Team Lead, Adventure Guides
Organization Description:
Since 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) has served as the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, collaborating with the Presidio Trust, partners, donors, and the community to support the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The GGNRA stretches across three Bay Area counties north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge and includes iconic places such as Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, Alcatraz Island, Crissy Field, Mori Point, Lands End, and the Presidio of San Francisco.
The Parks Conservancy engages at the intersection of national park sites, local communities, social justice, and climate resilience. Collaborating with partners, our staff are dedicated to enhancing public awareness and providing volunteer and educational opportunities in the parks. We are park builders, caretakers, ambassadors and educators, all working to connect people to parks in support of our vision Parks for All Forever. Join us.
Department Description:
Conservancy Youth Programs prioritize individuals, groups and communities that national parks and conservation organizations have failed to previously engage. Our programs encourage new generations to become bold leaders for thriving parks, healthy communities, and a more environmentally just society. Our programs erase boundaries between communities and the environment and are community driven and inspired. Programs focus on learning about social and environmental issues and building leadership skills that can contribute to positive change. Programs engage young people across the Golden Gate National Parks and beyond in parks, schools, communities, and virtual spaces. Youth Programs span multiple counties, through a variety of programs and partnerships. Youth Programs include programs through the Crissy Field Center, OneTam Collaborative, Parks Nurseries, and in Conservation/Stewardship, from Marin to San Mateo. The main headquarters located at the Crissy Field Center at the Youth Campus in the Presidio, San Francisco.
Through a series of connecting pathways, bluff landscapes, dynamic overlooks, and social gathering places, the Tunnel Tops is set to become a central place to meet and learn, to experience, and to forge new forms of community and events. The 14-acres of new parkland will include attractions – such as trails, views, gardens, and a much-anticipated two-acre outdoor adventure area for youth and families called the “Outpost.” Adjacent to the Outpost, is its companion, a new “Field Station,” a dynamic space filled with a wondrous abundance of real things such as field specimens, artifacts, and tools.
Position Overview:
This is a non-exempt, full-time, benefitted, 40-hour/week position. The term of this assignment is 7 months, ending on November 8, 2024.
The Team Lead, Adventure Guides is responsible for supporting and coaching all Adventure Guide interns. The Team-Lead and interns welcome, orient, and engage visitors of all ages and backgrounds to the Tunnel Tops and Presidio. The Team-Lead supports meaningful park adventures and provide a positive and informative visitor experience. The Team-Lead helps provide a bridge for visitors to the Presidio who may experience barriers to access connections to the outdoors. As the initial point of contact at the Tunnel Tops Outpost and Field Station, this position is a very active job where you will be on your feet and outdoors much of the day moving between locations while supervising interns throughout the day. This position requires a 5-day work week Wednesday through Sunday. This position is a 7-month term starting in April and ending in early November.
This position also interacts with children and youth, families, and community groups to help increase access to the park and to assist in facilitating unique park experiences. There will be an emphasis on serving communities traditionally underrepresented in national parks. Extensive training and park orientation are provided to help develop knowledge and understanding of space and mentorship to support interns.
Reports To: Adventure Guide Manager
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Supervision
- Act as primary role model for interns in all aspects of their day-to-day duties and responsibilities.
- Model active, positive, engaging and exceptional customer service when interacting with the public and interns.
- Support intern while on duty by answering questions, guiding and promoting the Outpost and Field Station features.
- Monitor interns’ needs, attendance, and performance.
- Provide feedback to interns on daily performance.
- Support interns in setting and tracking goals.
Working with Management
- Work closely with manager to organize team schedule, oversee coverage, and support during weekly trainings.
- Communicate with manager about interns’ attendance and performance issues.
- Support and promote Conservancy safety standards.
- Other duties assigned by manager.
Visitor Service
- Answer all questions with courtesy, accuracy, and appropriateness.
- Assess and effectively address each visitor’s unique and personalized needs.
- Proactively and warmly welcomes everyone who visits the Tunnel Tops.
- Greet and orient visitors at the Field Station, Outpost, and broader park
- Propose and/or develop new activities and experiences for visitors.
