About Audubon

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.

Position Summary:

The Iain Nicolson Audubon Center is located at Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary, approximately 20 minutes east of Kearney, NE. The mission of Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary is to conserve and restore the Platte River ecosystem, focusing on cranes, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. The nearly 3000-acre sanctuary is located along the Platte River south of Gibbon, Nebraska. It’s open year-round featuring nature education programs, community science, outdoor activities and nature trails. Rowe Sanctuary is critical to Audubon’s education and conservation initiatives in Nebraska and throughout the Platte River Basin and Great Plains. The Sanctuary welcomes thousands of visitors annually through the annual crane migration and existing education programs.

The purpose of the Operations Assistant position is to support crane season operations at the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary. The Operations Assistant will help maintain clean and safe indoor and outdoor areas, welcome guests, prepare spaces for rentals, and programs, and other duties. The Operations Assistant will provide excellent customer service for visitors to the Center, regularly interacting with diverse populations of people from around the world.

This is a seasonal position, working up to 40 hours per week, from Mid-February through Mid-April 2026. This position requires regular weekend work, with the possibility of early morning and/or late evening hours. This is an on-site position based at Rowe Sanctuary in Gibbon, NE.

Compensation:

$19.00 / hour

Essential Functions

• Support Crane Season operations, including opening/closing the building, resetting spaces for rentals and events, and completion of daily tasks.

• Warmly welcome guests. Provide customer service to visitors of the center, including but not limited providing information as requested, processing gift shop transactions and administrative task, answering phone and preparing materials for programs.

• Regularly complete cleaning duties including sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, cleaning and restocking bathrooms, cleaning exhibits, removing trash, and other tasks.

• Provide light maintenance duties for the buildings, trails and grounds, including but not limited to clearing trails of snow and debris, upkeep of all grounds

• Work with volunteers to perform guest services, cleaning, and maintenance tasks.

• Assist with Audubon staff to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging principles are incorporated and followed in all aspects of our work.

Qualifications and Experience

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required (Associate degree preferred). An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.

• 0-1 year of work experience in hospitality, facility maintenance, landscape maintenance, or customer service-related industries.

• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

• Must possess good judgment and be able to work independently under minimal supervision, as well as part of a team.

• Self-motivated and team oriented with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Ability to adapt to unexpected changes in priorities and in potentially stressful situations.

• Willingness to combine manual labor with administrative duties.

• Must have valid NE driver’s license. The employee may be required to operate Audubon vehicles (e.g., pickup trucks) to support operations: (e.g. accessing other facilities on the property, or picking up supplies in town).

• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and working conditions with or without an accommodation.

• Able to do heavy lifting, operate various tools, machinery and other equipment, walk trails and grounds.

• Interest in nature, education, working outdoors and working with volunteers desirable.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates.

Accessibility Statement

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.