Temporary Support Worker – Kansas Wetlands Education Center (Great Bend, KS)

Department
Kansas Wetlands

Job Posting Title
Temporary Support Worker – Kansas Wetlands Education Center (Great Bend, KS)

Job Description

The Temporary Support Worker position is stationed at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC), which is located at Cheyenne Bottoms near Great Bend, KS and reports to the Director of KWEC.  This part-time position will assist with visitor services, interpretation, environmental education programming and preparation, and live animal handling and care.  The position requires excellent customer service and interpersonal skills with coworkers and visitors/customers at KWEC, and highly detailed and very organized work habits.  Up to 20 hours per week with some flexibility.  Work schedule will include working 2 weekends per month.

Minimum Qualifications:  High School diploma or GED equivalency and one year of related job experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associates or Bachelor’s degree and two plus years of related job experience
• Experience with live animal care
• Proficiency with computers and Microsoft Office suite (especially Word, Excel)
• Experience with retail sales/management
• Strong written and oral communication skills

Appointment Date: The start date is as soon as possible.  Appointment will require acceptance of an offer and successful completion of a background check.  The position is “temporary”, however, there is no set time limit for this position and could result in a long-term appointment.

Application Priority Deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Hourly Rate: $13.07 per hour

Benefits: No Benefits available

Responsibilities:

• Serve as a receptionist for the KWEC office, greeting visitors, tracking daily attendance, answering visitor questions, answering and forwarding phone calls, etc.
• Assist with feeding and maintaining the cages of live animals in the classroom, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
• Become knowledgeable about Cheyenne Bottoms, wetlands, and the surrounding area
• Operate the cash register for the gift shop, including opening the cash drawer at the beginning of the day, running purchases during the day, and balancing the cash drawer at the end of the day
• Assist the Environmental Educators with educational programs
• Lead interpretive talks and/or tours of Cheyenne Bottoms, KWEC exhibits, and other special occasions for programs
• Other duties as assigned

This description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Application Process:  To apply for this position, please visit https://fhsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/CAREERS .  Only electronic applications submitted through the webpage will be accepted.

Required Application Documents:  Applicants should submit a resume, and names and contact information for three professional references. Applicant documents should be submitted in one PDF.

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact:

Name:  Curtis Wolf, KWEC Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone:  877.243.9268

About Kansas Wetlands Education Center: The KWEC is a branch of Fort Hays State University’s Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics and opened in April 2009.  The mission of the KWEC is to educate the public about wetland communities, their importance and the need for conservation and restoration.  The KWEC facility contains 11,246 square feet of floor space, including the Koch Wetlands Exhibit gallery, the Duane Shook Auditorium, a classroom, a gift store, and office spaces for staff, volunteers, and graduate students.  KWEC averages approximately 25,000 total contacts annually, including drop-in visitors, onsite program participants, and outreach program participants.  KWEC Educators conduct more than 700 total programs annually.  Admission is free.  Viewing areas overlook a mitigation marsh, and a nature trail extends through a nearby wooded area.  The building is located about 70 miles southeast of Hays, KS, along K-156 Highway, near the city of Great Bend in central Kansas.  It overlooks Cheyenne Bottoms, the largest wetland in the interior of the United States, including: 19,857 acres known as the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks and 7,706 acres known as the Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve managed by The Nature Conservancy.  Another large wetland area, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (21,820 acres), is located about 40 miles south of the KWEC and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. http://wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu .

Community of Hays

FHSU is located in Hays, a vibrant college town of approximately 20,000, located halfway between Kansas City and Denver on Interstate 70. Hays is the regional center for education, health care, professional services, shopping, culture, and recreation for the western half of Kansas. The community boasts excellent recreational programs and facilities, including the comprehensive Center for Health Improvement, Hays Aquatic Park, Smoky Hill Country Club, Hays Municipal Golf Course, and extensive walking, running, and biking trails. Hays is within 45 minutes of two large lakes that offer great opportunities for boating, fishing, and camping. The Hays Municipal Airport provides connecting service to Denver with several flights daily. The Hays community is home to excellent Pre-K and K-12, public and private schools. With over 60 restaurants, major retail outlets, a low unemployment rate, and very short commute times, the city provides a safe, welcoming, low-cost, high-quality living environment for the residents who call "Hays, America" home.

Notice of Non-discrimination – Fort Hays State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, national origin, color, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or veteran status.

Background Check: Final candidate will have consented to and successfully completed a criminal background check.

Notice to KPERS retirees applying for a position: Recent legislation changes working-after-retirement rules for both you and your employer if you go back to work for a KPERS employer. Please contact your KPERS representative or www.kpers.org for further information on how this might affect you.