Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) seeks a motivated individual to lead, improve, grow, and coordinate the visitor experience and community programs at ACES’ sites, primarily at Rock Bottom Ranch (RBR).
ACES is a nonprofit environmental science education organization. Since 1968, ACES has inspired a lifelong commitment to the Earth by providing innovative and immersive programming for all ages. We have three locations in the Roaring Fork Valley: Hallam Lake, Rock Bottom Ranch and Catto Center at Toklat. Our programs reach more than 140,000 individuals every year, and focus on ecological literacy, regenerative agriculture, forest and ecosystem health, land restoration and environmental leadership.
ACES teaches in schools from Aspen to Rifle, and provides youth camps, field trips, adult classes and guided hikes. ACES works diligently to directly affect environmental and climate change education, awareness and action. We also engage our community by hosting public lectures and events. ACES collaborates with land trusts, public agencies and other nonprofits to achieve our mission.
Ideal candidates are self-starters, take initiative and are eager to collaborate with co-workers and other stakeholders. They have sought out opportunities for developing programs, enjoy teaching, and have an interest in building community and connecting people to place. This position has a seasonal flow, with significant time at a computer doing administrative tasks during some parts of the year, and more hands-on, outdoor teaching and time supporting staff during others. Good candidates easily engage with people of all ages and backgrounds, are adept public speakers, and are quick to adapt communication strategies and programming for a variety of audiences.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Community Programs Coordination
- Manage online registration for ACES’ community programs, including creating registration and website landing pages, responding to inquiries, sending registration confirmations, processing cancellations and refunds, etc.
- Be Manager-on-Duty for summer camps and school break camps, including managing check-in/check-out, rosters, and incident reporting.
- Teach and lead ACES’ community programs regularly. Some of these programs will happen outside of the typical work schedule.
- Assist in development and implementation of ACES’ community programs for participants of all ages at all our sites.
- Continue to improve engagement with our Spanish-speaking community through culturally relevant programming, partnerships, and outreach.
- Regularly communicate with and facilitate collaboration between ACES education and agriculture staff to coordinate joint participation in community programs.
- Assist in the planning and execution of summer educator and seasonal agriculture staff training.
- Support in scheduling and communicating with ACES’ summer Educator-in-Training high school volunteers.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with community organizations and community program instructors.
- Serve as a key liaison for community partners and act as an ambassador for the organization in public settings.
- Collaborate with the ACES Marketing & Communications team to support marketing and promotion of programs through various communication channels.
- Track attendance and participant feedback to monitor program effectiveness and implement improvements using feedback and evaluation tools.
- Plan and facilitate Summer Education team meetings at RBR.
- Maintain awareness of, and implement, risk management best practices.
- Foster a supportive and inclusive environment for all staff, volunteers, and participants.
2. Visitor Experience & Site Coordination
- Perform, schedule, and facilitate on-site visitor center hosting responsibilities at Rock Bottom Ranch. This includes greeting and engaging guests, answering telephone calls, informal visitor education, fielding questions, training staff, maintaining supplies, and managing the RBR Instagram account for outreach and engagement.
- Maintain and develop educational outdoor spaces, including gardens and play areas, and coordinate with subcontractors for site upkeep. This includes the Children’s Garden; kids wetlands and Mud Kitchen play area; the new Native Habitat Garden; and other outdoor areas that visitors may experience.
- Oversee signage and interpretation at RBR, managing existing materials and creating new educational and directional signage across the ranch.
- Manage the on-site store operations, including merchandise and food sales, and support improvements to guest-facing spaces to ensure a welcoming and professional atmosphere.
- Oversee day-to-day operations of all facility spaces and non-agricultual outdoor areas, ensuring a clean, organized, safe, and presentable environment.
- Ensure necessary supplies and office materials are organized and stocked.
Secondary Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Assist with care of ranch animals and vegetable production tasks, when needed.
- Support the ACES Administrative team with various projects including marketing, development, events, HR, finance and others.
- Other duties as assigned to further the mission of ACES.
Qualifications
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience coordinating, leading and/or teaching programs
- Outstanding communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders, including community members, partners, teachers, parents and youth
- Experience working with a wide variety of ages in an outdoor setting
- Fluency in Spanish is desired, but not required
- Superb customer service skills
- Strong administrative and organization skills; demonstrated attention to detail
- Savvy with technology, computers, databases, and registration systems with an interest in learning new systems
- Interest in food systems, regenerative agriculture, and environmental education
- Friendly, inviting personality and positive attitude
- Strong willingness and desire to learn
- Current WFR certification
Reporting Relationship
This position reports to ACES Community Programs Director. Further support will be provided from the Education Director and RBR Director.
Location
This is a full-time, year-round position at ACES Rock Bottom Ranch in Basalt, Colorado. Travel throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and Garfield County is required.
Compensation and Benefits: This is a full-time, salaried position. Salary is commensurate with experience and starts at $38,500 with employee housing and utilities provided. ACES’ benefit package includes a medical insurance plan, dental insurance plan, matching retirement savings plan, health reimbursement account, flexible spending account, paid time off, a recreation benefit, and a discount on items in the ACES gift shops and on ACES classes.
Application Process: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Start Date
July 13, 2026 or as negotiated
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ACES does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, genetic information, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and organizational need.
ACES employees work with school children, therefore ACES conducts background checks for criminal history and motor vehicle records.
