Non-profit Apprenticeship

Basic Info

The Non Profit Apprenticeship (NPA) program at Free Geek is designed to provide capable individuals with relevant experience to succeed in the non-profit world. These apprenticeships are a great opportunity to gain experience:

• in a hands-on teaching environment
• coordinating a diversity and large number of volunteers
• collaborating with others to improve processes and make volunteers even happier
• working at a busy non-profit

Each apprentice cross-trains at the Front Desk, Hardware Donations, Prebuild, and Recycling, and works together with the other apprentices to improve these areas collaboratively.

Responsibilities

General Responsibilities for All Areas

• Train, supervise, coordinate, and motivate volunteers
• Give tours to potential volunteers
• Learn about Free Geek's programs to accurately field questions
• Proactively communicate with other Free Geek staff, especially other apprentices, and volunteers about the needs of all areas
• Attend NPA committee and Front Desk committee meetings, rotating through facilitator and scribe roles
• Keep abreast of relevant (and frequent) emails
• Help keep areas in line with Free Geek philosophy and capabilities
• Undergo intensive initial training
• Assist in training your replacement at the end of your apprenticeship

Front Desk Area

• Greet visitors
• Answer a multi-line phone, check & relay messages to appropriate places
• Accept & process donations
• Perform data entry
• Use a cash register
• Process till at the end of the day
• Schedule volunteer shifts accurately
• Make reminder calls to volunteers for upcoming classes
• Prioritize lobby visitors appropriately
• Print volunteer handouts daily
• Maintain a steady stream of available coffee for volunteers
• Take on additional daily tasks at Front Desk as necessary

Hardware Donations Area

• Manage flow of gizmos through the hardware donations receiving area
• Teach Adoption volunteers basic intake procedures
• Ensure that Hardware Donations is well integrated with Free Geeks production and sales areas

Prebuild Area

• Teach basic hardware vocabulary and Free Geek's system evaluation process to Build volunteers as needed (we will train you)
• Schedule volunteer shifts accurately

Recycling Area

• Help keep Recycling area clean and free of obstructions
• Ensure that volunteers are safely disassembling gizmos
• Communicate with Hardware Donations throughout the day
• Identify and act on priorities in recycling flow
• Assist in setting up pick-ups and deliveries with e-waste vendors

* Unload and load trucks as needed (after forklift training)

• Assist in warehouse management

Required Skills

• Be able to maintain a positive and professional attitude at all times in a sometimes chaotic environment
• Experience coordinating and/or instructing people
• Aptitude for and enjoyment of helping people
• Interest in non-profit operations and management
• Strong organizational skills (you like to put stuff in order)
• Communicate, fluently, in English
• Good interpersonal skills
• Self-motivated and takes initiative
• Proficiency with using e-mail and Internet
• Ability to learn Free Geek documentation tools (RT and wiki)
• Comfortable with and capable of coordinating others
• Be reliable & on-time
• Detail-oriented
• Able to lift and carry at least 50 pounds on a regular basis

Extra Credit

• Interest in e-waste recycling practices
• Money-handling experience
• Fluency in another language
• Warehouse experience

* Forklift experience, but will train

In Addition

The ideal candidate will be able to work well under stress in a somewhat chaotic setting and maintain a positive attitude. The candidate will not be afraid to ask questions, and will be able to remain flexible as Free Geek grows and changes.