Recycle Cycles Community Bike Shop Animator

JOB SUMMARY

The Working Centre is seeking a Community Bike Shop Animator to join the team at Recycle Cycles. Located in downtown Kitchener, Recycle Cycles is a community bike shop that provides a caring and supportive space where people can access the tools, space, and knowledge they need to fix their own bicycles for free, and access to inexpensive bicycles and parts.

Recycle Cycles is a community enterprise project, always working to create a balance between involvement and production. We host and assist all people who come into the space, building trust and relationships while also holding the boundaries of the space in a thoughtful and caring way. Volunteers are the heart of our project, and we work with a diverse team of volunteers who join us each day to share their skills and learn new ones. Understanding people’s strengths and finding meaningful ways to engage them is a key aspect of our project. This is creative, productive and community building work.

The Community Bike Shop Animator takes a lead role in supporting all the activities of the shop and for fostering an inclusive and diverse community of cyclists.

ABOUT THE WORKING CENTRE

The Working Centre is a dynamic community-based organization, forming a web of projects that wrap around people, building stability of place, income, health and mental health. Our work includes:

• St. John’s Kitchen and Outreach Hub - An integrated web of supports for people experiencing homelessness, addiction to drugs, experiencing mental illness, focusing on those most left out. Projects include St. John’s Kitchen, Street Outreach, Specialized Outreach Services, Justice Outreach Services, and Community Dental.
• Housing and Shelter Hub – We support over 165 people in 124 units of affordable, supportive, sober, women & children, and health-based housing. We host a 50-cabin shelter that welcomes people from encampments to shelter.
• Work and Livelihood Hub - The Working Centre’s Resource Centre is a hub for work, financial problem-solving and livelihood related issues. Projects include Job Search Resource Centre, Money Matters, and Job Café.
• Community Tools and Enterprise Hub – Practical and productive examples of enterprise. We seek to serve the common good through skill building and to provide access to tools for those not able to participate in the larger economy. The main work of regeneration happens through re-use, re-purposing and creating goods and services. Community Tools seek to make daily living more inclusive, affordable and cooperative.

The Working Centre has been developing as a Living System organization with the capacity for creative responses. A Living System means that our practices and approaches have the openness to evolve, that cooperation, responsiveness, hospitality and diversity are key features.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate and support the day-to-day operations of the shop
• Coordinate volunteer involvement in shop operations, including supporting and empowering them in their learning and development
• Create a safe, welcoming, inclusive, productive and fun environment
• Welcome diverse folks into the shop each day, supporting any conflict resolution as needed
• Creatively work to respond to each person’s needs while still holding the range of what is possible in the shop and prioritizing shop commitments
• Participate in bicycle repairs and troubleshooting
• Manage inventory, tracking donations, ordering and receiving supplies to ensure our shop is fully stocked
• Maintain shop systems and organization so that volunteers, customers and team have a positive experience
• Engage with community groups and organizations, run shop outreach events
• Participate in scheduling and shop organization commitments

QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of mechanics and bicycles, experience and up-to-date capacity with tools of the trade
• Support and appreciation for the purpose of Recycle Cycles as a not-for-profit community space
• Interest in and experience in teaching, training or supporting people to learn new skills
• Ability to multi-task, deal with multiple demands, and to stay calm under pressure
• Excellent time management skills and attention to detail, with the ability to perform multiple tasks and meet deadlines while maintaining quality
• Hard worker who is willing to go the extra mile to meet project needs
• Ability to work well independently as well as to function effectively as a member of a diverse team
• Excellent communication skills, being able to effectively engage with people from diverse backgrounds and identities
• Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement
• Flexibility to work shifts as needed, joining the team in making sure that we have coverage of all shifts

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

We are looking for someone to join our team full time, working a regular schedule that includes one evening/week plus Saturdays. Our shop is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays.

The Working Centre has an equal salary policy across the organization. This position starts at $30.00/hour or $58,500 annually. We offer a full benefits package that starts after 3 months of full-time work.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The Working Centre is a dynamic and highly responsive organization. Co-workers come from all walks of life, a variety of cultural backgrounds age groups. We are constantly learning and are challenged in our work. We offer a work environment that allows you to do meaningful, respectful and good work.

This work is more than a job – it is about committed community work in a collaborative environment. If you think that this role would make you excited to come to work every day, we’d like to hear from you.

Email your application to working@theworkingcentre.org and include:

• A cover letter explaining your interest in this position, our organization and how your experience and skill would be a good fit.
• - Your resume