Educators Forum 2024

Operations Manager

The Operations Manager (OM) supports the operational, financial, and other administrative functions of Maker Ed. The OM collaborates with the Director of Strategic Partnerships in various areas of fundraising and partnerships; the Chief Financial Officer (Sutro Li) in various ways related to accounting and bookkeeping; the Executive Director in supporting team building, HR functions, and other administrative tasks; and program teams in coordinating various aspects of professional development projects, either virtually or in-person. 

Generally, the OM is someone who should feel at home taking good care of our people, and is excited about refining and creating the systems that support our collective work. We are looking for someone who is self-driven and finds ease in working on detailed projects. We also hope this person is able to see the big picture of how this kind of work fits in with the larger vision. Our future OM is comfortable holding people accountable to using our systems, and can be flexible when those systems need to change.

Roles and Responsibilities

Financial and Office Administration

  • Manage all financial procedures (accounts payable, accounts receivable, contracts, MOU’s) and ensure they are running effectively 
  • Ensure all financial procedures are in compliance with financial policies.
  • Maintain office systems including but not limited to the following:
    • Tracking equipment, supplies and materials for makerspace and office space and reordering as necessary
    • Financial transactions and recordkeeping  
    • Office emergency procedures
    • Checking Mail 
  • Perform various administrative tasks including data entry and management, copying, preparing and formatting documents, filing, retrieving and sorting mail,and shipping mail. 
  • Maintain emergency contacts information 
  • Maintain the following calendars: Maker Ed All Staff, Maker Ed Community Studio Use.

Administrative Support 

  • Assist the Executive Director in coordinating Board of Directors meetings, including preparing documents for board packet, organizing logistics and correspondence
  • Assist Executive Director in scheduling, preparing for and note-taking of all staff meetings, trainings, and group events
  • Coordinate HR functions in partnership with external HR partner: run payroll, track employee time off, coordinate hiring paperwork
  • Collaborate with the ED on fun activities that build staff morale, connectedness and culture
  • Coordinate the use of shared resources, including and not limited to online subscriptions of services, technology, shared supplies/equipment, etc. 
  • Coordinate all hiring functions, in collaboration with hiring manager:
    • Post and promote open roles 
    • Own candidate communication 
    • Coordinate on-boarding and off-boarding procedures

Events and Partnerships

  • Events and campaigns
    • Coordinate logistics for workshops, learning team events, fundraisers, or any comms-related events, including hospitality, web conferencing logistics, registration, and pre- and post-event communications with attendees.
  • Partner communications
    • With Director of Strategic Partnerships, Executive Director, and/or members of program or communications teams, coordinate communications with external partners (vendors, programmatic partners, event coordinators, visiting educators, etc.) as needed in an authentic, welcoming, helpful tone
  • Manage and oversee studio rentals with external vendors and partners

Maker Ed Studio + Makerspace

  • Communicate expectations for use of space (including future media studio) for Maker Ed staff, tenants, and possible external partners
  • Manage the restocking and inventory, safety and equipment installation, usage, maintenance/repair, signage, and ordering of consumables
  • Oversee the purchasing, preparation, and shipping of materials for professional development workshops, conferences and events.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have 3-5 years of relevant experience in nonprofit management, HR, operations, finance, or relevant fields, and:

  • Centered equity, justice, and liberation in their previous work;
  • Management and/or leadership experience;
  • Familiarity with Maker Ed’s learning pedagogy (hands-on, liberatory, anti-racist learning practices). Even better if you have some experience creating your own maker-centered learning experiences and activities! 
  • Proficiency with project management software like Asana.
  • Experience working with online accounting software (Quicken, Xero, Plooto, Bill Pay, etc.);
  • Experience administering payroll and benefits
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
  • Proficiency using spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel.
  • Proficiency using Google Suite applications.

Nice to have:

  • Experience working in any kind of educational setting is a huge plus! 
  • Design experience, an artistic eye, and a willingness to be creative.
  • Some experience in nonprofit fundraising or partnership development.

Accessibility & Work Environment

Our national office, “The Community Studio,” is located in Berkeley, California. Maker Ed staff work on a hybrid schedule, with most staff fully remote and some staff in the office 1-3 days a week. Due to the responsibilities of this role to maintain our physical office space, we prefer candidates who are within commuting distance as the work requires some physical presence at the office. We can be flexible in designing a hybrid schedule that works for everyone.

