The Center for Family Life in Sunset Park promotes and supports the founding of cooperative businesses as part of our community development initiative. Our mission is to provide support and consultation services to worker-owner cooperatives based on principles of social justice, equality, and democracy. We focus on helping to develop cooperatives that focus on fair wages, safe working conditions, and respect for the environment. Under the auspices of our Adult Employment Program, we have partnered with community members and incubated four worker cooperatives and two collectives since June 2006. Our work has received recognition by the New York City Council, the GEO Collective, and the United Nations 2012 Year of the Cooperatives. In 2012 with the assistance of NY City Council we began to train Community Based Organizations to develop a cooperative incubation program at their respective sites. In 2014 we received further recognition from the City Council through our Worker Cooperative Coalition efforts, allowing us to expand the worker cooperative movement in NYC. This year we are partnering with the Robin Hood Foundation in order to conduct a 6-month feasibility study to develop an Online Worker-Focused Online Platform that would connect low-income workers and clients with a convenient booking option.

A successful Cooperative Platform Coordinator would have:

• Superior project management skills,
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders, such as workforce development actors, worker owners, lawyers, foundations, technology firms
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative research,
• Experience using web based applications and creating content for electronic platforms,
• Ability to learn quickly and be interested in developing a variety of new skills; be able to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines; have the ability to work both autonomously and in a team.
• Experience conducting market research & testing preferred
• Superior organizational, interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated experience of written and oral presentation skills.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinate the development of a functioning minimum viable product of a worker-focused online platform that connects low-income workers and clients with a convenient booking function.
• Work with different consultants, worker owners and workers at different sites.
• Explore options and make recommendations for the platform’s governance structure.
• Work with consultant to develop a financial model for platform.
• Develop a strategy for including worker cooperatives and individuals from workforce development programs on the platform.
• Conduct research on legal requirements to operate an online platform as well as the possibilities for worker benefits.
• Work with Cooperative Development Program staff to complete tasks.

Geographic Location:

Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York.

Supervision:

The Cooperative Platform Developer will report to the Co-Director of Cooperative Development and the Center for Family Life’s Co-Director. Ongoing weekly individual and bi-weekly group supervision will be provided.

Hours:

Full-time, 35 hours/week. Schedule varies week to week. There is an average of 1-3 evening meetings per week and some weekend meetings.

Languages:

Excellent writing and communication skills in English. Spanish language skills highly desirable.

Qualifications:

• B.A. or M.A. level in Community Development, Business, Public Administration, Marketing Research or other related field.
• Business development experience is preferred, in particular conducting feasibilities studies.
• Experience with community organizing.
• Experience with working in Latino/a immigrant communities. Work in other immigrant communities is a plus.
• Must be a strong verbal and written communicator in English. Spanish skills highly desirable.
• Experience with media, and communications messaging.

Salary:

Commensurate with experience.

Benefits:

Full health benefits, vacation and sick leave.

Application Process:

Applicants for the Cooperative Platform Developer position should submit their full resume along with a cover letter that includes salary requirements by email to coopdevelopment@sco.org. Subject line should include: “Cooperative Platform Developer Position.” Applications without the latter required documents will not be reviewed.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

The Center for Family Life, which is a program of SCO Family of Services, is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQI identified people and people with disabilities are strongly urged to apply.