Community and Programs Manager

About the Role 

The Community and Programs Manager brings BSBC’s mission to life via partnerships, community events, communications and volunteer coordination. You’ll develop pathways to plug in volunteers, members, and partners so they can thrive within and around BSBC – from their very first time visiting the shop to developing new programs with us and becoming lifelong supporters and friends.

This role will collaborate heavily with our base of volunteers – particularly the Volunteer Development and Resources + Sustainability Working Groups – who will take on tasks from event planning and hosting to grant writing and making flyers. All to say: you’re not alone! Our volunteers range from seasoned fundraisers to excellent barbecuers and confident hosts. If there are any qualifications you don’t feel especially strong in, you are still encouraged to apply as we may be able to supplement parts of this role with volunteer support. 

About Bradley Street Bicycle Co-op

Since its founding in 2015, the Bradley Street Bicycle Co-op (BSBC) has been the heart of D.I.Y. bike culture and community in New Haven. On any day, you’ll see dozens of volunteers rolling up their sleeves to learn bike repair skills to help get bikes in shape for donating or selling back to the public (and then hanging out and eating cookies after). You’ll see big group rides gathering to enjoy biking around New Haven, and advocates for safe streets and environmental justice putting their brains together. It’s a pretty great place. 

The Bradley Street Bicycle Co-op is a community bike shop working towards an equitable New Haven by getting more people on bikes. As part of the team you will join the effort to promote environmental, economic, and racial equity throughout the city of New Haven through bike riding, recycling, repair, and education. We aim to empower marginalized people, people who are excluded from bike spaces, and all other groups and classes of people to ride bikes, fix bikes, and build community around organizing and advocating for mobility justice.

Time & Pay 

+ 15 hours per week

+ $22 per hour

+ You’ll need to be able to be physically present in the space regularly, with 2-6 hours   

    weekly to spend in person during DIY Open Shop Hours (Tuesday, Thursday  

    4-8pm).

+ Some work can be done remotely, but your presence in-person will be key to

    building strong relationships with our community 

Essential Responsibilities

• Lead communications: 
  • Create and share social media posts and fliers for upcoming events.
  • Facilitate writing of the monthly newsletter.
  • Send 1-2 emails a month for volunteers and members (separately) with reminders and special opportunities.
  • Monitor the BSBC inbox and reply to messages.
  • Reply to messages on Instagram and Facebook.
  • Take photos and organize them in our Google Drive.
  • Keep track of all the BSBC happenings, including shop hours, community meetings, and programming.
  • Ensure the information online is accurate and accessible with Google business listing, Google calendar, and the BSBC website.
• Organize gatherings. 
  • Work with volunteers to host monthly community nights, quarterly All-Hands meetings and other events suggested and organized by volunteers.*
  • Represent BSBC in the community, and sometimes attend meetings or table at events.  

*Gatherings at the shop should feel more like a potluck than a presentation–you’ll collaborate with other volunteers and staff to share updates and lead activities. You may not need to be present at all events. 

• Manage memberships.
  • Keep the membership database up to date. 
  • Share about and sell memberships in the shop.
  • Communicate with members about their accounts and perks.
  • Collaborate with our volunteer Resources and Sustainability Working Group to support membership initiatives.
• Coordinate Working Groups. Volunteers have the opportunity to participate in many aspects of the organization. Working Groups are the primary spaces for volunteers to contribute to the priorities of the shop and shape activities at the co-op. You will help support two Working Groups in particular that support your role – the Volunteer Development and Resources and Sustainability Working Groups:
  • Schedule monthly meetings, prepare agendas, attend meetings. 
  • Share opportunities that come up and delegate to accomplish associated work. 
  • Participate loudly on the BSBC Slack to share updates, send reminders and collaborate with volunteers. 
• Support fundraising efforts with the Resources and Sustainability Working Group. 
  • Track donations received.
  • Monitor donor relationships
  • Send thank you notes.
  • Work with the Resources and Sustainability Working group on grant writing and organizing annual fundraisers.
• Be present at some DIY Open Shop Hours: 
  • Contribute to a welcoming and engaging atmosphere for newcomers.
  • Train volunteers to fill greeter and sales roles.
  • Assist with minor bike repairs and shop operations if needed. You might be tagged in to fix the odd flat tire (which we can teach you if you don’t know already!), help with bike donation intake, or support sales (2-6 hours per week will vary seasonally).
• Be part of the team: 
  • Work closely with the General Manager and Lead Mechanic to give accurate information to partners and keep tabs on the capacity of the shop. 
  • Attend weekly staff meetings. 
  • Participate in the collaborative culture and help out co-workers as availability allows. 
• Lead with BSBC values: 
  • Strive to create space infused with values of anti-racism and inclusion. 
  • Take time to evaluate situations through the lenses of power dynamics/discrimination/exclusion.
  •  Support initiatives to make the co-op easier to access & more welcoming to folks. 

Desired Skills and Qualifications

• People person: You can facilitate connections and make folks feel welcome and at ease.
• Facilitation experience: You know how to facilitate community working together, encourage broad participation and guide groups through discussions and events.
• Event planning: You are comfortable producing events from start (thinking about purpose and partners, promotion) to middle (day-of logistics) to finish (thanking partners and documenting the greatness).
• Comfort with data: You’ll be collecting and reviewing BSBC data such as recurring member donations and volunteer time. You’ll need to navigate small datasets, keep our systems in sync, share trends and learnings with members and our Board. 
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn digital tools: BSBC currently uses Slack, Mailchimp, Instagram, Facebook, Notion, Google Suite: Drive, Sheets, Docs, Slides. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication: You’ll be writing about our work a lot: from new member introductions to existing volunteers, to writing and sharing big updates for everyone. It’s important that your communications are inviting, clear, and welcoming to everyone so folks feel like they can jump in.
• Self Starter: You’re able to self-manage your time and to-do list, and are super organized and detail-oriented. You will be the person to help keep everyone else on track!
• Collaborative: You’re inclined to keep asking for more input, feedback, and believe the best work is done by co-creating with our community of volunteers, members, and people who use the shop. 
• Love for New Haven: This city is the heart of everything we do. It is a plus if you have existing relationships and familiarity with the wonderful work happening around the city. This is key for conducting programming and being plugged into community work surrounding us.
• Love for Bikes: This can come in many different forms, but our ideal candidate has some interest in biking/cycling culture or is excited to try it out. 

EEO

We are committed to building a creative and dynamic work environment that celebrates individual differences and diversity and treats everyone with fairness and respect. We do not discriminate in practices or employment opportunities on the basis of an individual’s race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local regulations. We strongly encourage candidates of color to apply.

Hiring Process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until September 16th. Please submit your resume and cover letter here. Ideal start date for this role is October 14, 2024.