NRNC Resident Caretaker

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Nisqually Reach Nature Center
Position Description
Position Information
Position Title: Resident Caretaker
Work Schedule: 12-16 Hours Weekly
Compensation: Lodging
Position Objective
Briefly explain the purpose of the position and how it supports the organization’s mission
The Nisqually Reach Nature Center’s mission is to promote the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of the Nisqually Estuary through education, interpretation, and citizen science.
The Resident Caretaker(s) is a live-in position that supports NRNC’s mission by providing building/grounds maintenance services, open-system aquarium maintenance, security for the premises, and aid in the general function/programming of the organization. The Resident Caretaker(s) ensures that the facility and three open-system aquariums are maintained to a high standard in both cleanliness and function while being an active member of the NRNC community. This position provides both support and guidance for NRNC’s facility and aquarium management.
Assigned Work Activities (Duties and Tasks)
Describe the duties and tasks, and underline the essential functions. Assign a percentage of time to each duty. Task statements should describe the action performed; to whom or what; using what tools, equipment, methods, and/or processes; and the final product or outcome.
% of time
(Must total 100%)
List the assigned work in order of importance.
30%
Duty: Janitorial and Custodial Duties
Tasks include:
* Consistently perform indoor janitorial duties for NRNC’s bathrooms, kitchen, offices, Visitor Center, NRNC storage facilities, and caretaker living quarters.
* Visitor Center janitorial duties include sweeping/mopping, window cleaning, watering indoor plants, dusting, cleaning displays, cleaning countertops, trash management, fixing/replacing lights, and general organization.
* Bathroom janitorial duties include scrubbing toilet bowls, cleaning sinks, refilling toilet paper/paper towels, mirror cleaning, fixing/replacing lights, refill soap, sweeping/mopping, and emptying trash.
* Kitchen janitorial duties include washing dishes, putting away dishes, cleaning countertops, help with cleaning refrigerator, fixing/replacing lights, sweeping/mopping, and emptying trash/compost/recycle.
* Maintaining the caretaker residence in a neat and organized fashion at all times.
* Placing the trash, recycling, and compost out for pick up weekly.
* Provide mail management services for Nature Center staff and board members.
30%
Duty: Building and Grounds Maintenance Duties
* Perform outdoor custodial/building maintenance duties as needed/assigned: leaf-blowing, trash cleanup, vegetation maintenance, gutter clearing, fixing/replacing lights, power washing, window washing, and drain clearing.
* Aid in the routine inspection of NRNC’s water system: coliform testing, well-house maintenance, and pipe maintenance.
* Pick up litter in the parking lot and building footprint on a regular basis.
* Identify issues with interior or exterior of the structure and report to Executive Director as needed; aid in general maintenance as needed.
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* Addressing or fixing issues in an efficient and timely manner.
10%
Duty: Aquarium Maintenance Duties
Tasks include:
* Daily checks of NRNC’s three open-system aquariums to ensure proper function.
* Immediately addressing any serious issues with the aquariums and/or salt water pumps.
* Routine cleaning and feeding of the three aquariums.
* Properly document cleaning/feeding times in the Aquarium Maintenance Manual.
* Aid and/or lead in salt water pump maintenance which includes switching the pumps, changing the oil, fixing/replacing broken pipes, fixing/replacing float switches, and any other general pump care.
15%
Duty: Public Interface and Premises Security
Tasks include:
* Provide security surveillance of the building and public parking area, especially during closed hours after 10:00pm; report any illegal activity to the police.
* Addressing any visitors to the building footprint during closed hours and inform them of the 10:00pm-4:00am closed time.
* Providing accurate information and positive interactions with the public when asked questions or addressed at any time of day.
* Being a good ambassador and representative of the Nature Center at all times.
10%
Duty: Staffing the Visitor Center & General Program Support
Tasks include:
* Checking in during open hours (12:00pm - 4:00pm Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday) at least once a week.
* Committing to an entire Visitor Center shift once every two weeks.
* Working and/or leading volunteers to complete custodial/aquarium/maintenance tasks.
* Foster relationships with volunteers and build a culture of cleanliness for volunteers to follow.
* Providing support for programming through setting up tables/chairs and cleaning before meetings, classes, science programs, fundraisers, and other events.
* Open and/or close the Visitor Center as needed.
5%
Duty: Time Entry into NEON-CRM
Tasks include:
* Properly track and routinely enter caretaker hours into NEON-CRM.
