DPW Shade Assistant Manager
Job Summary
The Department of Public Works (DPW) Shade Construction Assistant Manager assists the Shade Construction Manager with coordinating and supporting Shade Operations. This includes pre-construction season communications regarding on-site logistics and crew planning. The Assistant Manager directly co-manages the Shade Teams on a daily basis through the build, maintenance, disassembly, strike, and storage of Shade structures.
Duties & Essential Job Functions
Operations (65%): Helps manage a motivated schedule to complete survey, build goals, and site management for multiple shade construction sites/builds according to the required timeline. Interfaces with infrastructure support departments such as Heavy Equipment and Transportation (HEaT), and all departmental leads who submit resource requests for shade in BRC. Helps lead a crew in the survey, construction, and strike of over 150 shade structures according to confirmed design and construction plans. Adheres to a schedule for the shade team that meets the needs of BRC and Operations departments in a timely fashion. Maintains safe, clean, and organized work sites; ensures team members are provided with and use necessary OSHA safety equipment. Ensures compliance with BRC’s safety and quality specifications, communicates incidents to management in a timely manner. Ensures job site practices for safety are communicated to the crew and upheld. Oversees the safe dismantling, winterizing, and storage of all structures, materials, and tools.
Personnel (20%): Assists with reviewing and recruiting crew members for the season. Helps log and report crew’s work hours. Maintains clear scheduling with crew members; ensures hours are submitted by weekly deadline, and paychecks are distributed in a timely manner. Co-manages the Shade Teams in daily construction, maintenance, and removal of shade structures on the playa. Serves as a mentor, positive role model, and team leader guiding people as they work, and monitors team morale. Effectively manages own time, individuals, and the efforts of the team as a whole to create an environment of accountability, collaboration, and flexibility of focus in the crew. Knows, shares, and uses proper pathways of communication for escalating personnel issues. Proactively addresses concerns with management.
Documentation and Tracking (10%): Committed to improving and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for this role, crew operations, and individual crew members as needed throughout the season for accuracy. Proactively engages in learning, teaching, using, and effectively updating existing online applications, tools, systems, spreadsheets, and documents, asking clarifying questions to smooth any process or system as needed. Maintains consistent organization and tidiness in the work environment and in handling important information (ie, tracking inventory tools and materials, crew data, goals and timelines, payroll, etc.).
Other Functions and Responsibilities (5%): Works with the Shade Crew to plan and execute LNT and Waste disposal plans. Familiar with, acts in accordance, and enforces Burning Man’s staff policies, protocols, and behavioral standards. Monitors personal well-being by setting realistic goals and managing self-care while proactively addressing any concerns with management. Be an example to your crew and all of DPW through responsible and respectful actions. Performs other duties as directed.
Learning and Teaching
Documentation - Assists in the creation, publishing, and maintenance of process documentation related to their assigned duties.
Knowledge Sharing – Helps acculturate and educate junior staff in Burning Man culture and business processes.
Training Development - Collaborates with the education team to develop training materials in their area of expertise, as requested.
Learning – Pursues ongoing learning in their area of expertise, working to stay current on emergent knowledge, skills, and processes.
Qualifications
Required:
Knowledge of general construction practices and/or structural engineering.
Experience leading construction or site crews at Burning Man or other festival environments; familiarity with event-based production work.
Able to maintain consistent organization and tidiness in the work environment and in handling important information (ie, tracking, personnel data, goals and timelines, payroll, etc.).
Working knowledge of Google products (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Drive) and Microsoft Word and Excel.
Ability and willingness to work with a primarily volunteer labor force with a welcoming attitude toward the integration of new members into the DPW Crew.
Able to embody present and responsive leadership qualities for a diverse team while maintaining firm boundaries and adhering to set standards; Operates with a high level of behavioral integrity and reliability.
Able to integrate feedback into action, remain calm and focused under pressure or emergency situations, and maintain a professional demeanor that leads by example.
Capable of working in an extreme environment including drastic temperature changes, high winds, poor air quality, and low to no visibility at times.
Ability to temporarily relocate for work at the Burning Man event held in Gerlach, Nevada.
Preferred:
Experience as a DPW Crew member.
Working knowledge of Computer Aided Design (CAD) software.
Helpful if the candidate has previously been to Burning Man and/or is familiar with its culture.
OSHA 10 hour Construction & General Industry Certification.
Compensation
Individual compensation decisions are dependent on a variety of factors, including prior experience and geographical location. The anticipated rate for this position: From July - September is $17.00 to $18.00 per hour.
Physical Requirements/Work Environment
Off-playa: Work is primarily sedentary in nature, no special demands are required. On-playa: This position requires periods of heavy lifting, bending, kneeling, squatting, and climbing. This position will be physically demanding, and requires individuals with good physical health, and endurance. Work will include the need to find and meet with department representatives who may not be in the vicinity therefore this could include walking or using some form of transportation. Much of the work will be in outside weather conditions and will be exposed to fumes or airborne particles as well as possible extremes in temperature.
Notice for All Applicants
Burning Man Project celebrates the importance of creating a diverse environment and enthusiastically encourages Black, Indigenous, Peoples of Color, LGBTQIA+, Immigrant, women, and people with disabilities, of all ages, to apply. Burning Man Project provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.