Employment Opportunities

The Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium inspires an appreciation and understanding of insects and their relatives. From museum exhibits to school field trips, for the past decade we have provided a variety of unique education programs and experiences for learners of all ages. As we open our new facility featuring a tropical butterfly house and insect zoo, we are looking for a professional naturalist and interpreter that is passionate about insects and invertebrates. This position requires someone who is creative, engaging, and dedicated to advancing the mission of MBHI. The Museum Interpreter and Naturalist will play an important role as we open our new facility, grow our staff and volunteer corps, and expand our programs and events.

Reports to: Executive Director

Duties & Responsibilities:

The ideal candidates will possess a deep curiosity about and passion for the natural world (bugs a plus) and a desire to inspire the same in others. They will have the ability to actively engage and communicate with people of all ages, abilities, and demographic backgrounds in informal settings. They will possess the knowledge and expertise to develop and execute education programs based on generally accepted science principles and industry best practices.  Duties include designing and presenting a variety of activities, animal encounters, impromptu chats, and other programs for all ages, both in-person and virtually, and engaging with MBHI guests daily.

Museum Floor Interpretation and Education Programs:

• Oversee the active (person-to-person) interpretation on the museum floor, specifically live animal interactions at the Animal Encounters exhibit
• Develop innovative ways for staff and volunteers to engage with the public, including creating interactive activities for visitors, especially families with small children
• Research, develop and present a variety of programs and tours for all ages
• Design, develop and review unique nonpersonal interpretive tools for guests to use while interacting with exhibits
• Evaluate effectiveness of interpretive features and content to improve programs and exhibits
• Spend significant time each day on the museum floor interacting with visitors

Volunteer and Customer Service:

• Supervise and train volunteers and ensure quality control of public interactions and customer service
• Help to schedule floor volunteers making sure that all areas are covered during open hours, including Animal Encounter, Butterfly House, and other volunteer needs
• Develop, manage and train on interpretive tools and resources for staff and volunteers
• Effective coordination of theme-driven, inclusive and delightful interpretive projects
• Ensure safety of guests, animals, and staff throughout all programming and interactions
• Provide excellent service to guests, program participants, and team members/volunteers

Additional Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with multiple teams to support training for staff and volunteers on exhibit themes and messaging.
• Assist with tours, events, promotional activities, etc. as needed.
• Follow the protocols and procedures with respect to USDA containment for the live animal collection
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental education, museum studies, related natural science discipline or relevant related field experience
• Minimum 2 years experience in informal education or nature interpretation
• Certified Interpretive Guide through National Association for Interpretation or experience with techniques therein, a plus
• Knowledge that interpretation is a mission-based communication process that forges emotional and intellectual connections between the interest of the audience and the meaning inherent in the museum’s collection and other resources
• Previous experience doing interpretive programs with animals, invertebrates a plus
• Experience developing a variety of interpretive and/or educational programming for all ages and abilities
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Able to communicate scientific ideas both verbally and in writing
• Experience managing volunteers a plus

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to stand for extended periods of time and must be able to work in the hot and humid conditions of the greenhouse. The employee is required to often bend, squat, run, or climb as part of duties.

Schedule: 40 hours/week, Tuesday-Saturday with occasional evenings and weekends

Compensation Range: $17-20/hour, based on experience

Benefits: PTO plus 9 paid holidays. MBHI pays 70% of medical insurance and 100% of vision, dental and life insurance.

Please send cover letter, resume, and three references to stacy@missoulabutterflyhouse.org or MBHI PO Box 8885, Missoula, MT 59807.

Disclaimer: The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

The Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium inspires an appreciation and understanding of insects and their relatives. From museum exhibits to school field trips, for the past decade we have provided a variety of unique education programs and experiences for learners of all ages. As we open our new facility featuring a tropical butterfly house, we are looking for a detail-oriented professional with administrative experience to help further our mission. This position requires someone who is organized and has excellent communication skills. The administration coordinator will play an important role as we open our new facility, grow our staff, and expand our programs and events.
Reports to: Operations Director

Duties and Responsibilities:

Office Management:

• Responsible for maintaining office equipment and company vehicle
• Responsible for ordering and maintaining inventory of office supplies and promotional materials
• Manages and maintains general and administrative files

Financial Management:

• Processes incoming payments and bills
• Works closely with the Bookkeeper and Executive Director to review income and expenses
• Prepares monthly financial reports for Senior Staff and Board of Directors
• Maintains database and prepares membership mailings and gift acknowledgments
• Assists with the management of the volunteer database

Program Registration:

• Handles registration and payments for educational programs, parties and events
• Provides logistical support in the successful implementation of MBHI programs
• Tracks program numbers and assists with monthly reporting to Board of Directors

Additional Responsibilities:

• Helps organize events and meetings
• Assists with museum admissions and gift shop
• Helps Executive Director and Development Director with various organizational tasks involving our fundraising efforts
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years administrative experience
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to consistently adhere to procedures and protocols
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills
• Proficient with Macintosh computers, Microsoft Word and Excel
• Demonstrates positive attitude and strong work ethic
• Able to manage and prioritize multiple tasks
• Familiarity with QuickBooks and point of sale systems a plus
• Database management skills preferred

Schedule: 40 hours/week, Monday-Friday with occasional evenings and weekends
Compensation Range: $17-19/hour, based on experience
Benefits: PTO plus 8 paid holidays. MBHI pays 70% of health insurance including vision, dental and life insurance.

Please send cover letter, resume, and three references to stacy@missoulabutterflyhouse.org or MBHI PO Box 8885, Missoula, MT 59807.