Job Title:  Facilities and Ecology Assistant
Classification:  Seasonal, up to 200 hours
Reports to:  Facilities and Ecology Manager, Assistant Director
Hourly wage: $15
Minimum age: 17

OVERVIEW
We seek a collaborative and reliable person to join our team in the seasonal summer position of Facilities and Ecology Assistant. Sitka is a 52-years-young coastal arts and ecology nonprofit. This team member will support the daily operations of Sitka’s facilities and grounds-related oversite, maintenance, project stewardship and workshop activities. They will work closely with the Facilities and Ecology Manager and Assistant Director to help Sitka run smoothly, and maintain a clean, safe and welcoming environment for guests. This position plays a central and hands-on role in environmental stewardship at the Sitka Center’s main campus and nearby 80-acre preserve and residence in direct support of the ecology components in the Sitka Center’s strategic plan.
     
Seasonal, up to 200 hours: The workload is 20-30 hours weekly for this seasonal position. Preference will be given to qualified and flexible applicants with work experience, and an enthusiasm and capacity for physically active work. The Facilities and Ecology Assistant will primarily work outdoors and in our facilities, with minimal in-office work. They will also need to thrive when working autonomously. For people who thrive in lively and ever-changing settings, Sitka is an energizing and rewarding place to work. During the workday, our office is cozy and welcoming, with lots of laughter and team collaboration, and not much alone time or personal space, so being the kind of person who can be productive while enjoying a lot going on around them is key.

Working style: The Facilities and Ecology Assistant will be self-organizing and self-motivated, proactively coordinating with the Facilities and Ecology Manager, staff and guests. They will be quick to regroup and troubleshoot the unexpected when things don’t go as planned. They will find and sustain a healthy balance between self-driven, autonomous work and collaboration with a fun and supportive team. They will find joy in taking on this work not just as a list of tasks to be completed but as a community of relationships to be fostered. Most importantly, they will delight in exploring art and nature with adult guests of all ages and assist in creating experiences where the natural curiosity and creativity in individuals is sparked and celebrated. This is a practical-meets-playful summer job.

Central support: While the Facilities and Ecology Assistant will enjoy a great deal of autonomy in their work, they will not be alone. They will work closely with the Facilities and Ecology Manager to support Sitka’s day-to-day activity. They will also work closely with the Assistant Director and Administrative Coordinator, who will provide central administrative and communications support (such as front desk support, supply ordering and other centralized services). Everyone will work together to create a sense of unity, continuity and quality across all of Sitka’s programmatic experiences and communications.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Grounds: Perform routine and seasonal groundskeeping tasks (such as keeping walkways, patios and private roads clear of debris, keeping roofs and gutters clean, hauling trash and recycling off campus, preventing outdoor plumbing from freezing, preventing weeds from taking over parking areas and walkways, and generally ensuring Sitka’s outdoor spaces are beautiful and well maintained).
  • Buildings: Assist in routine and seasonal monitoring, maintenance and repairs on Sitka’s facilities, including the main campus and 80 acre preserve facilities (such as unclogging sinks, fixing broken blinds, performing pest management, addressing water damage and generally ensuring Sitka’s work and living spaces are clean and in good repair).
  • Visitor and community engagement:  Help visitors to the Sitka Center feel welcome. Help orient guests to Sitka’s campus, preserve and local ecology. Help bring the Sitka Center’s ecological stewardship to life. Explore ways to help enhance ecology as part of the Sitka experience.
  • Ecology and work ethos: Perform buildings and grounds caretaking responsibilities with:
    • minimal disruption to Sitka’s staff, day visitors, overnight guests and neighbors;
    • ecological and environmental mindfulness and sensitivity;
    • a healthy balance of proactive communication and self-sufficiency; and
    • creative problem solving resulting in solutions that are safe, economical, aesthetic and long-lasting.
  • The Facilities and Ecology Assistant helps with all aspects of Sitka’s facilities and groundskeeping and helps setting up/taking down studios, keeping studios, bathrooms and apartments organized and clean, greeting and assisting instructors and participants, answering visitor questions, making sure COVID-19 precautions are being taken, and other daily operational tasks to ensure the smooth and safe operation of the Sitka Center

