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 $8.5M 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, New York and Chicago. 

Position Summary

Room to Grow is at an exciting inflection point as an organization. We are preparing for ambitious growth and need expanded capacity to oversee an increase in inventory management as we add more families to the program. We are eager to fill this opening on our NY Inventory & Volunteer Operations team which will be responsible for supporting our regional inventory processes and implementing new strategies as we source and move into our first dedicated inventory space in NYC.

Reporting to the Manager, Inventory & Volunteer Operations, the Coordinator supports the day-to-day operations by supervising the Inventory & Volunteer Operations Associates and ensuring in-kind donations are being processed in a timely manner (approximately 200,000 items annually). The Coordinator plays a key role in the delivery of Room to Grow’s program by ensuring all items distributed to families meet stringent quality standards and works to address any issues with the Associates as needed. Additionally, the Coordinator will be the lead volunteer ambassador, facilitating sorting projects and ensuring volunteers are utilized effectively by partnering with the regional Community Engagement lead and supporting the Inventory & Volunteer Operations Associates in leading projects. 

This is an in-person full-time position based in New York City. Room to Grow is in the process of acquiring a new Donation Processing Center. This position will initially be based out of our South Bronx Family Center. Once the Donation Processing Center is established, the role will be primarily based out of that location, with travel to the South Bronx Family Center as needed. 

The right candidate is personable, detail-oriented, and excited to play a key role in facilitating the important work of Room to Grow. This position would be an ideal opportunity for a fast thinker who is eager to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

Position Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• In-Kind Donations/Inventory: Coordinate the systems for intake, sorting, tracking, storage, and delivery of inventory items.
  • Arrange for the receipt of all in-kind donations, coordinating with the External Engagement Department as needed.
  • Support the regional Inventory & Volunteer Operations team in getting through the increased flow of items from donation to distribution, working closely with the Inventory & Volunteer Operations Manager to implement new systems and improve current processes.
  • Facilitate regular deliveries of inventory items to the Baby Boutique.
  • Maintain internal data systems, including Fishbowl Inventory Management Software, to ensure that it is a trusted source of truth for available inventory, orders in progress, and outbound shipments.
  • Conduct regular cycle counts, ensure strict adherence to receiving processes for accurate inventory reporting, and oversee the sorting and reporting process of in-kind donations.
  • Quality Assurance: Ensure that all items accepted for distribution meet stringent quality guidelines and all items that do not are properly discarded, working with Associates to address any quality issues as they arise.
• Team Management: Oversee a team of 3-4 Associates, supporting their growth and development, and provide on-the-job training on all inventory-related processes.
  • Work closely with the Inventory & Volunteer Operations Manager and Inventory & Volunteer Operations Associates to ensure smooth daily operations.
  • Partner with the Inventory & Volunteer Operations Manager to ensure adequate staffing of all volunteer events, donation drop-offs, and inventory processing needed, troubleshooting issues as they arise.
  • Maintain open lines of communication, relaying any relevant information learned about donors or volunteers to the Community Engagement and/or Development team as appropriate. Examples include interest in hosting drives, corporate matching opportunities, and more.
• Volunteer Program: Implementation of a robust volunteer program, acting as a knowledgeable and enthusiastic representative of the program to external audiences, and facilitating a positive environment where volunteers feel they are contributing to the organization’s success.
  • Coordinate with the Regional Director and Community Engagement around scheduling strategy, including some evenings and weekends, ensuring there is enough staff coverage for volunteer projects and stepping in as lead when needed.
  • Strategize group/individual volunteer projects and tasks with the Inventory & Volunteer Operations Manager to ensure efficient and effective use of labor.
• Cross-Department Coordination: Partner with other departments to maximize efficiency and effectiveness to enhance work across the organization. Examples include:
  • Coordinate with the 2nd Hour Family Support team to ensure the baby boutique is properly maintained and stocked.
  • Capture relevant photos and video clips of the inventory and volunteer programs for use by other departments.
  • Partner with the central Operational team to coordinate deliveries of in-kind donations, including large, multi-pallet shipments, and ensure there is adequate staffing to receive. 

Qualifications and Experience

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

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
• 1-3 years relevant experience with proven success in complex systems management, and at least 1 year(s) of people management experience 

• Prior inventory or retail management experience preferred
• Highly organized, resourceful, and solutions-oriented with strong project management skills and the ability to multitask
• Strong communication skills and comfortable with external engagement and public speaking
• High level of professionalism, integrity, accountability, and judgment
• Flexibility with work schedule including some evenings and weekends
• Able to lift and carry 40 pounds
• Able to stand and walk for extended periods of time
• Strong Google Suite fluency a plus
• Experience with database management 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 
• 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, program participants, 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 dependant on any one

Compensation and Benefits

Room to Grow offers a collaborative work environment, competitive compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package including:

• 8 weeks of paid time off per year
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance, Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA
• 403(b) retirement savings with matching program
• Quarterly wellness reimbursement up to $150 per quarter
• So much more! 

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 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.