What are the responsibilities and job description for the CORE Program Coordinator position at GREAT BASIN INSTITUTE?
The CORE Program Coordinator is a dynamic role that supports environmental education and stewardship, historic preservation and site operations at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center and Tallac Historic Site in South Lake Tahoe, CA. The Program Coordinator is instrumental in executing day-to-day operations, volunteer management, retail management, as well as special events and programs. The coordinator reports to the Program Manager and works closely with USDA Forest Service partners to ensure collaborative goals are met. Day to day responsibilities may include volunteer training and project management; metrics and goals tracking; fundraising and event coordination; retail store management; and response to maintenance issues and/or emergency situations. This position is a temporary seasonal assignment, and will be based in South Lake Tahoe, CA from May through October.
The Taylor Creek Visitor Center and Tallac Historic Site serve an estimated 150,000 - 200,000 visitors annually, in support of public education across the Tahoe Basin. The facilities are seasonally operated from late May through October and are managed through cooperative partnership between the Great Basin Institute and USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU).
Essential Job Functions may include the following:
- 35% Volunteer Recruitment, Retention & Management.
- Maintain relationships and communications with volunteer staff; respond to queries and issues throughout the operating season
- Develop a volunteer appreciation system and foster community partnerships in support of volunteer service on public lands
- Perform volunteer orientations and on-boarding procedures
- Assist in development of volunteer trainings and job resources
- Manage internal wiki site for prompt and effective volunteer communication
- Oversee volunteer work schedule for both recreation sites
- 35% Interpretative sales and retail management.
- Assist in overseeing daily gift shop operations at the Lake Tahoe visitor centers, May through October
- Train volunteers in POS usage, money-handling procedures, and storeroom standard operating procedures
- Manage sales, products, and reordering in collaboration with program managers
- Communicate clearly with supervisors and GBI finance team, with weekly updates
- 20% Special Event & Program Support.
- Assist the Program Manager in implementing special events at both locations
- Assist in managing fundraising components, such as donations tracking and receiving, event pricing and set-up
- Prepare volunteers for special event jobs and responsibilities
- Assist with period-appropriate costuming and multi-organization coordination as needed
- 10% Visitor Communication.
- Create program and tour flyers, social media content, and other visual materials for public use, collaborating with GBI’s Communications, Media and Marketing Assistant
- Provide customer service and information to forest visitors from diverse backgrounds
LOCATION
While GBI’s headquarters are in Reno, NV, this position will work onsite at our Tahoe-based visitor centers in South Lake Tahoe, CA. The city of South Lake Tahoe is the largest municipality in the Tahoe Basin, with an estimated population of 21,300. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains at an elevation of 6,200ft, the city boasts access to world-renowned outdoor recreation activities, such as skiing, mountain biking, boating and backpacking attracting upwards of 15 million visitors annually. Lake Tahoe, the city’s namesake, is the 16th deepest lake in the world, and the largest by volume alpine lake in North America, sustaining the lake’s famous clarity. The Tahoe Basin’s high-elevation climate is known for heavy winter precipitation followed by traditionally dry, warm summers. In addition to outdoor recreation, South Lake Tahoe is located a short distance from major metropolitan areas including Reno, NV, Sacramento, CA and San Francisco, CA.
WORK SCHEDULE
5 days per week, 8 hours per day. This position is required to work weekends and occasionally evenings; workdays are typically Wednesday through Sunday. Eight (8) hours of holiday pay will be awarded for each holiday recognized by GBI during time of employment.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- Wage: $24/hr
- Employment Dates: May 4, 2026 - October 31, 2026
- Health, Dental, Vision Insurance premiums are covered 100% by GBI. Available on the first day of the month following the start of employment.
- $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
- Competitive PTO accrual and paid holidays;
- Access to Pro Deals;
TSA employees who serve a term under 52 weeks in duration, and have a thirty (30) day or less break between terms, and then sign a second term that (cumulatively) becomes greater than 52 weeks of employment, will be eligible for the >1-year TSA benefits (equivalent to Regular full-time employees).
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, employees must be able to satisfactorily carry out each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Proficiency in Google Workspaces, Microsoft, Zoom and Adobe
- Ability to lead a group of 10-40 people and speak publicly
- Excellent interpersonal skills and people management
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to navigate point of sales system, or willingness to learn
- Ability to think creatively and solve problems with limited resources
- Ability to delegate tasks and monitor project status intermittently
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to tailor tone and syntax to the appropriate audience
- Preferred knowledge of Lake Tahoe Basin ecosystem, policies and land and resource management agencies
- Beginner marketing and social media skills preferred
- Valid Driver’s License for duration of the position
- Education: Preferred bachelor’s degree in business, nonprofit administration, park and resource management or a related field
- Experience: Minimum 2-4 years experience in volunteer coordination, park management, fundraising or nonprofit administration preferred
- Background Check: Successful completion of a criminal background check is required as a condition of employment for this position.
TO APPLY
Please submit an up-to-date resume, a one-page cover letter that details your interest in the position, and any qualifications not fully outlined in your resume, and contact information for three professional references. Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview. For questions regarding this position, please contact egavlock@gbinstitute.org
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, stand, walk, bend, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with computer business equipment and other job/industry specific equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low but can be moderate to loud at times.
The overall nature of the moderately active, requiring some physical effort and occasional light exertion. There is occasional exposure to environmental conditions such as heat, cold, and temperature changes.
NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the organization's ongoing needs.
NOTE: All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check.
Disclaimer: Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, GBI reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the organization, at any time, with or without advance notice.
Salary : $24