Careers & Opportunities

Posted: June 22, 2022

Bartram’s Garden seeks a full-time River Program Manager to support our work to position this 50-acre Southwest Philadelphia asset as a dynamic civic commons and river garden.

Since 2015, the River Program at Bartram’s Garden has promoted the self-determined engagement of Southwest residents with local waterways by providing the necessary tools, opportunities, and safe accessible spaces. This program includes the Bartram’s Garden Community Boathouse, a summer on-water high school internship program, a water quality monitoring initiative, swim training, and free walk-up kayaking, row boating, and fishing programs. Programs focus specifically on introductory level water recreation and are powered by high school interns and 70+ trained volunteers.

The River Program Manager develops and implements a site-wide vision for river programming at Bartram’s Garden and oversees daily Community Boathouse and River Program operations. This position manages a team of staff and volunteers and reports to the Director of Public Programming.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and advance free river programs that meet the vision and mission of Bartram’s Garden.
  • Work with leadership, staff, and experts in the field to develop high-quality recreational boating, fishing, and swim training programs.
  • Consistently refine existing programs based on participant feedback and in collaboration with community partners.
  • Develop new programs to meet Southwest community river-related needs as required.
  • Develop and maintain programming partnerships and community relationships including:
    • local paddling and angling communities;
    • Riverways collaborative and other on-water programs in the region;
    • Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission;
    • Coast Guard Auxiliary and Philadelphia Marine Unit;
    • Partnership for the Delaware Estuary; and
    • Mural Arts Philadelphia.
• Deliver safe river programming to the public:
  • Create seasonal calendar and staffing schedule for all river programs.
  • Support Marketing Coordinator’s event promotion and communication of last-minute weather-related cancellations.
  • Oversee daily operation of Bartram’s Garden Community Boathouse to serve 6000+ people per year for fishing and paddling.
  • Maintain Community Boathouse fleet (currently 1 motorboat, 40 kayaks, 15 wooden rowboats, and corresponding equipment) to meet programmatic need and ensure standards of use and safety with Director of Facilities.
  • Procure and maintain equipment needed for programming.
  • Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, emergency actions plans, and safety information.
  • Identify and evaluate anticipated programmatic risks, take appropriate action to mitigate, and be prepared to respond to problems as they arise.
  • Ensure Community Boathouse readiness in support of high school internship program.
  • Keep Community Boathouse area and dock clean and well maintained in collaboration with Logistics Manager.
  • Plan strategic infrastructure improvements and maintenance with Director of Public Programming.
• Manage River Program staff and volunteers:
  • Supervise and support River Program Coordinator (one full-time year-round).
  • Annually recruit and supervise River Program Assistant (one full-time seasonal).
  • Recruit, train, and manage 70+ volunteers.
  • Develop Community Boathouse culture to promote volunteer retention.
  • Train and communicate all operating procedures, action plans, safety protocols. Also coordinate training on positive interactions with guests.
  • Recruit, schedule, and supervise seasonal boat maintenance support staff and/or contractors.

Required Certifications and Licenses (may be obtained upon employment)
• Certification in First Aid/CPR/AED
• Pennsylvania driver’s license
• Pennsylvania fishing license
• Pennsylvania boating license
• ACA Level 2 Kayak Instructor certification

Additional Requirements
As position involves routine contact with minors, prior to beginning this position, the River Program Manager will be required to provide the John Bartram Association with the following:

• Pennsylvania Criminal History Check through the Pennsylvania State Police (PATCH)
• Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Check through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
• FBI Criminal History Check

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with the public around water.
• General boating knowledge including boat maintenance and/or repair.
• Proficiency in chase boat operations.
• Volunteer recruitment and coordination experience.
• Experience working with youth.
• Ability to develop and manage budgets.
• Excellent communication skills for a variety of audiences and stakeholders regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, and religion.
• Ability to cultivate and maintain organizational partnerships.
• Strong organization, multi-tasking and time management skills.
• Strong computer skills (Excel, Word, Outlook and web-based work platforms).
• Flexibility to work holidays, weekends, early mornings and late nights, both indoor and outdoor, and in all weather conditions.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. and to perform physical tasks under a variety of conditions.
• Experience working in communities of color, commitment to racial, economic, environmental and social justice.
• Personal or professional familiarity with Southwest Philadelphia preferred.

Physical Demands

The River Program Manager is a physically demanding position that is conducted outdoors, often in difficult weather conditions, on the water, and in an office setting. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will regularly be required to move and operate boating and fishing equipment; stand and/or walk for extended periods of time; work in immediate proximity to general public in a safe and friendly manner. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The administrative components of this position require the ability to sit/stand at a desk, work on a computer, and use a monitor for extended periods of time

Schedule and Compensation

Our site is open daily, and the River Program Manager will be required to work weekend and evening programs seasonally, some holidays, occasional early mornings, and occasional late nights in support of regular river programming and special events. Additionally, all full-time staff support annual site-wide weekend and evening events including Southwest Spring Fest (April); Juneteenth (June); Honey Fest (September); Twilight in the Garden (October); Indigenous People’s Day (October); Harvest Fest (October); and Handmade Holidays (December).

Starting salary is between $49,000 – $54,000 annually, depending on experience. Benefits include healthcare and dental coverage, short and long-term disability coverage, paid holidays, vacation, and sick time.

Bartram’s Garden COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
The successful candidate must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. An exception to the COVID vaccine requirement may be provided to individuals for religious or medical reasons.

To Apply
To apply, please send your resume along with a brief note describing your interest in the position to . Include “River Program Manager” in the email subject line. Only those whose applications are being considered will be contacted. No phone calls or visits, please.

Bartram’s Garden recognizes the value of promoting a diverse workforce. All individuals, including those from historically under-represented groups, are strongly encouraged to apply. In addition, any form of personal or professional connections to Southwest Philadelphia will be considered a plus for all applicants. If desired, applicants are invited to reflect in their cover letter or other written statement on how their professional and lived experiences position them for their requested role.

Posted: June 8, 2022

Bartram’s Garden seeks a full-time Administrative Assistant to support our work to position this 50-acre Southwest Philadelphia asset as a dynamic civic commons and river garden. Reporting to the Director of Finance, the Administrative Assistant is responsible for facilitating timely expense processing, generating invoices, and supporting office operations. 

Core Responsibilities include:

Financial Administration

• Receive and process bills, expense reports, and other accounts payable.
• Process monthly employee credit card reconciliation reports
• Collect revenue including grants, registrations, memberships, and donations; process deposits; maintain cash balances
• Generate invoices and follow-up on outstanding payments
• Coordinate with external bookkeeping service, support weekly bookkeeping meetings and monthly reconciliation processes
• Maintain all needed documents, equipment, and supplies to complete weekly and monthly financial reconciliation with external bookkeeping service and to complete annual audit with external account

Organizational Administration

• Support all aspects of office operations including:
  • respond to and/or direct routine business inquiries;
  • manage office supply inventory;
  • ensure functionality of office equipment;
  • sort and distribute incoming mail and packages
• Support food and beverage requests for staff meetings, board meetings, retreats, holiday/social events, and other internal/external meetings as necessary
• Request insurance certificates as needed
• Provide support to staff in navigating phone, computer, software, and printers
• Manage the office phone system and auto-attendant functions
• Attend finance committee meetings or other meetings as requested to record minutes
• Other duties and projects as necessary

Qualifications

• Good writing, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong computer skills (Excel, Word, Outlook and web-based work platforms)
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions
• Ability to work collaboratively with a people from diverse backgrounds in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, and religion
• Experience working in communities of color, commitment to racial, economic, environmental and social justice
• Ability to work well either alone or as part of a team

Physical Requirements
Work in this position is primarily sedentary, requiring the ability to sit/stand at a desk, work on a computer, and use a monitor for extended periods of time.

Schedule and Compensation

This is a full-time, non-exempt, salaried position. Starting salary is $37,000 – $40,000 depending on experience. Benefits include health and dental coverage, short and long-term disability coverage, paid holiday, sick and vacation time. Our site is open daily, and this position requires some schedule flexibility to include occasional holidays, weekends, early mornings and late nights. All full-time staff support annual site-wide events including Southwest Spring Fest; Juneteenth; Honey Fest; Twilight in the Garden; Indigenous People’s Day; Harvest Fest; and Handmade Holidays

Bartram’s Garden COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
The successful candidate must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. An exception to the COVID vaccine requirement may be provided to individuals for religious or medical reasons.

To Apply
Email cover letter with resume and three references to jobs@bartramsgarden.org, with subject line “Administrative Assistant.” No phone calls or visits, please.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning June 15. 

Bartram’s Garden recognizes the value of promoting a diverse workforce. All individuals, including those from historically under-represented groups, are strongly encouraged to apply. In addition, any form of personal or professional connections to Southwest Philadelphia will be considered a plus for all applicants. If desired, applicants are invited to reflect in their cover letter or other written statement on how their professional and lived experiences position them for their requested role.

Interested in selling your handmade items at Bartram’s Garden? We have opportunities for vending at various events and festivals throughout the year, as well as the possibility of vending wholesale through our Welcome Center. As a neighborhood park, our mission is to prioritize connections in Southwest Philadelphia.

Please fill out the Vending Interest Form. We’ll be in touch if it feels like a good fit. Feel free to contact Mary Strand at mstrand@bartramsgarden.org with any questions. Thanks!

There are no current contracting opportunities.