Part-time Receptionist

About Us

Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown, Rhode Island welcomes thousands of visitors each year to our 325-acre campus. Visitors of all ages and backgrounds explore the campus and the seven miles of trails and participate in educational programs throughout the year, from environmental education and field trips, programs for adults, children, and families, to summer camp programs.  With a fun and team-oriented staff, we work to fulfill the mission of our founder, Mabel Norman Cerio, who created Norman Bird Sanctuary through a bequest in 1949. Our mission is to protect and steward the diverse habitats in our care, while providing opportunities for people from all walks of life to learn from and enjoy the largest contiguous open space on Aquidneck Island.

About the Job

Independently staff the reception desk at our Welcome Center as the face of the organization, welcoming and supporting visitors to Norman Bird Sanctuary.  Specific duties include: greeting and orienting visitors to the trails and property resources; promoting public and educational programs, camps, and self-guided youth activities; providing the public with information; managing program and event registrations; processing financial transactions and managing the data integrity of electronic Point of Sale and fundraising database systems; managing retail operations for the Barn Owl Gift Shop; and managing the membership giving program, communications, and database. 

This is an at-will, part-time, hourly position reporting to the Office Manager.  We are building a team of part-time receptionists to cover Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (except for Thanksgiving and Christmas) for 8 hours/day as well as weekday hours between 11 am and 2 pm. We anticipate hiring a team of three to five part-time receptionists to work between 8 to 14 hours each week, and back-up receptionists who are willing to be on call. 

About You

You are friendly, welcoming, and enjoy engaging community members of all ages and backgrounds.  You are also comfortable working as a ‘staff of one’ on weekends and holidays.  You are detail-oriented, have experience working in an office environment, and excel at customer service.  You have the communications skills to promote educational programs, events, and membership to walk-in visitors. And the confidence and diplomacy to communicate the rules of behavior that protect the sensitive wildlife habitats in our care.

Ideally you have experience with technology tools—customer databases and Point of Sale systems—to track and report on financial transactions and constituent activities.  You have strong Microsoft Office skills and are comfortable creating mailing lists and reports in Excel as well as preparing customized business letters and other communications in Word.  You share our passion for conservation, environmental education, and access to nature.

To Apply

E-mail resume and cover letter (including two references) to Kaleigh Jodice via kjodice@normanbirdsanctuary.org.