Reports to: Assistant Executive Director

Direct Reports: Gift Store Store Coordinator, Volunteers and Seasonal Interns

Status:  Full-time Exempt Status with Benefits (minimum 40 hours per week) at-will employment.

Hours: Primary work hours 8:00am - 4:30pm, Thursday through Monday, some evenings required for special programs

Location: Big Bear Discovery Center, 40971 Hwy 38/North Shore Drive, Fawnskin, CA 

Introduction to the Organization

The Southern California Mountains Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes connecting communities to our public lands is the key to their survival. We mobilize individuals to inspire and engage in environmental citizenship. The Southern California Mountains Foundation supports youth development through conservation initiatives integrating environmental education, training and hands-on service projects;  protects our natural resources through adult and family-led programming; and provides interpretive services that focus on outdoor recreation, responsible use, and stewardship of our natural environment.  The Southern California Mountains Foundation consists of 45 full-time staff,  75-100 part-time employees and 550 volunteers.  We achieve our mission through seven programs: (1) Urban Conservation Corps of the Inland Empire, (2) Big Bear Discovery Center, (3) Off-Highway Vehicles, (4) Fire Lookouts, (5) National Children’s Forest, (6) Music in the Mountains and (7) Big Bear Trails. 

Introduction to The Big Bear Discovery Center

The Big Bear Discovery Center program is a Southern California Mountains Foundation program that supports one of the main visitor centers for the San Bernardino National Forest. Opened in 1998, the Big Bear Discovery Center is the largest visitor center in the Big Bear Valley that welcomes more than 100,000 yearly visitors to experience weekly interpretive programs and educational information about the Forest. The Discovery Center hosts special events like outdoor concerts, theater productions, and nighttime interpretive programs in the Big Bear Discovery Center Amphitheater. The goal of the Discovery Center Program is to ensure that every visitor is able to enjoy and heighten their awareness to become more knowledgeable and responsible caretakers of the San Bernardino National Forest. The Mountains Foundation accomplishes this through providing interpretive programs and assisting the Forest Service in providing information services.  

Job Description

The Discovery Center Manager is responsible for managing all operations at the center in partnership with the Forest Service. The manager provides direction, coordination, and consultation for all volunteer, staff and intern functions within the Big Bear Discovery Center to 1) Strengthen public or private programs and 2) Involve a community of supporters as described in the duties outlined below.  The Discovery Center Manager is responsible for and staffing all educational and interpretive programs for the Big Bear Discovery Center as well as managing gift store operations. The manager will recruit, train, supervise and mentor volunteers and interns in order to provide quality information services and educational programs at the Discovery Center. The manager will be responsible for providing all the listed program services in the absence of volunteers or interns. The manager will be required to attend and participate in community meetings, give presentations to local groups and organize and lead fundraising efforts for Discovery Center programs. The Manager will be responsible for oversight of the Music in the Mountains fundraiser including leading volunteer recruitment, outreach for sponsorship opportunities, logistics for the event and onstage announcements. 

Job Duties:

• Oversee Discovery Center operations in partnership with Forest staff.
• Assure Visitor Center front desk and educational programs are fully staffed, step into those roles when needed.
• Provide training and oversee staff, interns and volunteers on education programs to be presented at the Discovery Center. 
• Interpretive display management - updates and care for all interpretive exhibits around Discovery Center property, ensure educational information aligns with interpretive standards. 
• Oversee the recruitment, training and management of volunteer participants at the Discovery Center. Provide ongoing support and guidance for volunteers. Ensure volunteers are trained to support the various areas of operations, to include visitor service areas, exhibits and education, special events, development and administration.
• Recruit, train, and manage seasonal internship positions. 
• Develop and maintain relationships with community organizations and professional associations. Prepare presentations to build community support for the mission of the Discovery Center and SCMF as a whole.
• Participate in fundraising efforts to support Discovery Center programs, host events at the Discovery Center and in the community to promote fundraising activities. 
• Develop an annual calendar of events and assure all activities are executed at the Discovery Center, including eco tours, school programs and interpretive programs. Handle telephone, voicemail, written, and email inquiries for information regarding tours and group visits.
• Author written communications such as newsletters, blogs, social media, press releases, instructions, or other media as appropriate.
• Lead volunteer advisory council. Ensure advisory council activities are aligned with the mission and vision of SCMF & USFS.
• Collaborate with other SCMF volunteer programs, including Fire Lookouts, OHV, Trails, UCC, and Restoration. 
• Identify community outreach opportunities for the organization such as fairs, festivals, local markets and organizations. Maintain a schedule of opportunities and other SCMF events. 
• Remain current in general office technology. Train volunteers to use office and specialized equipment when appropriate.
• Coordinate facility management efforts for SCMF staff & volunteers to maintain the physical environment so it’s viable for the intended purpose to include; Nature Discovery Zone, SCMF offices, gift store and interpretive areas of BBDC. Communicate facility management efforts to Forest staff. 
• Manage on-site and online gift store operations, to include training staff and volunteers on professional store operations. 
• Oversee the gift store POS system, assist with inventory, stock shelves when needed and ensure cleanliness of work and storage areas. Oversee and guide Gift Store Coordinator on compiling merchandise order requests and work to fill orders. 
• Assure  accurate records are maintained on accomplishments and interpretive program participation and reported annually.  
• Maintain inventory of office and program supplies, place supply orders as needed.
• Develop, update and maintain Discovery Center Operations Manual in cooperation with Forest staff. 
• Lead onsite efforts for Music in the Mountains fundraising event by scheduling and managing volunteer operations, assisting with distribution of marketing materials to local groups, outreach to the community for sponsorship opportunities, logistics for the event,  onstage announcements. and other duties as assigned. 
• Custodial duties as needed to keep up with visitor center operations. 
• Perform other related and peripheral duties as required and necessary for the successful performance of this job.

Competencies:

• Demonstrate ability to work effectively and tactfully with a wide range of individuals, personalities, and public agencies, establishing collaborative partnerships and developing teams.
• Demonstrated leadership ability and experience building and managing successful team efforts.
• A passion for the personal, social, and economic benefits of outdoor recreation. Knowledge of the Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino Mountains and surrounding  geography preferred.
• Positive can-do attitude. Personable and outgoing with excellent communication skills. Ability to professionally represent programs and projects.
• Public Speaking: Good at speaking to both individuals and large groups of people.
• Manage and Lead: Ability to both lead and manage large groups of people of all ages. 
• Organized and Self-Sufficient: Excellent organizational skills and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Excellent time management and project management skills.
• Computer Savvy: working knowledge of contemporary technology, digital photography, file sharing, social media (Facebook, twitter, Instagram) and working knowledge of contemporary office technology including word, excel, Google applications and the internet. 
• Problem Solver: Ability to analyze situations, develop strategies, and implement solutions.
• Versatile and Flexible; time will be spent both inside doing desk work and outside.

Compensation: 

This is a full-time exempt position with a work schedule of Thursday through Monday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Flexibility in work hours is required and will  include evenings as needed for nighttime programs and concerts. 

• Salary Range: $70,000 - $75,000
• Benefits include health, dental and vision insurance, and 403(b) options
• Vacation and sick time earned on accrual basis
• Paid Holidays

The Southern California Mountains Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.