Daily Operations
- Maintain positive and respectful relationships with all partners including the Parks Conservancy colleagues, National Parks Service, and Presidio Trust employees.
- Record observations and insights and provide those notes and feedback daily.
- Organize and maintain outpost equipment including setting up in the morning and putting away in the evening.
- Provide exceptional customer service-oriented approach when interacting with the public that is consistent, professional, friendly, and informative.
Facilitation and programming
- Work alongside Presidio Trust and National Parks Service partners to enhance visitors’ experience when visiting Field Station and Outpost.
- Support events put on by park and community partners at the Field Station and Outpost.
- Support community and public engagement events.
Safety and security
- Assist visitors and staff during emergencies to ensure safety is always the top priority.
- Communicate quickly and accurately to appropriate parties regarding visitor and employee safety, park resources, facilities and assets.
- Communicate directly to Daily Site Leader and emergency services when there are immediate emergencies or threats to visitors and co-workers. Notify manager as soon thereafter as possible.
- Supports with opening and closing of the Crissy Field Center buildings during non-operational hours
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Leadership: exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well. Passionate and committed to providing and delivering outstanding service/support to all visitors and staff. Interested in connecting others, especially those who are inexperienced with outdoor experiences.
- Commitment to education, youth development, and social justice: Awareness of environmental justice issues. Can make connections between environmental and social issues. Supports positive community interactions and inclusiveness.
- Interested in working with communities historically excluded from environmental experiences and careers in the Bay Area, including low income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities.
- Ability to connect with diverse groups of youth, especially middle school and high school aged youth. Ability to supervise, mentor and coach 16-24 year olds.
- Supports team and program goals, balances team and individual responsibilities. Ability to collaborate and work effectively with park partners and team. Receives direction and feedback in a constructive manner while also giving feedback for interns.
- Good Judgement : Able to analyze calculated risks while prioritizing the safety of both staff, youth and visitors. Excited about service and enjoy interacting with the public, particularly youth, with demonstrated ability to deal with and diffuse difficult situations.
- Flexibility: Can adjust priorities as the team’s needs change. Works in a variety of outdoor and indoor environments as well as with different age groups. Can adapt to a flexible work schedule that includes weekends. Able to adapt programs at once based on youth needs and visitor experience.
- Ability to stay organized and communicate needs or ideas that enhance the experience of interns
- Clear and concise written and oral communication skill.
- Excellent attendance (reliable, on time, and ready to work at start of shift).
- Skilled at taking initiative and recognizing what needs to be done.
- Ability to multi-task effectively.
- An outgoing communicator with good interpersonal skills.
Education and/or Experience:
- Prefer previous Customer Service experience
- 2 years of working with elementary, middle and high school age youth
- 1 year of experience supervising, mentoring training, or coaching young adults.
- Experience engaging with San Francisco Bay Area communities.
- Multilingual: able to speak language(s) other than English that serves bay area communities.
- This position requires a Department of Justice background check.
Health and Safety:
It is the goal of the Parks Conservancy to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace. We work to mitigate hazards and risks that may cause harm to employees, consistent with state and federal laws. Employees play an active role in creating a safe and healthy workplace and are expected to comply with all applicable health and safety rules.
Based on the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Parks Conservancy requires all employees to be vaccinated and to provide proof of such vaccination as a condition of employment.
Physical Requirements and Work Environments:
- Work is performed in a combination of outdoor and indoor setting.
- Work is primarily performed standing for prolonged periods.
- Ability to carry up to 50 lbs. short distances; stretch, grasp, kneel, twist, reach and bend.
- Maintain long periods of customer service interaction requiring repetitive verbal greetings.
- Regularly requires ability to walk through the Outpost and Field Station.
Pay Rate/Benefits: The pay rate is $26/hour (Grade 10) . Benefits include free health plans for employee and family, retirement plan, paid vacation/personal/sick days, Employee Assistance Program, Commuter Program, employee discounts, and more.
Application Deadline Date: March 8th, 2024. Review of applications will start by this date. There is no guarantee of consideration for applications submitted after March 8th, 2024.