Nature Store Manager

TITLE: Nature Store Manager

LOCATION: McLane Center, Concord, NH

HOURS: 35 hours per week, full-time, exempt (salary paid) staff position. 

SCHEDULE: Tuesday to Saturdays 10:00am – 5:00pm

FUNCTION: This position will support the mission of New Hampshire Audubon (NHA): to protect New Hampshire’s natural environment for wildlife and for people, by overseeing all aspects of Nature Store operations and adjacent vendor-based events to provide quality visitor services for members and the general public and generate retail revenue for the organization.  Responsibilities include budgeting, purchasing, inventory management, marketing, project organization, and event coordination of craft fairs and artist exhibits.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Actively manage and oversee the McLane Center and Massabesic Center Nature Stores to provide quality visitor services for members and the public and generate a mission-driven brand merchandising center for the organization by: 

• Developing and monitoring annual budget including sales, purchases and expenses.
• Developing and maintaining a vision and focus for the store consistent with NHA’s mission and strengths in collaboration with NHA management.
• Researching current retail market trends appropriate to a nature store environment and developing contacts for purchasing mission-aligned inventory.
• Assessing and evaluating existing inventory and remarketing items to sell.
• Maintaining a working knowledge of current products, especially related to birds, wildlife-watching, and bird feeding.
• Maintaining a reputation for the store as a source of expertise on mission-related products.
• Developing and creating displays for inventory and rotating stock to create visually pleasing merchandise presentations.
• Ordering product, verifying, pricing, stocking, displaying and, when necessary, returning inventory.
• Establishing and nurturing financial partnerships with local vendors by displaying their mission-appropriate merchandise in the store.
• Developing consignment relationships with local craftspeople in order to increase inventory and sales.
• Managing and booking local artists to exhibit their work in our centers
• Recruiting and managing local vendors and businesses for our in-house events in June and December.
• Developing and executing marketing strategies and promotional materials.
• Researching advertising avenues including low cost or cost free, submitting store advertisements and ensuring quality and accuracy of advertising content.
• Recruiting, training, scheduling, and evaluating store volunteers/employees.
• Processing special orders, on-line orders, and mail orders.
• Responding to customer inquiries via phone, email, and in person.
• Working with the NHA webmaster to create an online store.
• Promoting NHA membership whenever possible.
• Greeting, assisting and directing visitors to other NHA programs areas.
• Fielding questions from visitors, including the public and private event attendees.
• Performing light housekeeping duties to maintain a clean and safe store environment.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

LEADERSHIP: Reports to Director of Operations  

WORKING CONDITIONS: NH Audubon’s work culture is characterized by excellent colleagues who share a collaborative spirit, commitment to mission, open communication, and high integrity.  Our offices are non-smoking, with both open workspaces and private offices.

QUALIFICATIONS:

education: High School graduate or GED required.  Bachelor’s degree preferred.

experience: Three to five years of visitor or customer service experience required. Three to five years of direct retail transaction and/or wholesale experience required. One to three years of management or supervisory experience required with demonstrated ability to make independent and coordinated decisions. Vendor relationship building background is strongly preferred. Community event coordination a bonus. Must have experience with MS Office products and database programs.

Skills, Traits and Characteristics Necessary for Success: Must have excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to work effectively within a diverse community. Mut be adept at verbal and written communication. Requires exceptional time management skills, attention to detail, problem-solving, and a high degree of organization.  Must have the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment with a positive attitude and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.  Familiarity with birds, NH wildlife, and the natural environment is preferred.

Physical Demands: To perform the essential functions of the position, the following applies: requires standing, stretching, bending, walking, lifting and transporting a minimum of 50 pounds.  Must be able to climb stairs as well as be physically and mentally capable of assisting customers in a public setting. 

COMPENSATION: Compensation for this salary, full-time position is $17 – $18 an hour; commensurate with experience. This position is eligible for NH Audubon’s generous benefit package, including paid time off (13 holidays, vacation & sick time), medical plan, health reimbursement agreement, retirement account with employer match, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a NH Audubon annual membership, access to pro deals, and paid professional development opportunities. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT

: NH Audubon is a welcoming inclusive organization committed to ensuring people of all backgrounds and abilities are welcome and respected. NH Audubon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, age, sexual orientation or Vietnam Era/Disabled Veteran status, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, NH Audubon complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location where NH Audubon has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.