Cultural Space & Facilities Steward

(FULL-TIME 30 HRS/WK)

EB PREC 2024 JOB DESCRIPTION

PRIORITY DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 29TH

ABOUT OUR COOPERATIVE

The East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative is a multi-stakeholder coop that facilitates BIPOC and allied communities to cooperatively organize, finance, purchase, occupy, and steward properties, taking them permanently off the speculative market. We create community controlled assets and empower our communities to cooperatively lead a just transition from an extractive capitalist system into one where communities are ecologically, emotionally, spiritually, culturally, and economically restorative and regenerative.

We are a team of nine full-time staffers. As a candidate, you will be eligible for Staff Ownership in the coop after a candidacy period of 18 months and 1400 hours. (Review our bylaws to learn what it means to become a Staff Owner.) You will be expected to develop your capacity to operate effectively in a collaborative and non-hierarchical collective. At times this may look like taking direction from other staff or community members, holding yourself accountable for responsibilities, stepping into leadership roles, or sharing leadership with other cooperative members.

In 2021, EB PREC acquired Esther’s Orbit Room, with 9,000 sq ft of commercial and residential buildings, and The Barn next door in 2023, with 2,300 sq ft of commercial space, future home to a community co-working and resource space. These properties have been vacant for over 10 years, and EB PREC is in the process of designing and remodeling these properties (Esther’s scheduled to break ground by Q2 2025, the Barn scheduled to soft open by Dec 2024) to create affordable and cooperatively managed space for Black entrepreneurs and community members to live, work, heal, and connect.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Join our team as a Facilities Manager and Host at The Barn! This dynamic role involves overseeing the maintenance of The Barn and Esther’s from sourcing and managing repairs to conducting basic upkeep tasks like cleaning, tidying, and replacing inventory. Responsibilities also include tidy upkeep of the Barn Co-working space during operations, ensuring cleanliness, staffing the front desk, and handling various physical projects like hanging signage or art, and minor repair projects. Ideal candidates will have light IT skills, possess a driver's license, and exhibit a proactive and solutions-oriented approach to facilities management. If you are looking to be part of a vibrant community and contribute to the smooth day-to-day functioning of the Barn community space, apply now!

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Facilities management at Esther’s and the Barn

• Create and maintain safety systems - fire extinguishers, exit signage, etc
• Execute minor and coordinate larger facilities maintenance and repairs
• Regularly inspect and report on facilities systems, functionality, and proactively address potential problems
• Maintain cleanliness through regular custodial duties, including daily trash pickup in front of buildings on 7th st, and garden management
• Help manage utilities and audio-visual systems
• Provide access as needed to operators, members, staff, and others as needed
• Take on small building projects

Barn Co-working space staff

You will be the go-to on-site staff person managing a community resource center and co-working space for EB PREC members and the broader community. Other EB PREC staff will support on a limited basis with staffing the space, but you will be the key staff member making the space go on a daily basis.

• Staff the front desk and welcome community members into the space with a smile
• Sign people in, gathering basic information into our management software
• Orient folks to the space with a tour and overview of the space’s norms
• Keep the space clean and tidy - sweeping, clearing debris, organizing tables and chairs at the end of each day, cleaning and restocking the bathrooms and kitchenette.
• Open and close the building
• Manage keys and access to the space
• Create and maintain signage as needed
• Create and maintain basic safety protocols and systems
• Manage scheduling for community events, coordinating with our team for staffing and other resources as needed
• Staff the space during community events as needed
• Track and maintain inventory and equipment
• Troubleshoot technology, including internet, hybrid meeting equipment, video displays, and workstation equipment
• Support events, commercial operators, and visitors in the space with their space access and equipment and supplies needs.

Cooperate, Lead & Follow!

The Barn and Esther’s are the center of EB PREC’s 7th St. Cooperative Cultural Corridor vision, and many of our staff will be looking to collaborate with you

• Support Esther’s Culture & Community Manager with:
  • Facilities Management Plan
  • Communications Plan
  • Events Plan
  • Space Booking/Management Strategy
• We all carry the load collectively, and we all step in to various support and leadership roles outside our major focus areas as needed

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

CORE QUALIFICATIONS

• Based in East Bay, preferably Oakland for this in-person position
• Prior experience with facilities management, including taking initiative and working independently to resolve issues that arise to care for buildings and public space
• Prior experience with overseeing the usage of a community space by the public
• Ability to collaborate deeply with a team of folks, and sometimes take specific directions by others, while taking proactive initiative around other arenas of this position
• Provide friendly and helpful customer service for the public and community members using the space, as well as with various vendors and subcontractors
• Able to do custodial duties to keep the building and space clean, neat and organized
• Proven track record that when problems arise, able to proactively initiate, and lead on researching solutions often independently
• Solid verbal communication skills, able to engage effectively with multiple types of parties
• Attentive and accurate, paying attention to details
• Skilled at time management with the ability to juggle needs as they arise in a potentially fast paced environment
• Adept at learning digital tools and systems such as Google Suite, Asana, Slack, etc. Skilled at managing multiple calendars
• Must be absolutely punctual and reliable, especially to open space, meet subcontractors, etc
• Strong commitment to anti-racism and anti-oppressive movement building
• Strong commitment to collective decision-making and working in a staff collective
• Self-motivated, responsive, flexible and takes initiative
• Some flexibility for weekends and evening availability
• Drivers’ License

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous experience serving as a host at a co-working space, community space or similar
• Extensive previous experience with facilities management including knowledge of building and utilities issues
• Previous experience using, setting up and troubleshooting A/V equipment

HOURS, PAY, AND BENEFITS

This position is full time (30 hrs/wk) at $40.98/hr (~$63,930/year) (.75 FTE of $85,240). EB PREC offers health and dental insurance, Medical FSA, Dependent Care FSA, Paid Time Off (PTO), 11 paid holidays, flexible scheduling for work/life balance, professional development allowance, and home office reimbursement.

This position is primarily IN-PERSON at a commercial community space in West Oakland, with some remote meetings. They will maintain regularly scheduled open hours, as well as occasional ad hoc events, primarily on evenings and weekends.

Applications for this position will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Priority application deadline: Sunday, September 29th.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your resume, cover letter, to jobs@ebprec.org. Please address the following questions in your cover letter:

• What excites you most about our cooperative?
• What role have you held in the past that you sense is most similar to this role described or what life experiences have you had that you sense have prepared you most for this role?
• What challenges would you anticipate, if any, in taking this role?
• Describe one thing you’ve learned about our organization while researching this opportunity.
• Tell us how you heard about this position.

EB PREC is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. BIPOC, queer and trans, women and gender non-conforming applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.