JOB SUMMARY
The Department of Public Works (DPW) Commissary Manager will oversee the construction and operations of the Staff Commissaries for the Burning Man event production season. This includes, but is not limited to, interfacing directly with all Catering Vendors both in Black Rock City, at the Shoreline and in Gerlach to organize and ensure proper meal distribution according to a strict schedule, supporting food-safety and cleanliness standards, and maintaining a smooth flow of daily meal-time operations for approved Burning Man Staff. This role will directly train and oversee the Commissary Crew in their duties and manage the maintenance of the Commissary site in Black Rock City.
This temporary, ineligible for benefits role is:
- From April - June: Part-Time, Non-Exempt, based fully remote.
- From July - October: Full-Time, Exempt, based in Gerlach, NV and Black Rock City, Nevada.
The deadline to apply for this role is 5:00pm Pacific on April 9th.
DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Commissary Operations (40%)
- Manage the setup, timeline and operations of the Burning Man Staff Commissaries (BRC and Shoreline). This may include determining method of constructions, material quantities, equipment needs, and installation logistics involving a Catering Tent and other on-site structures.
- Maintain the Front-of-House space by keeping it tidy, staff-lines unobstructed, staff present and attentive, and a hazard-free cafeteria/workplace.
- Assist in the collection and tracking of data regarding projected and actual meal count numbers for all Burning Man Staff Departments, providing consistent, detailed feedback to all necessary Management; Provide a report-out of FOH and To-Go meal counts at the end of every shift to the Vendor.
- Train, schedule, support and manage DPW Commissary Crew staff, often at multiple locations, directing them in Front-of-House and To-Go operations, and end-of-meal duties while maximizing safety and efficiency throughout the event production season.
- Ensure compliance with Nevada’s Food Safety requirements and BRC’s safety and quality specifications, documenting incidents and ensuring that corrective measures are implemented when needed.
- Lead debriefs with the Commissary Crew, relevant DPW Management, and Vendors, to define successes/opportunities for improvement and share updated information about the current state of Commissary Operations as requested.
- Develop an in-depth understanding of Commissary management and the scope of all projects therein, recommending appropriate changes in methods, materials, schedules, and procedures as needed.
- Provide estimates for change orders and extra work on assigned projects as needed, researching contractors and subcontractors if required.
- Be a source of truth to the staff and act as a professional point of contact to address any possible issues with patrons or outside sources.
Administrative (25%)
- Work with Burning Man Department Managers to refine/execute meal permissions in Eventree for Front-of-House and To-Go meals.
- Create crew schedules to ensure work is completed in a timely manner and service shifts are appropriately staffed.
- Ensure paid staff are getting work hours accurately logged and submitted to DPW Payroll and that they are receiving their paychecks promptly according to schedule.
- Improve upon Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), creating and updating documentation and optimizing strong succession plans.
- Prepare operations for success in the following year.
Event Advance (20%)
- Review SOPs and roll any seasonal documentation into the new year, as requested; Curate appropriate training materials for crew and drivers.
- Review and teach the BRC Rain Contingency Plan, emergency response plans and the Burning Man Integrated Plan and when to execute each with your team.
- Help to recruit, hire, and onboard the full crew roster; Learn and assist with the hiring process using an internal online hiring tool, pre-established recruiting processes for volunteer positions and proactively promote open roles to new interested parties with a good cultural fit.
- Write up purchase orders and material requests, keeping abreast of supplies and ordering as needed throughout the event production cycle.
- Create and update relevant administrative tools to track and manage meal counts, To Go counts, and other related metrics.
- Work with the DPW Support Operations Manager to prepare both the budget and production schedule for the Commissary, working with last year’s budget, actuals, and timelines.
Budget Oversight (10%)
- Evaluate and oversee economic decisions affecting operations, mentoring staff where necessary and collaborating with the Food Vendor to stay within appropriate budgetary boundaries.
- Create annual budgets following a review of staffing and other expenses during the previous cycle; Monitor changes to project scope and operating schedules that may affect costs; submit receipts and any expense reports, completed and on time.
- Accurately track spending and keep the finance department informed of unforeseen costs; assist with gaining approval for emergency spending.
- Work with the DPW Support Operations Manager to monitor vendor performance; Review and approve the bills for materials, equipment, and services.
Other Functions and Responsibilities (5%)
- Work with the Team to plan and execute LNT and Waste disposal plans for all relevant operations.
- Adjust workflow to support fluctuating safety protocols as directed.
- Participate in Manager Meetings when requested and maintain related correspondence.
- Be familiar with, understand and act in accordance with Burning Man’s staff policies, protocols and behavioral standards.
- Monitor personal well-being by setting realistic goals and managing self-care while proactively addressing any concerns with management.
- Perform other duties as required.
Additional On-playa Duties and Responsibilities
- Exercise discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance within the department.
LEARNING AND TEACHING
- Documentation - Drives the creation, publishing, and maintenance of process documentation related to assigned duties.
- Teaching – Takes a leadership role in the acculturation and training of staff. Teaches live or e-learning classes, as requested. Promotes a culture of teaching and learning throughout the community.
- Mentoring - Mentors subordinates in acquiring the knowledge, skills, and experience that will allow them to advance in the organization. Aids, encourages, and inspires their team.
- 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. Participates in conferences, forums, and networking events, where appropriate.
- Speaking – Represents Burning Man as a subject matter expert and culture-bearer, as requested.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Able to see and connect the bigger picture; Objectively analytical and takes a creative approach to problem solving, remaining calm and focused under pressure.
- Effectively manages own time, the time of individual team members, and the efforts of the team as a whole. Willing to work “service hours” and able to navigate staggered time crunches.
- Able to accept and integrate feedback, and maintain an attention to cleanliness in the work environment and discretion in the handling of important, sensitive information.
- Working knowledge of Google products (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Drive) and Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Must have physical stamina and be able to lift heavy objects (minimum 50 pounds of dynamic weight) safely, repeatedly, and with a willingness to get dirty.
- Inspires, motivates and encourages a collaborative work environment; Able to lead a team in emergency situations and proactively create ease for a crowd either by posting preventative signage and/or with public speaking skills.
- Able to maintain a respectful demeanor, providing services with compassion and accommodation of requests when appropriate; Understands basic-needs psychology around food; Able to help identify and provide a safe space for a wide variety of people.
- Effective, clear communication at all levels both verbally and written, tailoring style to the receiving party with appropriate professionalism, boundaries and set standards; Competent at using 2-way radios.
- Serve as a positive role model and team leader by being supportive and accessible to people as they work, providing clear instructions/goals and supporting different learning styles.
- Must be able to follow directions through to task completion and also pivot, switching from projects quickly as priorities change in the moment.
- Able to work in an extreme environment including drastic temperature changes, high winds, poor air quality and low to no visibility at times.
- Able to temporarily relocate for work at the Burning Man event held in Gerlach, Nevada.
Preferred
- It is helpful if the candidate has previously been to Burning Man and/or is familiar with its culture.
- Experience in working as a caretaker, service industry management or property manager.
Note: If you have gained the necessary experience to succeed in this role and have acquired this experience in other ways, we encourage you to apply and share all relevant experience in your application.
REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
- Valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
COMPENSATION
Individual compensation decisions are dependent on a variety of factors, including prior experience and geographical location. The anticipated rate for this position:
- From April - June is $21.00 to $25.00 per hour.
- From July - October is $1300.00 to $1400.00 per week.
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. The hours will involve unique early and late shifts requiring the ability to prioritize rest outside of work and meal times. 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.