Stewards serve as on-site representatives of Bates College. Tasks include greeting and informing visitors, maintaining records, monitoring entrance and parking lot, walking trail and beach, checking for damage, rule violations, and communicating with the Lead Steward and BMMCA Director. Stewards work weekends beginning in April, then between 16-40 hour weeks in May through September, and returning to weekends only in October and possibly November. The work schedule includes weekends and holidays.
Job Duties:
General Responsibilities
Maintain communication with Bates contact(s), and advise immediately of any problems, repairs, or other conditions that need attention.
Wear Bates-identified clothing (supplied) when on duty, to enable visitors to recognize and locate as resource or authority.
Familiarize self with history, ecology, mission, regulations, neighbors, issues and people of the Conservation Area in order to inform visitors and interact effectively with the various constituents.
Actively greet visitors, seek information, encourage conversation, as a pro-active communications ambassador for Bates.
Encourage visitors to abide by rules and regulations. The stewards are not expected to enforce regulations, but to inform and explain. They may, however, call on the support of law enforcement authorities if necessary.
When working alone, remain in the parking lot area and monitor use.
When working with another steward, alternate booth and trail duty.
Maintain list of emergency numbers in Gatehouse.
Booth/Parking Lot Duty
Maintain log of vehicles and visitors.
Greet visitors, explain mission and regulations when appropriate.
Observe potential rule violations (such as dogs in car, kites or beach umbrellas being unloaded), and intervene.
Summon assistance by telephone if necessary.
Monitor lot area, manage parking when crowded, pick up trash.
Talk with visitors as they leave, ask about unusual experiences and observations, and record in log.
Record name, address, and contact information for any visiting field trip or organizational group. Consolidate group data on log sheet for reporting.
Trail Duty
Walk from booth to top of Morse Mountain, then to Seawall Beach. Alternate walking east and west on beach with other steward so that each shore is walked at least once during the day. Walk to the Small Point end on the west, and to Cherry Tree Head on the east. Walk back, again including the top of Morse Mountain.
Talk with visitors, point out sights and projects of interest.
Check for rule violations, damage or vandalism, unauthorized campsites, and other potential threats to the research area, its flora and fauna, structures, or atmosphere.
Pick up light trash, inform lead steward of heavy trash, downed trees or similar major problems.
Pick up untagged lobster traps in cart when easily accessible; disassemble traps and assure that they are taken to land fill by caretaker.
Maintain stake-and-twine fencing, brochure supplies, other features as needed.
Work with Plover/Tern recovery program to maintain and monitor nesting areas.
Upon return to booth, record anything unusual or interesting in the log.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education
High school diploma required, Bachelor's degree preferred
Experience
Experience with public relations, and a proven ability to relate to the public diplomatically and effectively, with firmness when necessary, is required.
Previous experience as a guard, ranger, docent, monitor, counselor or similar position preferred.
Experience in successfully dealing with emergencies and/or stressful public relations situations desired.
Skills and Knowledge
Ability to interact and communicate with the public cordially, tactfully, and effectively.
Sound judgment, common sense, ability to make decisions independently when necessary and to seek help when available.
Commitment to equity and inclusion, and serving the needs of a culturally and educationally diverse community.
Benefits:
Bates College offers competitive salaries, access to the library and athletic facilities, and a supportive, collegial environment in a drug- and smoke-free workplace. This position may accrue leave in accordance with the Maine Earned Paid Leave law.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Bates College is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and providing an educational and work environment free from discrimination. The college prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status and other legally protected statuses in the recruitment and admission of its students, in the administration of its education policies and programs, or in the recruitment of its faculty and staff. Bates College adheres to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity laws and regulations. All college faculty, staff, students, contractors, visitors, and volunteers are responsible for understanding and complying with the Non-Discrimination Policy.
Inquiries concerning the college’s policies, compliance with applicable laws, statutes, and regulations (such as Title VII, Title IX, and ADA/Section 504), and complaints may be directed to Gwen Lexow, Title IX Officer, 207-786-6445 or via email at glexow@bates.edu.
About Bates:
Bates is internationally recognized as a leading liberal arts college, attracting 2,000 students from across the U.S. and around the world.
Since 1855, Bates has been dedicated to educating the whole person through creative and rigorous scholarship in a collaborative residential community. Committed to opportunity and excellence, Bates has always admitted students without regard to gender, race, religion, or national origin.
Cultivating intellectual discovery and informed civic action, Bates prepares leaders sustained by a love of learning and zeal for responsible stewardship of the wider world. Bates engages the forces — intellectual trends, demographic changes, and technology — that are transforming higher education and the world into which our students graduate.
Bates has highly competitive admissions, graduates over 90 percent of its entering students, and more than half of its alumni earn graduate degrees. Bates employs 200 faculty members and 550 staff.
The college is proud of deep roots in the Lewiston/Auburn community, Maine’s second-largest urban area with a population of approximately 65,000. Bates is located on a beautiful, 133-acre, traditional New England campus in Lewiston, an emerging city with an entrepreneurial climate, a lively arts scene, and a dynamic business community. Bates is 35 miles north of Portland, 140 miles north of Boston, and 350 miles north of New York City.
Founded in 1855, Bates is one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges, with a long history of commitments to principles of human dignity and diversity.Since its inception, Bates has been a coeducational, nonsectarian, residential college with special commitments to academic rigor and to programs and opportunities by qualified learners of all backgrounds. Historically, Bates students and graduates have linked education with service, leadership, and obligations beyond themselves.Bates has highly competitive admission, graduates over 90% of its entering students, and over half of its alumni earn graduate degrees. Bates has 1,700 students, 200 faculty members and 550 staff and administrative employees.The College is proud of its strong involvements in the Lewiston-Auburn communities, Maine’s second largest urban area, with a population of approximately 65,000. Bates is located on a beautiful, 109-acre, traditional New England campus in Lewiston, Maine, a lively small city enjoying an exciting economic and cultural revitalization. With an engaged citizenry, lively arts scene, and historic downtown, this walkable city is 35 miles north of Portland, 140 miles north of Boston, and 340 miles north of New York City.