  • Requires sitting, talking, and listening for 4+ hours per day. An average of 4-5 hours per day will be spent at a computer using a keyboard. Reaching with hands and arms is necessary. Certain situations may require lifting items up to 20 pounds. Position requires the ability to travel by car or plane for required local and national travel.
  • Work performed in the Berkeley office offers closed-door offices with natural light and windows to fresh air, as well as outdoor seating and lounging area in our back garden. 
  • Staff who need or choose to work in the office must show proof of vaccination. Maker Ed maintains safety protocols for mask-wearing, social distancing, and cleaning while in the office.
  • Occasional local SF Bay Area travel may be required for this position.
  • COVID – 19 Vaccine Policy: In accordance with Maker Ed’s duty and commitment to prioritize the health and safety of employees and provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, employees are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This policy applies to all employees [including temporary employees and contractors] who will interact with the public and/or co-workers. We adopted this policy to safeguard the health of our employees and their families, our partners and visitors, and the community at large from COVID-19. This policy complies with all applicable laws and is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the California Department of Public Health, the Alameda County health department and all applicable state and local health orders.

How to Apply

Visit https://makered.org/get-involved/careers/apply/ to submit your resume, cover letter, and a sample of your work. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until Friday, February 18, 2022. The application process will include an initial remote conversation (via Zoom or phone) with one Maker Ed staff, a remote interview (via Zoom) that includes submitting work on a sample project, and a final remote interview (via Zoom).

Details and Logistics

This is a full-time position, which is currently four days a week. This schedule may return to a five-day work week.

The base salary for this position is $60,000 depending on experience. In addition, we offer 100% employer paid health, vision, and dental coverage for employees and dependents are covered with a $25 monthly co-pay. In addition, we match requirement contributions up to 5% with flexible investment opportunities to help you manage your personal financial planning. 

We offer these supports to promote work – life balance:

  • Paid time off: vacation; holidays; sick days (if you, a partner, family member are sick) and mental health wellness time.
  • We close down for 1 week in the summer and 2 weeks in December to provide all staff time to rest and take a break together. 

About Maker Ed

Maker Ed is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating more opportunities for all young people to develop confidence, creativity, and interest in science, technology, engineering, math, art, and learning as a whole through making. Through its support of educators and communities, Maker Ed plays a national leadership role in both broadening access to and deepening the impact of meaningful making and learning experiences for youth.

Learn more about who we are and what we do at MakerEd.org.

Maker Education Initiative is an independent 501c3 and “at-will,” equal opportunity employer. Maker Ed is committed to equity as an organizational priority and we strongly encourage applicants from a diversity of backgrounds and from communities most impacted by an unjust education system. Employees shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity (including pregnancy and/or gender expression), color, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application. Maker Ed is committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourages applications from candidates of color.

Our Vision

We believe maker-centered learning has the power to transform the educational experience for every child, and we imagine a future in which all children––regardless of class, gender, race, ability, or geography––have equitable access to learning experiences that support the development of their own agency and problem solving dispositions as they become lifelong change-makers.

Our Mission

The mission of Maker Ed is to harness the potential of making to transform teaching and learning. 

Maker Ed’s Values

We are a values driven organization, and believe that in order to do our work effectively, we must model the practices and values inherent in the work we do. Our values drive our decision making, programs, and the learning experiences we hope educators will shape for children when they engage in making.  

  • Equity. We believe maker education must ensure that every child gets what they need to develop creativity, knowledge, and skills for life. 
  • Community. We honor the history, culture, strengths, and leadership in communities. We value teamwork and collaboration, building relationships and connecting with others to achieve common goals
  • Joy. We believe that classrooms should be lively and full of joyful exploration and discovery, understanding that hope plays an integral role in being able to imagine and work towards a vibrant future. 
  • Agency. We trust that children are inherently capable and we prioritize learners receiving the resources and support they need to voice and act on their unique thoughts, choices, and ideas.
  • Learning. We believe that learning experiences should create opportunities for students to follow their own passion and curiosity, find their purpose, and become lifelong learners.