Working Conditions
Work Setting, including hazards:
Willing and able to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple assignments and priority deadlines. Willing and able to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions. Willing and able to lift 30+ lbs. repeatedly, climb ladders up to 25’ high, and be in some claustrophobic environments.
Schedule (i.e., hours and days):
Willing and able to work 12-16 hours weekly on a variety of tasks. Willing and able to work during normal NRNC business hours every other week from 12:00pm-4:00pm Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday. Willing and able to be flexible/on-call to address emergencies as they arise.
Travel Requirements:
Willing and able to provide own vehicle for transportation.
Tools and Equipment:
Willing and able to operate a variety of small-engine equipment including brush-cutters, power washers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws. Willing and able to use household cleaners, chemicals, and formulas.
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Customer Interactions:
Willing and able to have daily interactions with members of the public. Must be able to effectively manage stressful customer interactions, including angry customers.
Other:
Willing and able to maintain confidentiality in the performance of the position.
Qualifications
List the education, experience, licenses, certifications, and competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors).
Required Qualifications - NOTE: Experience may have been gained concurrently.
* A High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalent.
* Proven maintenance experience
* Valid Washington Driver's License with acceptable driving record
* Self-motivated
* Excellent customer service skills with the ability to work well with others
* Energetic
* Flexible and reliable
* Detail-oriented
* Strong organization, time management, efficiency, and record keeping skills
* Takes pride in their work and does their job to the best of their ability
As well as the following competencies:
* Accountability: Accepts personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work. Can be relied on to achieve excellent results with minimal oversight. Exhibits regular work attendance and punctuality. Models a high performance work ethic.
* Achievement Orientation: Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to meeting work-related expectations, objectives, and timelines. Meets deadlines and fulfills commitments.
* Adaptability and flexibility: Adapts easily to changing business needs, conditions, and work responsibilities.
* Analysis and Problem Solving: Identifies issues, researches options, and recommends effective solutions. Communicates and collaborates with the appropriate people and through appropriate channels to solve problems. Recognizes the scope of problems and understands the impact of change on others.
* Communication: Demonstrates ability to effectively give and receive information both orally and in writing to diverse audiences. Speaks and writes clearly and concisely avoiding bureaucratic language and jargon whenever possible. Consistently complies with accepted rules of English grammar and composition.
* Conflict Resolution: Ability to de-escalate a wide variety of conflicts in a tactful, patient, and calm manor. Demonstrates the ability to come into a stressful situation and not escalate the situation.
* Cultural Competency: Interacts professionally, sensitively, and effectively with persons of all ages and sexual orientation, and from diverse cultural, racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, educational, and professional backgrounds.
* Customer Service Orientation: Consistently demonstrates an interest in customers. Provides products and services that meet or exceed customer expectations. Seeks to understand issues from the customer perspectives. Takes initiative to influence changes to processes that do not provide value to customers.
* Ethics: Uses state equipment and resources wisely, conforming to agency policy on use of internet and email. Maintains confidentiality of information accessed in the performance of duties, adhering to agency policy and office expectations.
* Integrity: Earns the trust, respect, and confidence of managers, supervisors, staff, and customers through consistent honesty, forthrightness, and professionalism in all interactions. Models trustworthiness, sensitivity, tact, and discretion. Shares information appropriately.
* Interpersonal Skills: Seeks to understand others through active listening. Gives and accepts constructive feedback. Interacts with others in a professional and respectful manner. Works proactively and constructively to resolve disagreements.
* Problem Solving: Ability to identify and define a problem, generating alternative solutions, evaluating and selecting the best alternative, and implementing the selected solution in an effective and timely manner.
* Teamwork: Ability to work effectively and positively with others to complete a variety of goals, sometimes complex.
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Desired Qualfications - NOTE: Experience may have been gained concurrently.
* Related degree from Technical College
* Proven Maintenance Experience
* Experience in the environmental field whether habitat restoration, environmental education, and/or environmental-related field (biology, ecology, geology, etc.)
Acknowledgement of Position Description
The signatures below indicate that the job duties as defined above are an accurate reflection of the work performed by this position.
Date:
Supervisor’s Signature (required):
As the incumbent in this position, I have received a copy of this position description.
Date:
Employee’s Signature:
HOW TO APPLY:
Send Resume, Cover Letter, and References to nrnc@nisquallyestuary.org with "Resident Caretaker" and your last name in the title of the email. Go to www.nisquallyestuary.org for more information about the Nisqually Reach Nature Center.