Job Opportunities

Founded more than 50 years ago in 1965 as a pioneer in a then-new field called environmental education, we are still pioneering.

Our Nature Preschool, started in only 2013, was the first such nature-based program in Pennsylvania. Since 2000, we have operated a cutting-edge environmental art program, the only one of its kind in an American nature center. Founded in 1987, our Wildlife Clinic is one of the few in the region, and the only one in the City of Philadelphia. Our Camp Schuylkill, after-school program, and day-off camps provide thousands of kids with immersive experiences in nature, which mounting evidence shows benefits children, and people, in innumerable ways.

We are a leader in land restoration and stewardship practices as well, using our 365 acres of open space, the largest privately protected open space in Philadelphia, as a living laboratory for balancing stewardship with active use.

Exhibitions and Art Programs Manager

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, a leading environmental
education provider for the Philadelphia region, seeks a passionate and
organized Exhibitions and Art Programs Manager to contribute to the growth
of the Environmental Art program.

The center’s Environmental Art Program provides opportunities to
investigate, innovate, and interpret the nature of place. Through art
installations in our gallery and on our trails, we incite curiosity and
spark awareness of the natural environment. We aim to build spaces for
artists and the public to creatively explore and engage with both timely
environmental issues and our surrounding ecosystem.

This is a 24-hour per week position with limited benefits, including
vacation and sick days. The position reports to the Director of
Environmental Art.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Manage installations and de-installations for indoor and outdoor
    exhibitions.

  • With the Director of Environmental Art, participate in the development,
    curation and programming of exhibitions.

  • Attend and coordinate the logistics of art programs and events, such as
    receptions, workshops, performances, and art-related fundraising events.

  • Assist with department communications with artists, including responding
    to press/PR inquiries, processing artist submissions, fielding questions
    about the program, and more.

  • Manage the environmental art program’s digital presence, including
    updating the department’s Instagram, main Schuylkill Center website and art
    website.

  • Manage and maintain art program contact lists and program histories.

  • Manage developing and maintaining exhibition materials, including
    brochures, labels, signage indoors and outdoors etc.

  • Monitor indoor and outdoor art installations and perform and/or
    coordinate any needed maintenance, repairs, and activities.

  • Assist in other art department projects as needed, including grant
    applications and reporting, strategy and organizational efforts, etc.

  • Manage all environmental art interns

  • Manage Art & Environment Youth Ambassadors program, including
    scheduling, visiting artists and speakers, curriculum, etc.

  • Serve as art educator for teen program, in collaboration with an
    environmental educator

  • Manage art-related public programming and collaborate with Education and
    Land and Facilities departments on cross-departmental programming
    initiatives

Expected Competencies:

  • Highly organized and detail oriented.

  • Demonstrated ability in teamwork.

  • Excellent writing skills.

  • Willingness to occasionally work weekends and evenings, and adjust
    hours, as required.

  • Mastery of the full suite of programs, including Word/Docs,
    Excel/Sheets, social media platforms, etc. Experience with Canva and Adobe
    products encouraged but not required.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described 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 individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
functions.

The Exhibitions and Art Programs Manager must be able to:

  • Assist with physical labor in the galleries and outdoors on the trails
    for extended periods of time, including during installation and
    deinstallation.

  • Display physical stamina needed to lift and carry supplies (up to 50
    pounds).

  • Display vision abilities required by the job including close and distant
    vision.

  • The Exhibitions and Art Programs Manager is also regularly required to
    stand, walk, and use hands and arms to operate general office equipment
    (PC, telephone, file cabinets, copier/scanner and printer). The noise level
    in the work environment is usually moderate to low.

Education, Experience, and Qualifications

The successful candidate will have a strong foundation in writing, project
management and knowledge of contemporary art, with at least two years of
demonstrated project coordination experience in a museum or related
setting, or some combination of relevant education and experience.

A bachelor’s degree in art history, fine arts, arts education, arts
administration or related fields is required.

Compensation: $19.23 an hour

Apply: Please send a resume and cover letter to Kristina Murray, Director
of Environmental Art, at kristina@schuylkillcenter.org and indicate
“Exhibitions and Art Programs Manager ” in the subject line. Only
successful candidates will be contacted. Applications are reviewed until
the position is filled.

Events Manager

This is a full-time, salaried position with a benefits package that includes vacation, health, dental, vision and retirement. This position reports to the Director of Communications. The salary range for this role is $40,000 – $50,000 per year.

This is a hybrid position with a typical schedule of three days in the office and two days working from home. All employees are welcome to work from the office five days a week if preferred.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Design, manage, evaluate, and coordinate the Center’s diverse event offerings, including planning and developing content, day-of logistics, and post-event debriefs.

  • Manage the inter-departmental events planning process, including maintaining the Center events calendar, leading regular program planning meetings, and maintaining timelines for event execution across the organization.

  • Research innovative events that fulfill the mission of the Center and propose and design new events.

  • Serve as an on-site host for events, including set-up and clean-up activities in collaboration with other staff.

  • Serve as a representative of the organization by attending community and Center events.

  • Schedule and manage the full- and part-time staff that lead individual events.

  • Develop and manage the Center events budget and work closely with department directors to create and manage budgets for department events.

  • Ensure clear event registration communications from registration to post-event.

  • Develop contacts with vendors who provide event services.

  • Organize, manage, and maintain event supplies.

  • Work closely with communications staff to create event descriptions for social media and online calendars to promote events.

  • Collaborate with the Volunteer Coordinator to plan volunteer opportunities and integrate volunteers into Center events.

  • Work closely with development staff to ensure donation/membership opportunities are available at all events.

  • Develop and maintain relationships with the community and partner organizations.

  • Complete post-event assessments, track event data including post-event financial reports.

  • Assist with rentals at the Schuylkill Center,  answering inquiries, maintaining the rental calendar, and coordinating on-site rentals.

  • Available to work occasional weekends and evenings.

Expected Competencies:

  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with staff, volunteers, vendors, and the community.

  • Demonstrated ability to work as a part of a team.

  • Strong written and verbal communications skills.

  • Enthusiasm for event management with a strong attention to detail.

  • Mastery of the full suite of computer programs, including Gmail, Google Docs, Word/Docs, Excel/Sheets, etc.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described 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 individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While the Events Manager spends most of their time indoors, the employee must be able to:

  • Spend multiple hours outdoors in all weather (heat, cold, rain, snow).

  • Hike 2-5 miles on rough terrain, keeping pace with both adults and children.

  • Engage in sustained physical activity throughout the day.

  • Lift up to 25 pounds,

Education, Experience, and Qualifications: The successful candidate will have at least two years’ experience or education in event management. A strong grounding in natural sciences and environmental education, with some combination of relevant education and experience, is welcome but not required.

Apply: Please send a resume and cover letter to Mae Axelrod, Director of Communications, at
mae@schuylkillcenter.org and indicate “Events Manager” in the subject line. Only successful
candidates will be contacted. Applications are reviewed until the position is filled.

Summer Camp Staff

Camp Schuylkill is an environmentally focused program that strives to give children ages 4-12 the opportunity to explore and learn about their relationship to the natural world. We are seeking highly motivated, energetic and creative team members to help us achieve these goals this summer!

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education is dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law and our core values.