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.

A successful Cooperative Developer would have:

• A strong interest/background in worker-cooperative business development, community organizing, worker/immigrant rights and,
• 2-3 years experience with social group work including meeting facilitation and coordination, democratic decision-making and mediation. Groups will range from 15 to 50 people.
• 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.
• Willingness to engage with the cooperative members, the customers of the coops, and other individuals and organizations supporting the development of the cooperative businesses.
• Experience interacting with the press as well as supporting cooperative members with public speaking engagements.
• Superior organizational, interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated experience of written and oral presentation skills.
• Entrepreneurial/Business skills are preferred.

Responsibilities will include:

• Serve as one of the Developers for the Cooperative Development Team. Work with two to three cooperative businesses:
• Conduct a Feasibility Study for the new cooperative businesses.
  Prepare curriculum and deliver 12-week training to new cooperative members.
• Coordinate process of legal incorporation and governance of new coop with attorneys.
• Develop, review and assist in implementing marketing strategy with coop members.
• Support the development of the back office for the business.
• Assist in maintaining customer contact database/member information.
• Work with members to develop sales promotions, e-newsletters, and updates to the website.
• Outreach to media.
• Attend weekly and bi-weekly coop meetings in the evenings and weekends.
• Provide support to community based partners in their development of worker cooperatives.
• Provide consultation based on the developmental stage of the Sunset Park coops.
• Attend weekly and bi-weekly coop meetings in the evenings and weekends.
• Support the various coop committees and the development of leadership of those members in particular.
• Support the office managers of the various coops and the respective office committees.
• Development of ongoing technical and leadership trainings.
• Attend annual cooperative conferences.

Geographic Location: Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York.

Supervision: The Cooperative Developer will report to the Co-Director of Cooperative Development. 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: Able to write, read and speak fluently in Spanish and English.

B.A. or M.A. level in Social Work, Sociology, Community Development, Business, Public Administration or other related field.
Business development experience is preferred.
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 and Spanish or Chinese.
Experience with media, and communications messaging a plus.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Benefits: Full health benefits, vacation and sick leave.

Applicants for the Cooperative 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 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 members in particular.

See original posting at Green Worker Cooperatives

1. Co-op Academy Coordinator

The Co-op Academy Coordinator is responsible for the overall management, growth, and success of Green Worker Cooperatives’ Co-op Academy, a pioneering business boot camp for teams of entrepreneurs seeking to launch worker-owned businesses. The Co-op Academy Coordinator is also responsible for managing a similar and parallel school-based program called the Youth Cooperative Business Initiative that works with high schools to incubate student-run cooperatives.

Duties:

• Manage all aspects of the Co-op Academy and assist each participating team in the development of their cooperative;
• Recruit, schedule, train and evaluate all volunteer trainers, mentors and professional service providers;
• Schedule and coordinate all workshops, orientations, and graduations required for the Co-op Academy and all classes and meetings required for the Youth Cooperative Business Initiative;
• Evaluate and update Co-op Academy and Youth Cooperative Business Initiative curriculum annually;
• Track progress and provide weekly feedback to each co-op team in the Co-op Academy on the quality of their work, team presentations, and business model;
• Prepare and analyze program evaluations by participants, volunteers and the GWC team;
• Participate in weekly staff meetings

Skills:

• Able to effectively manage teams of volunteers;
• Time management;
• Excellent listening skills;
• Program planning and management

Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years experience with popular education methodology;
• Experience starting or managing a business;
• Minimum of one year of experience coaching or mentoring;
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team;
• Familiarity with Lean Startup methodology, customer development, agile engineering, and either the business model canvas or lean canvas preferred;
• Familiarity with worker cooperatives;
• Must be able to work evenings one night a week;
• Spanish language proficiency preferred

Salary: F/T, $42,000 per year.

Start Date: Position begins immediately.

To apply: email cover letter, resume, and three references to jobs@greenworker.coop with “CO-OP ACADEMY COORDINATOR” in the subject line.

Flexible schedule and ability to work partially from home. Bronx residents and people of color strongly encouraged to apply.

