Gift Store and Rentals Coordinator

Location: Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center, Santa Cruz, CA
Supervisor: Senior Vice President, Program Operations and Workforce Development
Status: Part-Time, Non-Exempt, 24-28 hours per week

What We Need

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation ("Foundation"), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is a leading voice for U.S. protected waters, is seeking a part-time Gift Store and Rentals Coordinator to support operations in the Sanctuary Exploration Center gift store and coordinate facility rentals. This is a 24-28 hour per week position with hours during Wednesday-Friday and a weekend day (Saturday or Sunday). This position will oversee upkeep and accounting for the store, work with vendors to stock mission-aligned inventory, and coordinate facility rentals for the public and partners. The goals of the Sanctuary Exploration Center are to educate visitors about the sanctuary’s unique and fascinating coastal marine environment and to encourage stewardship of the sanctuary and a better understanding of how to responsibly enjoy and protect the ocean.

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of the nation’s largest marine protected areas encompassing more than 6,000 square miles of central California coastal waters containing a rich array of habitats and marine life and is part of NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary System. The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries provides protection of these natural resources through research and education to foster public understanding and stewardship of nationally significant marine areas. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center opened in 2012 to educate the local community and visitors to the Santa Cruz area.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3, non-governmental organization managed and controlled independently of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The foundation’s purpose includes increasing national and international awareness and protection of and support of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, developing a constituency to support the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, educating the public and decision makers about the value of sanctuaries and supporting sanctuary related education, outreach, and research through the creation of actual and virtual visitor experiences.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is committed to a culture of inclusion, equity, and belonging. We are dedicated to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We honor experiences, perspectives, and unique identities, and welcome the contributions that you can bring to the dedicated team. With a diverse team of employees, we can grow and learn better together and achieve our mission to protect the health of the ocean, coasts and Great Lakes for current and future generations.

What You’ll Do

The Gift Store and Rentals Coordinator will work with the Sanctuary Exploration Center (SEC) Manager to administer and maintain the retail operations of the gift and bookstore. This role will also recruit, track, and support coordination of rental use of the facility for events, workshops, and meetings. As necessary, this role will support day-to-day operations at the center, working with volunteers and staff to create a welcoming environment for visitors and handling opening and closing operations.

Typically, this individual’s time will be divided as follows:

1. Store inventory (20%)

● Product research - identify appropriate merchandise to meet the mission of the Sanctuary Exploration Center to promote educational and environmentally sustainable products

● Order/purchase all inventory - maintain appropriate amounts of inventory depending on sales volume and season

● Merchandise all display areas - pricing and labeling products and product presentation

● Receive and track all incoming inventory and returns

2. Administration (15%)

● Maintain a vendor database and manage new vendor accounts

● Track and record all vendor invoices

● Submit vendor invoices to the foundation for payment

● Maintain and work with Square Point of Sales computer system

● Receive and respond to phone calls and emails

3. Accounting and Reporting (15%)

● Provide sales reports generated from Square-up (Squareup.com)

● Fill in reporting templates based on end of day sales and deposits

● Maintain and account for daily sales record

● Generate biweekly sales records for the foundation using Google Sheets

● Record and make cash deposits

4. Gift Store Volunteer Coordination (10%)

● Assist with training gift store volunteers

● Educate gift store volunteers on new products and pricing

● Oversee volunteers who work in the gift shop

5. Facility and Event Rentals (20%)

● Schedule, facilitate, and be the point of contact for rentals and events

● Work with SEC Manager to ensure there is adequate staffing of events

● Update and maintain facility rental tracker

● Maintain partnerships with hotels and other businesses referring rentals to the SEC

Who You Are

As the Gift Store and Rentals Coordinator, you are someone who has a love of the ocean and will enjoy supporting the operations of a visitor center dedicated to connecting people to Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. You are interested in sustainable goods and may be familiar with non-profit or small business work. You have a commitment to lifelong learning, a strong sense of initiative, and work well independently.

Required Qualifications:

● High school diploma or equivalent required

● Minimum of one year retail management/supervisory experience OR two years retail store experience, including cash handling and inventory tracking

● Proficient computer skills to include; various computer programs (Google Suite, Excel, database entry)

● Good communication and customer service skills, both written and verbal

● Ability to work two weekdays and at least one weekend day, as well as occasional evening

Preferred Qualifications:

● Bachelor’s or Associate's degree

● Supervisory, leadership, and coaching skills

● Experience working in a small business, boutique, and/or non-profit storefront

● Knowledge of financial, budgetary, and accounting best practices

● Knowledge of retail and merchandising trends with a focus on quality, marketing, and presentation

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. The Foundation values a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the responsibilities, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other opportunities.

Why You’ll Love Us

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (“Foundation”) is a leading voice for U.S. protected waters, working with communities to conserve and expand those special places for a healthy ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. The Foundation works in close partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to increase stewardship of our ocean and Great Lakes through on-the-water conservation projects, and education and public outreach activities, and by support for research. Together, we safeguard species and the places they call home and support coastal communities and economies. 

Compensation: $22 - $24 per hour, based on experience.

Applications must include a cover letter, resume, and at least three professional references.

Applications received by September 3rd will be preferred.

Location: Santa Cruz, California

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is an “at will” employer, which means any employment relationship is entered into with the understanding the Employee may resign at any time and the Employer may discharge the employee at any time, with or without cause. The Foundation abides by all Federal and CA State employment laws.
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The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This commitment applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. The Foundation makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.