Project Manager

JOB SUMMARY

The BRC Operations Project Manager provides assistance directly to the BRC Operations Senior Project Manager for duties required in that position, overseeing the Burner Express Bus (BxB), Burner Express Air (BxA), Airport, among other BRC Operational tasks. Duties cover the full scope of the project from vendor negotiations through program execution and wrap-up. Examples include leadership level stakeholder engagement, team management, program, and departmental planning, recruiting and hiring staff, vendor management, onsite logistics, site operations, strike, restoration, and debrief activities. This role has a heavy problem-solving component and cross-functional interactions during the planning and execution stages of the programs. This role will also need to solve problems in a dynamic environment, on a compressed timeline during execution.  

Throughout the event cycle, this role should be comfortable taking actions to team-build, encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing, model integrity, honesty, curiosity, and other attributes that instill the team’s trust.  This role includes working with long-time cultural members as well as new members of the Burning Man Project.  The support and well-being of the staff are a top priority.

This is a regular, full-time, eligible for benefits role, located in Reno, Nevada.

The deadline to apply for this role is 5:00pm on Sunday, April 18th, 2022.

DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Planning (20%)

• Attend meetings, take notes, assign and track action items. 
• Populate accurate data into spreadsheets and other relevant databases, assist with planning, writing, and revising a living project plan and timeline.
• Assist with coordinating and managing cross-department meetings and planning
• Assist with contract management, payment schedules, and vendor relations
• Assist with development of scheduling, ticketing, pricing models, and hiring. 
• Coordinate with Government Relations and assist with outside agency conversations 
• Maintain an awareness of the BRC Operational timeline and plan for and organize work accordingly.
• Manage resource requests for vendors, programs and departments
• Maintain and update communications timeline including communications to participants, staff, vendors and leadership
• Support vendors, departments, and staff with communications development and review 
• Support cross-functional department manager's decision-making 
• Assist with managing department/program budgets and track spending
• Evaluate and track known and unknown risks for programs
• Oversee planning, scheduling, and coordinating of departmental debrief meetings 

Operations (50%)

• Support vendors and departments, with program scheduling, ticket sales, communications and management 
• Assist with the survey, build, strike, and restoration of all departments and facilities
• Ensure all program and department resources are fulfilled/returned
• Ensure safety and well being of staff and implementation of proper safety protocols
• Assist with staff credentialing and participant ticketing issues
• Assist with on-playa scheduling issues
• Oversee resource distribution and tracking for staff and team members
• Oversee and support customer service for the Burner Express Bus and Burner Express Air programs
• Support manager and vendors with overall execution of programs
• Problem solve and assist with providing solutions during regular and irregular operations
• Mitigate risks as they arise 

Team Management and Support (15%)

• Assist with hiring and training staff where necessary
• Assist with onboarding, acculturating and supporting of program staff
• Assist with resolving both staff and participant conflicts
• Assist staff with finding support when necessary
• Escalate personnel issues as necessary 
• Provide management support for staff and vendors as needed 
• Identify staffing gaps or issues and provide solutions as needed.
• Monitor and Support BxB/BxA program points of embarkation as needed
• Support Airport and Point 5 staff as needed

Documentation and Tracking (10%)

• Populate and manage the programs and departmental SOPs
• Manage and update departmental and programmatic timelines 
• Work with other senior staff to maintain continuity in what and how work is documented.
• Update job descriptions and role requirements as necessary
• Provide regular updates to leadership regarding the status of programs including ticket sales and revenue generation 
• Capture and track lessons learned and identify paths toward resolution 

Other Functions and Responsibilities (5%)

• Ensure RIDE principles are incorporated in job searches, hiring processes. 
• As needed, submit receipts and any expense reports, ensuring forms are complete and submitted on time (within 30 days of transaction).
• Manage and update websites, mailing lists, and other outward-facing communications and assist where necessary
• Assist vendor with staff and participant communications 
• Keep regular business hours and an online presence as outlined by the Project Manager.
• Ensure communications are prompt and professional and that needed discretion is maintained.
• Be familiar and act in accordance with Burning Man’s staff policies.
• Participate in BMP staff and relevant management meetings 
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Prepare written feedback to the Project Manager describing the successes of the season and areas in need of improvement with the purpose of improved overall efficiency and suggestions.
• Adhere to BMP’s code of conduct.

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 and volunteers. 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

• A thorough understanding of project management principles.
  • Project planning and documentation
  • Budget and accounting decisions, tracking and reporting
  • Risk assessment and mitigation understanding
  • Scheduling - GANTT charts, calendaring
  • Task management - so many to-do lists, reminders, and follow-ups. 
• Experience with vendor relationships and contracts
• Leadership and team management experience
• Experience working with and motivating seasonal and volunteer teams  
• Strong verbal and visual communication skills.
• Experience facilitating high-level decision-making processes
• Detail-oriented.
• Dedicated to principles of behavior and ethics of the Burning Man organization.

• Able to adjust schedule seasonally to work at the Burning Man event held in Nevada  
• Previous attendance at Burning Man in Black Rock City, NV

PREFERRED

• PM certification and/or training 
• Experience with Burner Express Air and Bus
• General knowledge or experience with aviation and small airports
• Experience with Air Charter operations 
• Experience working in fast-paced environments  
• IS-15.B: Special Events Contingency Planning for Public Safety Agencies By FEMA.gov (within the first 12 months of hiring)

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

• Must have a valid state-issued Driver’s License and a good driving record.
• OSHA 10 Certification (within 12 months of hire, available through in house training available)
• Complete the BMP Volunteer Leadership Training within three months of hire date

ABOUT THIS ROLE

• This is a regular, full-time, eligible for benefits role, located in Reno, NV.

• Ability to adjust schedule seasonally to work at the Burning Man event held in Nevada will be required.

• Burning Man Project celebrates the importance of creating a diverse environment and enthusiastically encourages Black, Indigenous, Peoples of Color, LGBTQIA , Immigrant, women, and people with disabilities, of all ages, to apply.

• Burning Man Project provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

• Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Off-playa:  Work is primarily sedentary in nature, no special demands are required. 
• On-playa: Work is both sedentary and physical in nature, with periods of sitting and periods of bending, walking, lifting, squatting, or climbing. 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. The role should be able to lift up to 50lbs.