Sitka values reflection. As the staff member most present within the workshops, the Studio Technician & Campus Caretaker will help pay attention to what’s working, and what’s not. Their feedback will be vital in debrief sessions to inform next year’s workshop season.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
Pitch In: Help support team members when needed, make runs to the post office, enter data, file stuff, scan stuff... Everyone does a little bit of everything here, and there’s a lot involved in making it all run smoothly while creating a sense of retreat-like calm for our guests.
Event Support: Sitka events are a team effort, and we all work together to have things go off without a hitch, or at least not too many hitches. From greeting guests as they arrive to crossing t’s and dotting the i’s on the nametags, pay attention to all the little details that make events magical.
Daily Surprises: Troubleshoot the unexpected, learn from mistakes, hold yourself and your teammates capable, clean up everything from spilled coffee to miscommunications, ask for help when you need it, offer help without being asked, share responsibilities, acknowledge others and help create a culture we’re all proud to be a part of and share.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
  • Arts/nature/educational program experience preferred
  • Caretaking/cleaning/groundskeeping experience preferred
  • Experience working with people of all ages is preferred, including senior citizens with physical assistance needs
  • AV/digital photography/social media/technology experience preferred
  • Reliable, sleeves-rolled-up team player and collaborator is essential
  • Warm and patient customer service skills are essential

REQUIREMENTS
  • This position requires access to a reliable vehicle
  • This position involves daily physical labor and requires the ability to lift up to up to 75 pounds, go up and down interior and outdoor stairs, hike on inclined geography and stand for extended periods at indoor and outdoor events
  • As our facilities include indoor and outdoor spaces, this position requires the ability to work in outdoor elements and conditions on the Oregon coast

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY
The Sitka Center for Art and Ecology affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to equity and inclusion, and believe different voices and perspectives strengthen our organization and amplify our impact.

ABOUT SITKA
For 50 years the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology has invited thousands of people to explore the interconnections between natural curiosity and personal creativity. Through workshops, residencies and public events the Sitka Center provides time and space for place-based reflection, inquiry and creation. Inspired moments and creative breakthroughs happen here every day, and for years after in the lives of those Sitka has touched. It’s a magical place.

The Sitka Center is located in Otis, Oregon (near Lincoln City) on Cascade Head, one of the most beautiful places on the Oregon coast, surrounded by spruce forest, open meadow – and boundless inspiration. Our office is located within a 0.66-acre facility that also includes residences, studio spaces and a library. Roosevelt elk, black tail deer and northern flicker woodpecker sightings are a daily occurrence from our office windows. In June 2017 Sitka acquired an 80-acre property known as Grass Mountain, located within the UNESCO Cascade Head Biosphere Reserve, and surrounded by 9,670 acres of protected Cascade Head Scenic Research Area.

To apply, please submit the following items:
  • Resume
  • 3 professional references (reference names, emails, phone numbers and association)
  • A brief cover email or letter sharing why you want to work at Sitka, what are you hoping to gain from your experience here and the strengths you will bring to the team.
Reference list of duties/tasks that may be performed but not limited to:
  • Some experience with buildings and grounds maintenance – useful skills include: minor carpentry, roofing, plumbing, electrical and mechanical repairs, landscape maintenance and tree care.
  • A “Safety First” mindset throughout all your work and that of contractors you manage.
  • Familiarity with safety and emergency preparedness principles and practices.
  • Some knowledge of Oregon coastal ecology including flora, fauna and land and how they influence property maintenance conditions and decisions.
  • Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time wisely, and work in a self-directed manner.
  • Flexible; willingness to respond quickly to shifting and urgent priorities and serve as an on-call first responder to after-hours urgent and emergent situations.
  • Observant person who notices and anticipates needs and problems.
  • Able to interact respectfully and thoughtfully with a diverse group of staff, residents, neighbors and visitors.
  • Ability to prioritize and schedule service jobs, thinking and planning ahead on multiple timeframes.
  • Willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions including summer heat and winter rain and wind.
  • Able to lift 75 pounds and able to work at height on and off ladders.
  • Access to a reliable vehicle to commute to/from Sitka, perform basic driving inspections (such as inspecting access roads), and run work-related errands.
  • Work closely with program team to ensure the smooth operation of Sitka acitvities
  • Set up and break down studios for workshops, assist instructors as needed
  • Assist in making sure participants park in designated Sitka parking lots and assist with overflow if needed
  • Greet drop-in visitors and share current Sitka events and activities, provide facility tours when possible
  • Manage work schedule in conjunction with the program team
  • Assist with communication of Cascade Head Ranch neighborhood rules to instructors and students
  • Perform cleaning duties for the Office and Public Restrooms (these are small spaces that tend to stay tidy on their own), including daily Covid-19 high-touch surface sanitation as needed
  • Perform caretaking duties following a detailed cleaning checklist for Sitka’s five studio apartments
  • Patrol campus nightly to assure each studio is locked with lights and equipment turned off
  • Communicate any maintenance issues with the Facilities Manager
  • Communicate with the Administrative Coordinator on low inventory of workshop and cleaning supplies

This is a non-management position
This is an internship position

Visit Careers at Tillamook Bay Community College

Personal Information









Attachments

Other Information