Visitor Center & Retail Operations Manager

The Wildlife Society; Minnesota; On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing provided

Meals provided

Sanctuary vehicle may be available

Job summary

The Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary is seeking a Visitor Center & Retail Operations Manager to oversee daily operations of the visitor center, gift shop, and online store, while managing staff and volunteers. The role combines administration, retail, and public education in a small nonprofit setting.

Ideal candidate will be organized, proactive, and customer-focused, with experience in retail management and nonprofit environments, and the ability to adapt to wildlife-related operations and field

Qualifications

• Strong organizational, administrative, communication, and customer service skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work with staff, interns, volunteers, visitors, and donors.
• Willingness to work weekends, evenings, holidays.
• Physical tasks including lifting and moving merchandise.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily visitor center, office, gift shop, and online store operations.
• Respond to visitor, donor, member, and general inquiries.
• Manage retail purchasing, vendor relationships, inventory, merchandising, and online sales.
• Monitor sales and inventory and make merchandise recommendations.
• Process online orders, memberships, adoptions, donations, and other center transactions.
• Train and supervise visitor-center interns and volunteers.
• Provide excellent visitor service and educate guests about wildlife and conservation.
• Assist with events and sanctuary operations; bear-food handling and groundskeeping.

Skills

Organizational skills

Administrative skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Multitasking

Software learning

Education

Degree in related field

Tools

Retail POS systems

Online store platforms

Inventory management software

Job description

Visitor Center & Retail Operations Manager

The Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary is seeking a highly organized, motivated, and adaptable individual to serve as our Visitor Center & Retail Operations Manager. This hands‑on position oversees the day‑to‑day operation of the visitor center and office, gift shop and online retail operations, visitor services, and visitor‑center interns and volunteers.

The position combines office administration, retail management, purchasing, inventory, customer service, public education, and sanctuary operations. The successful candidate will be comfortable working independently, managing multiple priorities, interacting with the public, and working as part of a small team.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage daily visitor center, office, gift shop, and online store operations.
• Respond to visitor, donor, member, and general inquiries.
• Manage retail purchasing, vendor relationships, inventory, merchandising, and online sales.
• Monitor sales and inventory and make recommendations regarding merchandise.
• Process online orders, memberships, adoptions, donations, and other visitor‑center transactions.
• Train and supervise visitor‑center interns and volunteers.
• Provide excellent visitor service and educate guests about black bears, wildlife, conservation, and peaceful coexistence.
• Assist with special events, educational programs, and sanctuary activities.
• Assist with daily sanctuary operations, including bear‑food handling, feeding‑area cleanup, groundskeeping, and supply handling.
• Follow and help enforce sanctuary safety protocols, including bear‑safety procedures.

Working Conditions

This is a working sanctuary position with a flexible schedule that may include weekends, evenings, holidays, and occasional night work. Work takes place both indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.

• Housing and all meals are included.
• A sanctuary vehicle may be available for approved sanctuary‑related use.
• Sanctuary accommodations are rustic, with limited electricity, running water, phone service, and internet access.

Candidates should be comfortable living and working in a remote environment.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who enjoys wearing many hats—someone equally comfortable helping a visitor learn about black bears, managing a gift shop, placing a merchandise order, updating an online store, training an intern, answering emails, or helping with sanctuary operations.

The ideal candidate is organized, proactive, personable, dependable, adaptable, and willing to take initiative in a small nonprofit environment.

Required

• Strong organizational, administrative, communication, and customer‑service skills.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work effectively with staff, interns, volunteers, visitors, and donors.
• Strong attention to detail and follow‑through.
• Ability to learn new software and online systems.
• Ability to work weekends, evenings, holidays, and a flexible schedule as needed.
• Ability to perform physical tasks, including lifting and moving merchandise, supplies, and bear food.
• Preferred experience or education:
  • Experience or education in retail management, business administration, merchandising, e‑commerce, hospitality, nonprofit management, marketing, wildlife, conservation, environmental education, or a related field.
• Particularly valuable experience includes retail or gift‑shop management, purchasing and vendor relations, inventory management, e‑commerce, point‑of‑sale systems, customer service, and supervision of employees, interns, or volunteers.
• A degree in a related field is preferred, but equivalent professional experience will be considered in place of a degree. Wildlife experience is valued, but candidates with strong retail, visitor‑services, administrative, or business experience and a genuine interest in wildlife and conservation are encouraged to apply.