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Job Description
NM Public Lands Information Center Manager Status:
Full-time (40 hours/week), exempt
Compensation:
Hiring range of $40,000-$45,000, commensurate with experience Reports to:
Executive Director Location:
Santa Fe, NM State Date:
Immediate or as soon as mutually agreed
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
The Public Lands Interpretive Association (PLIA) is a not-for-profit cooperating association working in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) in New Mexico and Arizona. PLIA works to inspire and educate the public about the natural and cultural heritage resources of America's public lands by providing information, products and services at visitor centers and online. Proceeds from retail sales enable PLIA to support interpretation and educational programs for public land agencies to collaboratively enhance the visitor experience and provide opportunities to enjoy recreational opportunities on public lands. Learn more at www.publiclands.org. PLIA's administrative office and Public Lands Discovery Center headquarters is in Albuquerque, NM, with hubs of retail operations and agency partnerships throughout New Mexico, and Arizona, including the Santa Fe area via the Public Lands Information Center located in BLM's State Office.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
PLIA seeks a creative and personable Manager for the New Mexico Public Lands Information Center (NMPLIC) in Santa Fe, NM to lead efforts that educate public lands visitors about the diverse opportunities on New Mexico public lands. This position works out of the BLM State Office in the south part of Santa Fe, NM. This position is three-fold with priorities that help visitors in different ways:
NMPLIC Bookstore :
Manage the NMPLIC bookstore and provide quality customer service to walk-in visitors;
Visitor Information Services :
Respond to phone calls, emails, and in person requests from visitors and agency partners about public lands questions;
Education and Outreach :
Coordinate opportunities to educate people about New Mexico public lands and the Bureau of Land Management. NMPLIC Bookstore The NMPLIC Bookstore is open
M - F, 8
00am - 4:00pm and is supported by the Manager and one Information Specialist. Products available in the bookstore include New Mexico publications, gifts, and souvenirs that celebrate New Mexico's public lands. As Manager of the NMPLIC, this position is responsible for the following tasks: Provide quality customer service to the public through walk-in customers, phone calls, and emails; Supervise Information Specialist(s) and manage schedule to ensure adequate staff coverage; Maintain sales journals, inventory journals, and related records using Square Point of Sales system (POS). Oversee daily POS operations, including register management, transaction accuracy, and end‑of‑day reconciliation; Communicate with the PLIA Retail Manager to request bookstore needs, such as merchandise ordering and ideas for new products; Manage inventory for the store under the direction of the Retail Manager; Supervise or perform receiving and shelving of incoming inventory and ensure sales and information areas remain clean, organized, merchandised, and visitor ready; Conduct annual physical inventories in coordination with the PLIA Retail Manager; Collect, secure, and deposit cash and charge receipts; prepare and make bank deposits and submit sales remittances and records to PLIA's main office; Manage the sale and proper issuance of public lands recreation passes and permits, ensuring staff are trained and compliant with agency requirements. Visitor Information Services The position plays an important role in sharing information and helping visitors have safe and enjoyable experiences on New Mexico public lands. This position is responsible for actively learning about updates and changes to public lands information, connecting with agency partners to receive the most up-to-date information, and for providing quality and timely information to visitors. Visitors will call the BLM State Office for questions about recreation such as, "Can I collect rocks and gems on this specific public land," or questions about openings and closures, such as, "I read that a current wildfire has this public land closed, where can I go OHVing, nearby?" The Manager will be successful in answering these questions by acquiring a broad depth of understanding about New Mexico public lands, general and specific rules and regulations, and by keeping open lines of communications with agency staff and specialists. While training resources and support will be available, the dynamic nature of public lands means that much of the learning occurs on the job. The ideal candidate is personable, adaptable, and confident in asking questions and seeking information to ensure visitors receive accurate guidance. Education and Outreach There are many incredible places to explore in New Mexico, many of which are BLM-managed public lands. This position will assist with education and outreach activities under the direction of the PLIA Executive Director and will help coordinate both online and in‑person opportunities that raise awareness about public lands and the resources available through the NMPLIC. The Manager will help identify and respond to opportunities for PLIA and BLM to participate in community events, tabling opportunities, and partner‑hosted programs to raise awareness about BLM, and outdoor recreation opportunities. This includes coordinating staffing, materials, and logistics to ensure PLIA and BLM is represented effectively. Outreach activities may include community engagement events, supporting stewardship programs, author talks, informational presentations, or other partner‑driven opportunities that evolve over time. The Manager will also support partnership‑building efforts by participating in meetings and presentations with agencies, tourism organizations, and community groups to strengthen collaborative efforts that expand public understanding of outdoor recreation, the BLM, and New Mexico's network of public lands. For all of these responsibilities, building strong relationships with agency and community partners is essential. Ideal candidates are strong communicators who value trust, collaboration, and respect, and who bring creativity and initiative to extend the capacity of the BLM through PLIA's nonprofit partnership.
EXPERIENCE
Customer Service:
2 years (Preferred)
Supervisory:
1 year (Preferred)
QUALIFICATIONS & COMPENTENCIES
A strong candidate for this position brings a combination of customer service excellence, communication skills, adaptability, and a genuine interest in supporting visitors and partners.
The ideal candidate will:
Provide excellent customer service with patience, empathy, and professionalism. Communicate clearly, listen actively, and contribute positively as part of a small, collaborative team. Demonstrate strong planning, problem‑solving, and multi‑tasking abilities in a dynamic visitor‑facing environment. Work independently while staying organized, self‑directed, and comfortable asking questions or seeking clarification. Be personable, curious, and comfortable learning on the job. Adapt to evolving priorities and timelines, bringing patience, flexibility, and proactive communication when navigating federal agency processes and nonprofit environments. Build and maintain respectful, trust‑based relationships with agency partners, community organizations, and colleagues. Interpret written and oral instructions and apply them accurately in daily operations. Use computers and internet‑based tools effectively, including Microsoft Outlook and SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and social media platforms. Operate standard office and retail equipment such as printers, calculators, phones, price‑tag printers, and point‑of‑sale systems.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
At least two years of customer service experience, preferably in a public‑facing, retail, visitor services, nonprofit, or government setting; At least one year of supervisory experience, including responsibility for directing daily operations or staff; Proven ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment; Strong written and verbal communication skills
Educational Requirements:
High School diploma or higher required.
COMPENSATIONS, SCHEDULE & WORK ENVIRONMENT
This position is a full-time, exempt, salaried position with benefits and will require travel to public land sites in New Mexico and occasional weekend work. The employee in this position is supervised remotely by the PLIA Executive Director. Employee must be willing and able to pass a federal background check as work is conducted in a federal office.
Job Type:
Full-time Benefits:
401(k) matching Employee discount Health insurance Dental insurance Vision insurance Life insurance Paid time off Sick time
Schedule:
Monday - Friday, 8 hour shifts, with occasional weekend obligations
Work Location:
In person, Santa Fe, NM Ability to commute/relocate: Santa Fe, NM 87508: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
TO APPLY
Submit a cover letter, résumé and references via Indeed or to hr@plia.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled. For priority consideration in the first round of interviews, please submit your materials by Monday, June 15th. We are hoping to fill this position promptly and begin onboarding as soon as possible.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
Pay:
$40,000.00 - $45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
401(k) Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance
