DPW Receiving and Delivery Associate

JOB SUMMARY

The Department of Public Works (DPW) Receiving and Delivery Associate will work as a delivery truck and storage tetris champion, alongside and in support of the DPW Receiving Coordinator to track and ensure the correct receipt, organization, preparation and distribution of incoming purchase orders to the appropriate requestors.  Such orders include items procured by the Purchasing Department and shipped to Gerlach, Black Rock Station, or Black Rock City. There is a demanding physical component- trucks must be unloaded and material moved during the receiving, sorting, storage and delivery process. Shifts will be non-standard hours according to the delivery schedules that tend to arrive mid-morning and later evening and may extend during peak receiving days.

  This temporary, ineligible for benefits role is: 

• From July - September:  Full-Time,  Non-Exempt, based Black Rock City, Nevada. 

The deadline to apply for this role is 5:00 pm Pacific on April 11, 2025

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Daily Operations (80%)

• Work with the Purchasing Team to receive, check, and distribute a high volume of goods and materials.
• Perform vehicle safety inspections at the beginning and end of every shift, ensuring that the vehicle is in good working order, and perform daily maintenance as outlined by management.
• Assist with reviewing incoming shipment contents, outgoing orders and paperwork to compare for discrepancies, missing or incorrect items, and scan into the appropriate software platform.
• Receive order fulfillment/ action lists from the Receiving Coordinator; Work with the DPW Purchasing Assistant Manager to create routes and detailed plans for delivery.
• Organize items from the shipments in short-term storage locations or prepare for delivery.
• Help load/unload delivery trucks and responsibly transport deliveries to assigned locations in a timely manner.
• Interface with all Burning Man Department leads to confirm accurate delivery time and placement of their orders, obtaining delivery confirmations from recipients. 
• Maintain safety standards and situational awareness while operating and loading/unloading the delivery truck.
• Keep an open line of communication with the Receiving Coordinator and Assistant Manager throughout the day, working as a team to ensure smooth and accurate order and task fulfillment, promptly notifying of any surprises while in the field.
• Help to maintain order in the Receiving Office and work areas addressing cardboard boxes, packing materials, and available pallets as needs fluctuate and occasionally packing up material to be returned.
• Follow proper procedure to ensure that paperwork is complete for each delivery and entered into the appropriate software platform (Procurify, MaintainX, Google Drive, etc.).

Documentation Support (10%)

• Assist the Purchasing Data Agent with preparing returns, exchanges, or re-orders as requested. 
• Ensure all work, reports, and documentation is completed in accordance with standards and deadlines as outlined by DPW Management to maintain continuity in what and how work is done and to co-create a smooth event experience for all.
• Maintain an amicable, professional demeanor while guiding requesters in completing their orders, in understanding how to navigate Procurify or other software, submitting proper information, and in creating reasonable expectations around timelines.
• Provide a written, year-end summary of processes, including any recommendations for improvements. 

Other Functions and Responsibilities (10%)

• Attend DPW and Purchasing Department morning meetings. 
• Participate in ongoing Purchasing Department training. 
• Work with the Purchasing Team to plan and execute LNT and Waste stream plans for the Purchasing department.
• Be familiar with, understand and act in accordance with Burning Man’s staff policies, protocols and behavioral standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

• Documentation - Assists in creating, publishing, and maintaining process documentation related to their assigned duties.
• Knowledge sharing – Helps acculturate and educate junior staff in Burning Man culture and business processes.
• 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.

QUALIFICATIONS

 Required

• Expert ability to drive safely on dirt roads, navigate Black Rock City streets congested with pedestrians, bicycles, and mutant vehicles, and maintain a strong situational awareness in a wide variety of settings.
• Capable of moving and stacking materials with the physical ability and stamina to easily and safely lift 50 lbs repeatedly while entering and exiting large vehicles throughout the shift.
• Ability to maintain an organized spatial awareness and a system to track it; to differentiate between similar items when the details are not immediately apparent; able to prioritize, and stay motivated to stick to a strict schedule.. 
• Ability to work under pressure and keep a cool head and amicable attitude; capable of navigating the ebbs and flows of a shifting workload throughout the day; ability to handle dynamic situations and proactively engage in clarifying conversations.
• Proficient at navigating digital and online technology; excellent at handling data entry with attention to accuracy; able to learn and effectively update existing online applications, tools, systems, spreadsheets, and documents. 
• Working knowledge of Google products (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Drive), Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Clear, service-oriented, and professional communication, verbal and written; Able to evaluate, tailor style, and patiently respond to needs for support.
• Operates with high behavioral integrity, confidentiality, and discretion regarding sensitive information; maintains tidiness in work ethics and the work environment; able to integrate feedback into action.
• Capable of working in an extreme environment, including drastic temperature changes, high winds, poor air quality, and low to no visibility at times.
• Ability to temporarily relocate for work at the Burning Man event held in Gerlach, Nevada.

Preferred 

• Experience as a DPW Crew member
• Familiarity with event-based production work
• It is helpful if the candidate has previously been to Burning Man and/or is familiar with its culture.
• Experience with two-way radio communication with the ability to maintain professionalism on air.

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

• Valid driver’s license and a good driving record
• Comfortable driving a larger size box truck 

COMPENSATION

Individual compensation decisions are dependent on a variety of factors, including prior experience and geographical location. The anticipated rate for this position:

• From July - September is $15.00 to $17.00 per hour.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Off-playa:  Work is primarily sedentary in nature, no special demands are required.
• On-playa:  This position requires periods of heavy lifting, bending, kneeling, squatting, and climbing. This position will be physically demanding, and requires individuals with good physical health, and endurance. Work will include the need to find and meet with department representatives who may not be in the vicinity therefore this could include walking or using some form of transportation. 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.

NOTICE FOR ALL APPLICANTS:

• 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.