Associate, Site Operations

About Room to Grow

Room to Grow is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the vision that one day all parents will have the resources they need to unlock their families’ potential and become champions for babies and their community. Its mission is to offer structured parent support, material goods, and community connections to support parents as they activate their natural strengths and expand their knowledge, so children thrive from the start. Room to Grow was founded in New York in 1998 and expanded to Boston in 2005, currently partnering with over 1,500 families with an annual budget of $7M and a team of 50+ passionate and dedicated staff members.

Room to Grow uses a two-generation, preventative, and strengths-based approach to engage families. Through its unique program, parents and caregivers partner with program staff to develop strategies to support their child's development, select the material items that their child needs, and connect with community resources that can expand their support network. Room to Grow program staff work alongside parents and caregivers as they build upon their existing skill sets and parenting styles and promote the well-being of their children and family.

As an entrepreneurial and growth-oriented organization, Room to Grow is in an exciting period of development as it continues to expand its reach and impact in Boston and New York and potential future locations.

Position Summary

Room to Grow is at an exciting inflection point as an organization. We are preparing for ambitious growth and need to increase our ability to process in-kind donations to fill our Baby Boutiques as we add more families to the program.

Reporting to the NY Site Operations Coordinator, the Associate will join a Site Operations team composed of four Associates, a Coordinator, and a Manager. The Site Operations team is responsible for in-kind donation processing, organizing, and counting (approximately 200,000 items annually), and management of Room to Grow New York’s soon to be completed Donation Processing Center (DPC). Site Operations regularly partners with the National Community Engagement team, which sources in-kind donations and volunteer support through both community and corporate partners. The Associate will be responsible for leading volunteer groups and individuals through sorting projects to ensure in-kind donations are processed in a timely manner. This position will be primarily based out of the DPC (once completed), with travel to the South Bronx Family Center as needed.

The right candidate is personable, has excellent customer service skills, prides themselves on their organizational abilities, and is excited to play a key role in facilitating Room to Grow’s program.

Position Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Volunteer Program: As a fully integrated member of the Site Ops team, associates are instrumental in planning, coordinating, supporting, and executing multiple volunteer sessions a week. Acting as a knowledgeable and enthusiastic representative of the program to external audiences, associates facilitate a positive environment where volunteers feel valued and like they are materially contributing to the organization’s success.
  • Lead volunteer sessions, individual and group, including evenings and weekends.
  • Strategize volunteer tasks with the Site Operations Coordinator and Manager to ensure an efficient and effective use of labor.
• In-Kind Donations/Inventory: Execute the intake, sorting, tracking, storage, and delivery of infant and toddler items. Examples include:
  • Receive in-kind donations and ensure they are properly organized and stored
  • Ensure all inventory that is accepted is properly logged to maintain data integrity, raising any issues to the Site Operations Coordinator
  • Support quarterly spot counts and yearly audits of all counted infant and toddler items at the Warehouse (once completed).
  • Quality Assurance: Ensure that all items accepted for distribution meet stringent quality guidelines, items that do not are properly discarded, and engage with in-kind donors to help them better understand Room to Grow’s quality standards and guidelines as needed
• Space Maintenance: Along with the whole Site Operations team, support in the upkeep and maintenance of all Room to Grow sites and lead in the maintenance of the DPC. Examples include:
  • Ensure inventory and supplies are kept organized for ease of navigation and use
  • Maintain spaces with safety at the forefront, keeping items out of walkways and not stacking boxes too high
  • Routinely check supply levels, alerting the Site Operations Coordinator of any shortages
  • Assist in the maintenance of shared spaces

• Cross-Department Collaboration: Partner with other departments to enhance work across the organization. Examples include:
  • Partnering with the Family Support and Site Operations (FaSSO) team to keep all Family Center boutiques stocked through weekly order coordination
  • Capturing content for the External Engagement department, such as photos and video clips of the inventory and volunteer programs
  • Collaborating with the Community Engagement team, especially around the staffing and support of events such as Fill-a-Truck (temporary in-kind donation collection points)
  • Supporting additional projects and events as needed throughout the year
• Administrative: Ensure tasks are completed in a timely manner with a focus on maintaining Room to Grow’s high quality standards. Examples include:
  • Support in the answering of phone calls and emails related to in-kind donations
  • Accurately record and submit timesheets each pay period

