This position is an exciting and new venture for Jewel Cave National Monument. In collaboration with our non-profit cooperative partner, the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association, we are looking for applicants with an interest in the interpretive and educational field, as well as park store operations, marketing, and salesmanship.

Join a dedicated group of park rangers, volunteers, interns, and association staff, working to help visitors appreciate and enjoy one of America’s most treasured resources. At over 190 miles in length, Jewel Cave is the third longest cave in the world. It exposes visitors to a beautiful and strange underground environment, which is still being mapped and surveyed by volunteer cavers. This sense of exploration and discovery captures visitor attention and causes most visitors to understand the importance of preserving and protecting this special resource. Combined with the park store operations, visitors often “walk away” from the Monument with memorable moments, souvenirs, and a variety of educational products. Their purchases help the Monument by coming back in the form of aid funds, which are used for future internships, staff training, educational supplies, and interpretive publications.

Related to the Monument, position responsibilities include the following: leading guided cave tours (Scenic Tours, Discovery Talks, and Historic Lantern Tours); leading nature hikes on a one-quarter mile trail; developing, presenting, and evaluating interpretive patio talks; researching and preparing special event programs and/or roving high use visitor areas; staffing a visitor center desk; providing orientation directions, answering common visitor questions, and responding to written, telephone, and online requests; assisting in the sale of park store merchandise; assisting with special projects, such as the development of interpretive site bulletins, educational flyers and/or other media projects; and taking part in various professional development opportunities related to the interpretation and environmental education.

Related to the Park Store, position duties include the following: interacting with customers by providing product and organization information; keeping track of store inventory and replenishing stock as needed; maintaining and updating store displays with appropriate products; working with others to meet assigned sales targets; attending sales training activities.

This position requires a high level of verbal and written communication skills, as well as positive experiences with customer service. Due to the position being both agency driven and non-profit oriented, applicants need to be team players with multiple staff members. Tasks and assigned duties will be challenging and will require attention and diligence to details.

• US Citizenship Required

SCA’s mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of the environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land.