandise for purchase, and process customer transactions
• Participate in conducting physical inventory as needed
• Must maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices
  
• Perform all opening and closing procedures- Must open and close cash registers and perform tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, and coupons, balancing cash drawers, and preparing nightly deposits per company policy
• Loss prevention and store audits
• Identifies problems with working conditions and reports them to management
  
• Assist with PA Wilds Center programs and projects as needed
• Must be able to remain in a non-stationary position 50% of the time
• Frequently moves stock weighing up to 40 pounds across the facility from the receiving/stocking area to the retail space

Nonessential  Functions

• Provide feedback as needed to management. 
• Direct requests and unresolved issues to the designated resource as needed.
• Frequently clean shelves, counters, and tables, and reset merchandise displays.
• Occasionally ascends/descends a ladder to stock products and supplies. 

Job Specifications

• High school diploma, general education degree or equivalent, OR current high school diploma
• Management experience (in a retail environment is preferred)
• Knowledge of customer service principles and practices
• Knowledge of e-commerce platforms
• Familiarity with POS operating systems
• Knowledge of both Windows and IOS
• The ability to work without supervision
• The ability to work collaboratively
• Willing to work a flexible schedule of days, hours, weekends, and holidays

Key Competencies

• Interpersonal, listening and communication skills - verbal and written 
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Customer service orientation
• Adaptable
• Self-starter
• Multi-tasker
• Stress tolerance
• Knowledge of the local community and the PA Wilds region

This job description is subject to change at any time. 

This position is Full-Time, Salary, Exempt.

Benefits: Health insurance; Paid Time Off (PTO) and floating holidays as reflected in the Employee Manual.

The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship is a qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness program employer.

Due to the seasonal nature of visitation, schedules include a variety of hours encompassing days, weekends, and holidays.

PA Wilds Center is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

PA Wilds Conservation Shops are gift shops run by the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship (PA Wilds Center), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our physical and online stores focus on locally made and value-added products so visitors can take home a piece of the Pennsylvania Wilds while making a difference! PA Wilds Conservation Shop purchases have a ripple effect on the local economy while supporting our nonprofit mission to integrate conservation and economic development in a way that strengthens and inspires communities in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Salary : $45,000