Qualifications and Experience

• A passion for the mission, vision, and core values of Room to Grow

• 1+ years relevant experience in retail, stockroom, or other customer service focused positions
• Experience facilitating group work (examples include: teaching, leading volunteer projects, community organizing, camp counselor, etc)

• A self-starter with a collaborative attitude and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Organized, resourceful, and solutions-oriented with the ability to multitask and effectively manage time
• Strong communication skills and confident with public speaking to small and large groups
• Personable and able to develop a positive rapport with individuals while maintaining a strong sense of professionalism
• Flexibility with work schedule including some evenings and Saturdays required
• Able to lift and carry 40 pounds
• Able to stand and walk for extended periods of time
• Experience with pallet jacks a plus
• Experience with inventory management / database management a plus
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus
• Strong Google Suite fluency a plus

Core Competencies

Mission and Culture Alignment - Allows a candidate to thrive at Room to Grow and to be highly motivated by the organization’s work and mission. A successful candidate:

• Embodies RtG core values, including integrity, respect, growth, collaboration, community and inclusion
• Articulates an authentic passion for and unwavering belief in RtG’s mission, demonstrating a commitment to and literacy around the issues of equity that undergird the work
• Navigates ambiguity and pivots with ease; presents as collaborative and flexible with a strong service mentality and ability to navigate a local/national structure
• Models transparency and encourages open dialogue and inclusivity
• Demonstrates a growth mindset; approaches work with a learning orientation, continuously seeking to improve his or her own work and the work of the organization
• Possesses a deep appreciation for diversity, equity and inclusion and seeks to bring people together along lines of difference; is able to model this value in Room to Grow’s internal work by treating our diverse population of families with sensitivity, respect, compassion, and dignity, as well as demonstrating this value with an external presence

Operational Focus - Enables a candidate to efficiently and effectively fulfill their responsibilities while maintaining Room to Grow’s high level of professionalism and integrity to the program. A successful candidate:

• Approaches work with a high degree of detail orientation and accuracy, ensuring that all deadlines are met and that the smallest task is not forgotten

• Maintains organization skills necessary to support all stakeholders and to implement operational processes

• Possesses customer service skills, the ability to anticipate organizational or stakeholder needs and respond to them in a timely and courteous way

Community Building - Enables a candidate to build strong rapport with a broad range of stakeholders, particularly family participants and community partners. A successful candidate:

• Nurtures and maintains existing relationships with Room to Grow’s community partners
• Is well-versed in the work of Room to Grow and motivated to advocate for RtG as we grow and expand, on and off-site

• Thinks proactively about ways in which RtG can engage with the community and reach more potential program participants, donors, and volunteers
• Practices cultural sensitivity in all interactions with Room to Grow community members to help foster a safe and inclusive environment

Resourcefulness - Enables a candidate to respond to difficult and complex situations quickly, responsibly, and respectfully with all constituents involved. A successful candidate:

• Embodies professionalism, comfortably and respectfully communicating and resolving minor issues with team members, community members, and external stakeholders alike
• Reacts calmly and swiftly to unexpected challenges, adapting to unforeseen circumstances and quickly resolving issues
• Possesses strong time management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks and re-prioritize as necessary when unexpected situations arise

• Takes initiative by asking for further guidance or clarification as needed in order to execute work effectively. Can work independently, or with a team; is not dependent on anyone.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary and benefits will be competitive for our field and commensurate with experience. Room to Grow is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Reasonable Accommodations

We are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. We encourage you to share any required accommodations with april.beakley@roomtogrow.org and elise.spector@roomtogrow.org, who will treat your requests as confidentially as possible.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We view differences between individuals (e.g., race, gender, age, cultural heritage, physical ability, education, beliefs, and lifestyle) as an asset. We celebrate what makes us unique and strive to create an inclusive environment for all. We are focused on fostering a culture of empowerment in an effort to better understand and serve the multifaceted cultures and identities of all of those within the Room to Grow community.

At Room to Grow, our DEI efforts focus on uplifting the experiences and perspectives of underrepresented groups and doing the work that draws out the best in all of us.

To Apply

Submit your application via Room to Grow’s career portal.