Who We Are:
Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts’ premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org.
Posting Information:
Salary/Hourly Rate: $25
Housing: Available, if needed
Hours per week: 40
Job Classification: Full-Time, non-exempt
Job Type: Onsite
Location: Long Point Wildlife Refuge, Long Point Cottage, Menemsha Hills, The Farm Institute, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
What You’ll Do:
Your Impact:
As the Beach Operations Lead and Steward, you will work to protect and elevate the special properties spread across Up-Island Martha’s Vineyard.
The Role:
As the Beach Operations Lead and Steward, you will lead the daily operations at Long Point Wildlife Refuge beach operations assisting over 250 beach visitors daily during the months of June through September. You will hire and manage a seasonal team, including seasonal gatehouse staff, rangers, and retail/ kayak rental staff at Long Point. You and the Long Point team assist the Ecology Team in implementing The Trustees shorebird protection and ecological restoration programs.
In addition to Long Point, the Up-Island Steward is responsible for year-round stewardship of all up-island Trustees’ properties including Long Point Wildlife Refuge, Long Point Beach Cottage, Menemsha Hills Reservation, and the Brickyard. You may also assist the Stewardship team in larger stewardship projects at all The Trustees properties on Martha’s Vineyard. These diverse properties include barrier beaches, old-growth forest, and globally rare coastal grasslands habitats, farmland fields and livestock, maintenance and storage outbuildings, and the Brickyard, an industrial archaeological site adjacent to Menemsha Hills.
Specifically, you’ll:
Beach Operations
- Manage and oversee the Long Point Wildlife Refuge beach visitor reservation system. Ensure visitor satisfaction and compliance with reservations and visitation.
- Generate nearly $200,000 in annual revenue with reservation receipts, kayak rentals, retail merchandise, and Long Point Beach cottage rentals.
- Maintain excellent records on visitor attendance.
- Supervise and manage the entire kayak rental operation including supervising staff, equipment safety and repair, and visitor safety.
- Support the education team to implement engagement strategies and programs intended to communicate to beach visitors what is at stake at Long Point, and the coast more generally, as sea level rises.
- Implement strategies to increase summer visitation annually.
- Ensure proper daily opening and closing of beach at Long Point.
- Lead the hiring, supervise, and manage all Long Point seasonal positions.
- Oversee staffing at Long Point admission gate and patrol rangers. Develop and maintain staff schedules for seasonal staff.
- Oversee emergency protocols during the beach season including sharks, jellyfish, rip tides, and other medical emergencies in a highly remote location coordinating with Town emergency and law enforcement as needed
- Monitor and coach staff routinely on their performance to ensure positive visitor interactions, correcting behaviors as necessary.
- Oversee financial records and procedures, employee records, and payroll for beach employees.
- Ensure careful traffic flow onto the property on Long Point, single lane historic and scenic dirt roads. Ensure that parking patterns are efficiently managed.
- Reconcile beach admission receipts and prepare deposits at Long Point.
- Commanding knowledge of the point-of-sale system and related procedures.
- Ensure that beach facilities and infrastructure are safe and well maintained. Coordinate maintenance and cleaning.
- Establish open communication and collaboration with local responders, including the Harbormaster, Shellfish Constable, Police, and Fire.
- Assist as needed in providing coverage and support to all areas of beach operation on island.
- Help create a positive and productive work environment for all employees.
Visitor Engagement
- Model and foster an atmosphere that recognizes the importance of Long Point as a unique opportunity to connect visitors with the work of The Trustees. Consider employees as advocates and ambassadors for the property and the organization at home and in their community.
- Engage and maintain relationships and communications with neighborhood residents, addressing concerns in a prompt and thorough manner.
- Develop and implement strategies to meet or exceed weekly membership recruitment goals.
- Assist in the coordination of Islands Education for educational activities on Menemsha Hills, the Brickyard, and Long Point Wildlife Refuge.
- Develop content and lead training with year-round and seasonal staff on visitor engagement and membership recruitment.
