The Spring Island Trust is seeking someone with excellent interpersonal skills as well as technological and organizational ability, to serve as our Operations Manager. The Operations Manager position is a full-time, salaried, exempt position which will manage, oversee, and coordinate all administrative and some financial functions of the organization as well as growing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders (in our case, our staff, Spring Island Members, and donors). This position involves a diversity of tasks on the island, and the successful applicant will need to impress us with their ability to maintain progress on many efforts at once. In return, you’ll join a team of professionals who are incredibly devoted to the work of the Trust, and to maintaining everything that makes Spring Island so special.

 

 

Spring Island is a 3,000-acre sea island located within the Port Royal Sound, in the picturesque Lowcountry of South Carolina, near the town of Beaufort. It has a diversity of habitats ranging from maritime forests to fire-managed pine savannas, as well as early successional fields, and is surrounded by an additional 3,000 acres of tidal marsh. Within this mix of habitat nestles a low-density residential community of approximately 350 homes dispersed throughout the island. These homeowners are the Members of the Trust and are our principal financial supporters. The Trust manages 1,100 acres of nature preserves on the island, and educates Members through our nature center. 

 

The Trust was established in 1990 and is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Its mission is to preserve and protect Spring Island’s environment and cultural history, and to provide education, expertise, and leadership in the conservation of natural resources throughout the Lowcountry. See www.springislandtrust.org for more information.

 

 

The Operations Manager will support the efficient functioning of the organization’s day-to-day operations. The Trust team is made up of seven full-time employees and one part-time employee; the organization’s activities are collaborative in nature, and the successful applicant will work closely with the entire team. 

 

The position is based out of our nature center on Spring Island, and serves as a first point of contact for many of our Members, including answering questions about the natural and cultural history of the island. The Operations Manager serves on several committees led by island Members, including planning of the Trust’s weekly lecture series and occasional offsite field trips.

 

The Operations Manager has two primary responsibilities: the efficient functioning of the Trust’s day-to-day business operations, and positive and consistent interactions with our Members. These two core areas include the following responsibilities:

·         Consistent and upbeat interactions with members.

·         Broad knowledge of the activities happening around the island.

·         The ability to establish personal relationships with a large number of people.

·         Timely processing and coding of bills, donations, acknowledgement letters, and reimbursements.

·         Managing and communicating facilities usage (classrooms, nature center, guest cottage, some equipment) through shared calendars.

·         Logistics and registration for education, fundraising, and other special events.

·         Oversight of contractors working in facilities or on special projects elsewhere on the island.

·         Coordination with volunteer committees that oversee our weekly lectures series and occasional off-island trips.

·         Collaborate with the Fundraising Specialist to process annual campaign gifts and send donor acknowledgments

 

 

·         Experience in bookkeeping

·         Experience in managing all aspects of an office budget

·         Proficient knowledge of Microsoft 365 products, specifically Outlook (email and calendar), Word, and Excel

·         Strong organizational skills

·         Strong time-management skills, including ability to adapt to changing timelines and prioritize between multiple duties

·         Attention to detail

·         Familiarity with fundraising databases, or a willingness to learn

·         Familiarity with accounting software, or a willingness to learn

·         Demonstrated passion for people, nature, and the environment

 

·         Degree in a relevant field (administration, biology, education)

·         At least five (5) years of administrative, non-profit, or other business experience required

 

Requires physical dexterity, occasional walking on uneven terrain in our Nature Preserves, and the ability to lift 25 pounds.

 

Involves some weekend, evening, and holiday commitments.

Compensation

Salary will be $60,000 or greater, depending on experience. Spring Island Trust provides competitive benefits after completion of a probationary period, including health insurance, paid time off (PTO), and a 401(k) with an employer match. 

To apply, please submit: a cover letter that highlights your interest in this position and your relevant experiences; a resume/CV; and the contact information for three references. Submit your application materials – preferably as a single PDF document – to info@springislandtrust.org. Questions about the position may also be directed to this e-mail address. No phone calls, please.

 

Review of applications will begin immediately. The start date is flexible, but we hope to have someone join our team as soon as possible.