Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA) Member CONNECTS: Staff Structure, Recruitment, and Retention by Daniel Auer https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy Please share questions and resources related to staffing at your center. Please 'like' a resource if you found it helpful. en-us 2022-01-25 19:42:18 UTC 2026-01-24 18:22:07 UTC hello@padlet.com Seasonal Staffing Pools are Changed tararogness https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061029718 We've had more challenges filling our seasonal naturalist positions (not as many applicants, less experienced applicants). I know the pandemic has caused talented, experienced naturalists to leave the field (at least that's what I am seeing in MN).]]> 2022-02-22 17:21:56 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061029718 Push to work from home changing atmosphere of office and opportunities for good teamwork. We settled on 2 days per week allowed from home in response to strong employee pressure. Everyone picks different days so very little in person connections are happening. https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061052828 2022-02-22 17:33:59 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061052828 Discrepancy in pay/benefits for seasonal vs. permanent https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061065053 There are perks to both jobs and some employees prefer different lifestyles. Yet, are organizations offering benefits to seasonal employees or pay that bridges the divide between permanent and seasonal?]]> 2022-02-22 17:40:16 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061065053 Staffing cook and custodian positions https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061071209 We struggle with retention for these jobs. Do we distribute the "dirty" work of bathroom cleaning and other cook and custodial duties amongst our educator staff or hire a person specific to do this work? We posted and received some great feedback (thanks!) in the ANCA thread about how to advertise these positions as well.]]> 2022-02-22 17:43:39 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061071209 overqualified seasonal staff https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061073964 During the pandemic we hired an over-qualified seasonal staff and it was SO fabulous! This person contributed greatly to improving our programming. ]]> 2022-02-22 17:45:05 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061073964 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061318208 Job applications have slowed from a trickle to almost nothing.  These used to be sought after positions.  Has anyone had luck with methods like job fairs or jobs boards?

]]> 2022-02-22 20:03:49 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061318208 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061334610 My team has taken years of effort to go from a loosely coordinated group with an array of problems (when I inherited it) to, through training, standards communication and turnover, a very functional group of highly motivated individual contributors and team players. But lately this iteration have been so well trained and hire-able they are being picked off by 'head-hunters" and the turnover rate without replacement is getting dangerously close to not being able to function adequately. In short, retention is a problem because they are so GOOD.]]> 2022-02-22 20:14:39 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061334610 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061337701 My on-boarding technique is one I am being asked to train other supervisors.]]> 2022-02-22 20:16:42 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2061337701 ANCAmembership https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2062944555 2022-02-23 16:34:24 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2062944555 alex1292 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2064620390 Having enough educators to run programs! There are a lot of punches we can roll with and positions we can cover internally and get by without. Educators is not one. ]]> 2022-02-24 14:11:31 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2064620390 Recruitment strategies alex1292 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2064621942 What has worked for folks? ]]> 2022-02-24 14:12:19 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2064621942 Notes from Recruitment converstation alex1292 https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2065266854 Notes from Staff Recruitment conversation (not very neat)

Seasonal Staff recruitment **

Change is in the air

Wolf Ridge is not struggling with educators, the struggle is attracting permanent staff

 

Ask networks: Who do you know that doesn’t know they want to apply yet?

 

Look to midcareer folks. Late 20 early 30 folks looking to switch careers

 

Are we paying enough

College career fairs – who else is there matters?

Job fairs

Wolf Ridge

Grad programs – independent study course Real life credits

                Working professor connections

                Presentation for pre-service teachers

Housing – asset to grad program, not for year round

Americorp? 

Long game vs. short game

Job boards within college – many colleges on Handshake

DEI - 

Purdue 

Clubs – 

Islandwood diversity page = inspiring 

Adding goals to website             

 

Educators on staff page

]]> 2022-02-24 20:11:49 UTC https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2065266854 Diversity on staff https://padlet.com/ANCAmembership/4ildt8r8bb86z9cy/wish/2065285216 Great site example - https://islandwood.org/about-us-an-environmental-science-nonprofit/islandwood-staff-demographics/

Good info to share, and we have found young people are looking for this data as they job hunt.

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