- Work closely with regional volunteer coordinator to recruit volunteers as resource monitors, visitor survey collectors, and other general service volunteers.
Property Stewardship
- Oversee and perform the stewardship, preservation, and maintenance of the properties’ historic, cultural, and ecological resources in accordance with organizational guidelines.
- Facilitate and carry out general maintenance of structures.
- Manage contractors for work and services to buildings and utility systems.
- Assist in the management of fleet of trucks, UTVs, ATVs, and small engine powered equipment for offroad transportation and trail/farm maintenance performing maintenance on them when needed
- Lead, manage, and orchestrate the Deer/waterfowl hunting seasons for Long Point, Menemsha Hills, and Cape Poge creating hunting schedules and ensuring all hunters are complying with Trustees and state hunting rules and regulations.
- Assist and implement ecological protection projects such as the Black Racer Hibernaculum, grassland protection, and prescribed burns. Work closely with ecology team to ensure protection of beach natural resources and functions.
- In partnership with the ecology team, uphold protection of endangered and threatened species program, including visitor oversight and compliance.
- Maintain safe and functioning parking areas and trail systems across up-island properties.
- During fall, winter, and spring seasons, carry out routine stewardship activities across up-island properties including snow removal, and major storm preparation and response.
- Other duties as assigned with or without accommodation.
Long Point Beach Cottage Rental Program
- Work with the Islands Director and the rental company to ensure the Long Point Cottage is fully maintained, clean, and prepared for each weekly summer rental visitor.
- Provide hospitality to weekly cottage renters, including information on recreational and ecological activities on Long Point Wildlife Refuge.
- Respond to cottage renter emergencies, sometimes on a 24-hour basis, as needed.
- Immediate response to maintenance and repair concerns for cottage renters.
- Supervise and coordinate cleaning services on a weekly basis during cottage rental turnover.
This is a full-time, non-exempt position (40 hours/week) reporting directly to the Beach Operations and Stewardship Manager.
What You’ll Need:
Skills and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Marine Conservation, Forestry, Recreation Management, or related field.
- Strong leadership and at least three 3 years of experience in Recreational Management or another natural resource field, hospitality, or related setting.
- Exceptionally strong customer service and communication skills.
- Capable of effectively handling high-pressure situations.
- Strong computer skills, some knowledge of point-of-sale systems, and a general aptitude for technology.
- A quick and independent learner, able to pick up things on the job and quickly adapt to new situations.
- An eye for detail, as well as the ability to look at the ‘big picture’ and be able to guide staff and beach towards a common goal.
- Additional experience/background in the following areas is a plus: travel/tourism, service industry, teambuilding, and outdoor facilities.
- Access to a vehicle is necessary.
- Chainsaw and basic carpentry skill desirable.
- Two years of supervisory experience in a service industry or customer-facing role.
- CPR and First Aid training preferred; training provided
Eligibility Criteria:
- Comfortable in variable outdoor weather conditions.
- Ability to lift 40 pounds consistently required.
- Ability to be on foot up to 10 hours per day.
- Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment.
- A valid driver’s license, as well as a satisfactory driving record as outlined in The Trustees’ driving policy.
- A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check.
Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.
Questions? Contact our People team at people@thetrustees.org
Your Benefits:
- Housing: Housing available if needed
- Vacation time: 15 days per year (prorated)
- Early release time: 36 hours per year
- Floating holidays/personal days: 15 Floating Holidays (13 observed holidays; 2 floating)
- Health insurance: You are eligible to participate in the Trustees health insurance benefit via Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). BCBS also offers additional benefits, such as fitness reimbursement and rewards for healthy habits.
- Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave
- 401k with 5% match after 1 year of employment
- Employee Assistance Program: Free access to a confidential service that helps employees and their communities with personal and work-related issues, such as mental health support, counseling, and financial advice.
- Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions.
- Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns.
- Day of Wonder: Spend one workday per year to exploring a Trustees property
- Day of Service: Spend one workday per year to helping with a project at a Trustees property
Equal Opportunity and Diversity:
The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.
The Trustees’ commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at people@thetrustees.org.