2. Co-op Academy Teaching Assistant

The Co-op Academy Teaching Assistant is responsible for working with the Co-op Academy Coordinator, to provide facilitation, structure, process support, and overall management of Green Worker Cooperatives’ Co-op Academy, a pioneering business boot camp for teams of entrepreneurs seeking to launch worker-owned cooperative businesses.

Duties:

• Schedule all Co-op Academy workshops, orientations, and graduations;
• Manage logistical needs for all training activities including venue setup, equipment, food, childcare, and interpretation/translation;
• Manage online & offline tools that track feedback and progress for each participant and their respective teams in meeting program metrics & objectives;
• Prepare all materials & handouts for session activities;
• Collect weekly team presentations and manage the order of the presentation & timing;
• Communicate in-class information to course participants
• Manage scheduling calendar to track all meetings between participants and their mentors, teaching team, and service providers (attorneys, graphic & web designers)
• Manage scheduling of all volunteers assisting with workshops, orientations, and graduations;
• Provide a positive environment in which participants are encouraged to be actively engaged in the learning process;
• Be available for appropriate meetings, office hours, etc.

Skills:

• Excellent time management & event production skills;
• Excellent listening skills;
• Can handle the unexpected;
• Professional communication (oral and written);
• Extremely organized and prepared

Qualifications:

• Must be available weekly, on Tuesday evenings from 5:30pm to 9:30pm, and other designated daytimes for meetings with staff and volunteers;
• Tech-savvy with knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Drive applications

Salary: Part-time (P/T), Maximum of 20 hours per week at $20 per hour

Deadline to Apply: Sunday, August 30th, 2015

Start Date: Position begins early September 2015

To Apply: Email cover letter, resume, and three references to:jobs@greenworker.coop, with “CO-OP ACADEMY ASSISTANT” in the subject line.

Members of GWC’s network of worker cooperatives, Bronx residents, women, and people of color strongly encouraged to apply.

3. Worker Co-op Developer

The Worker Co-op Developer is responsible for the development of a menu of service options for graduates of our Coop Academy, a 6-month cooperative business boot camp, in order to provide them with ongoing support that will grow their cooperatives and help them reach their goals. The Worker Co-op Developer would be an innovative and out of the box thinker capable of conducting thorough assessments of business operations and governance structures; helping co-ops troubleshoot problems as they arise; connecting co-ops with new opportunities; and holding them accountable to their promises. Additional goals for this position are to develop and strengthen the inter co-op relationships among cooperatives within the GWC network as well the relationship between GWC and its member cooperatives.

Duties:

• Survey Coop Academy graduates to identify needs
• Be the ongoing point of contact for all cooperatives developed by GWC
• Assess performance and needs of all cooperatives developed by GWC
• Schedule and facilitate strategic planning retreats for GWC co-ops and assist in the development of yearly goals and milestones
• Coordinate trainings for cooperatives on specialized topics as needed
• Coordinate mediation for cooperatives as needed
• Identify resources and opportunities that can support the growth and development of GWC member cooperatives
• Compile and share best practices on cooperative governance and business operations.
• Schedule and confirm location, dates, guest speakers, agenda, and attendees for quarterly graduate forums
• Work in coordination with other GWC staff
• Participate in weekly staff meetings
• Prepare and assist cooperatives with obtaining capital
• Ability to represent GWC at events, conferences, etc.

Skills:

• Business/entrepreneurship development
• Coaching and mentoring
• Sales and marketing support
• Leadership development
• Fundraising and raising capital
• Consensus decision-making
• Excellent listening skills
• Mediation, conflict resolution, and troubleshooting

Qualifications:

• Experience with popular education methodology
• Experience starting a business
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team
• Knowledge of, and experience with, worker cooperatives or socially responsible businesses preferred
• Bronx residents preferred
• Flexible schedule with ability to work occasional weekends

 

Salary: P/T, 20 hours per week at $20 an hour.

Deadline to Apply: October 1, 2015

Start Date: Position begins early November 2015.

To Apply: email cover letter, resume, and three references to jobs@greenworker.coop with “WORKER CO-OP DEVELOPER” in the subject line.
Flexible schedule and can work from home. Bronx residents and people of color strongly encouraged to apply. This position is intended to grow from Part-Time to Full-Time. The ideal candidate should be open to the possibility of full-time work and able to grow the program to meet that goal.