The Role

Overview: In describing this role, it helps to note what it’s not. This is not a “community manager” role. We’re not looking for someone to “manage” the community. That sounds terrible. While you will assist with events, programs, and activities, your role is not to be an activities director, host, or event planner. This role is about creating the ways and opportunities, the soil if you will, where a healthy community can grow and thrive. It’s about supporting and encouraging others to also cultivate that soil – and to plant seeds, water, and shine bright, warm light on them. It’s about being genuinely curious about the people you interact with on a daily basis, listening, and asking questions. It’s about noticing patterns in the questions people ask, the things people are excited about, and the problems they are trying to solve so you can connect them. It’s about gently encouraging people to step in and participate and coming alongside people when they want to start something new that serves the community. You’ll welcome people into our community and help them get comfortable. You will become a go-to person for people with ideas and questions throughout the day. You’ll give tours and help day pass guests get settled in. And so much more – all focused on people.

Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate for this job is a “people person”. That doesn’t mean extroverted or “bubbly”. It means he/she likes meeting and getting to know people. This person is curious and genuinely interested in others’ work and lives. This person likes discovering things and embraces change. This person is a matchmaker (in a good way), someone who identifies friends who have things in common and introduces them. This person is an excellent listener and communicates extremely well. This person naturally (and continually) considers ways to make processes, designs, tools, etc. better. They are not necessarily the life of the party, but they make every party better by helping others have a good time.

Desired Education / Experience: We’re open to applicants with a wide range of work or volunteer experience, but at least some of it should be customer-facing, with responsibilities similar to those described above. Examples include working events, bartending, small shop retail sales (which goes beyond being a cashier), or waiting tables. Applicants must have a High School diploma. Additional education is a plus but is not required.

Prerequisite Skills: You must have basic computer skills, excellent communication skills, speak English fluently, be able to work independently (once given direction), and effectively manage your time to complete tasks.

Important Note: This role involves being on your feet sometimes for 2-3 hours at a time, walking up and down stairs, and may also involve lifting and stacking chairs, lifting and moving tables that weigh up to 30 pounds, getting on a step stool or ladder to reach things, and other physical activities. There will also be extended times (up to 3 hours) of sitting at a desk and typing on a computer.

Responsibilities

Routine Tasks: Because this role requires addressing the needs of a wide variety of people and solving problems that may arise, not all tasks can be predicted. The following lists should, however, provide a sense of the routine tasks done, as needed, each week.

• Welcoming people in for tours, and showing them the space while conversing with them
• Greet day pass guests and help them get settled in
• Following up on tours and day pass visits
• Assisting with events (Cowork Frederick, Cowork Frederick Foundation, member, meetup, etc.)
• Encouraging participation in our “virtual watercooler” (currently Slack)
• Making social media posts that showcase Cowork Frederick’s culture and community members
• Organizing annual “Give Back” projects
• Doing new member orientations
• Maintaining membership records
• Answering questions about memberships,
• Maintaining the member wall (physical and online)
• Helping promote member events and businesses
• Composing and sending member news emails
• Organizing and helping lead member meetings
• Assisting with keeping the space tidy and stocked as needed
• Assisting with guest suites as needed
• Assisting with meeting room reservations as needed
• Assisting with other operational tasks, as needed/requested
• Addressing problems – by solving them yourself or bringing them to the owner’s attention
• Answering phone calls and emails
• Doing a lot of listening, understanding, supporting, encouraging, and facilitating

Time Commitment

Work Schedule: Initially, you’ll work roughly 30 hours a week, on-site. Hours may increase up to 40 hours a week. You’ll have a regular schedule (e.g. 11 am to 6 pm Tuesday – Friday), but you may occasionally need to come in earlier or stay later.

Time off & Holidays: While members have access, Cowork Frederick is closed to the public on federally observed holidays. You need not work those days. Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s Day are mandatory days off, with pay. You may also take up to 80 hours of paid sick/personal/vacation time per year (once accrued).

Benefits & Pay

Wages: Starting pay is $30/hour

Bonuses: You may receive a quarterly bonus (up to $500) based on several key performance indicators.

Benefits: This job comes with the following benefits:

• 80 hours of paid personal/sick/vacation time each year, accrued monthly from the date your employment starts
• 5 paid holidays (New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas)
• Paid lunch break, up to 1 hour
• Annual $1000 education/training allowance
• {delayed}, through Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance, up to 12 weeks of paid, extended time away from work to care for yourself or a family member. You must (by law) contribute to this fund starting in ??. We, as your employer, also contribute to this fund.

Other Perks: In addition, working with us comes with these benefits:

• Access to an amazing community of small biz owners and remote workers – a built-in and strong “network” you can tap into
• Access to free or discounted educational and social events hosted by Cowork Frederick or its members
• Access to the Cowork Frederick coworking space from 7 am to 10 pm, seven days a week – to work on your own projects
• Lifetime membership to Cowork Frederick (if you work for us for at least 24 consecutive months)

Notes: For clarity, we want you to know the following are not provided:

• Parking – We do not have parking for employee cars. We encourage you to bike, walk, carpool, or take a bus. Frederick County Transit offers free public transportation. If you opt to drive to work, we recommend getting a monthly pass to a City of Frederick parking garage. There are two within about a block of our location. There is also metered street parking (or non-metered 4-5 blocks away). We do not reimburse for the cost of parking a vehicle.
• Health Insurance – Our budget does not allow us to provide insurance. Health insurance – and maybe assistance in paying for it can be obtained through the “Maryland Health Connection“.
• Retirement Savings – As required by law, you can have funds deducted from your wages and deposited into a retirement savings account through the MarylandSaves Retirement Program. We do not offer a 401k and do not match funds you invest in any account of your own.