DPW Golf Carts Assistant Manager

JOB SUMMARY

The Department of Public Works (DPW) Golf Cart Assistant Manager plays a vital role in the seamless operation and maintenance of the golf cart fleet for the Burning Man event in Black Rock City. This position assists the DPW Golf Cart Manager in all aspects of the department, supporting efficient planning, execution, and tracking of golf cart rentals. Responsibilities include assisting with Golf Cart Shop build, helping oversee on-playa and off-playa operations, supervising day-to-day maintenance and crew, safety and cleaning protocols, coordinating inventory, and collaborating with an off-site team for post-event cart cleaning. This role requires strong leadership, organizational and problem-solving skills, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

This temporary, ineligible for benefits role is: 

• From August - September:  Full-Time, Non-Exempt, based on-site out of Black Rock City, Nevada. 

The deadline to apply for this role is 5:00pm PST on Feb 20, 2026.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Operations (65%):

• Assist with Golf Cart Shop build pre-event.
• Track golf cart allocation, use, and return, ensuring efficient distribution and retrieval, while maintaining meticulous records of rental maintenance, requests and condition.
• Keep an accurate, rolling inventory of shop consumables, parts, and supplies.
• Be available on radio during working hours and assigned on-call shifts for urgent cart support services.
• Establish and oversee the maintenance of a clean, efficient and safe worksite; ensure that all team members are provided with and use the necessary OSHA approved safety equipment.
• Maintain flexibility to respond to shifting needs during working hours, helping to assess workflow and identify critical objective tasks are being given priority.
• Present a professional and supportive demeanor with all staff and participants, serving as a helpful liaison between Burning Man Project departments and assigned drivers by keeping open communication to fulfill rental requests and address issues.
• Help to teach and acculturate all drivers in the golf cart driving policies and their importance, clearly establishing expectations and boundaries. Offer reasonable, creative problem-solving and provide alternate solutions when challenges arise.
• Ensure documentation assignments are completed accurately and on time, following established standards to maintain consistency as outlined by management.
• Improve and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for assigned projects throughout the season to reflect current practices and confirm accuracy.
• Prepare written feedback for DPW Management describing the successes of the season, and suggestions for improvement; Submit an end-of-season EMBER Report.               

Personnel Support (15%):

• Supervise and guide the Golf Carts team, fostering a collaborative, up-beat and high-performing working environment using established processes, timelines and goals.
• Assist with the production of staffing schedules, payroll hours processing, and distribution of paychecks to crew in a timely manner.
• Act as a mentor, positive role model, and team leader by guiding and directing team members as they carry out their tasks.
• Learn, use, and share the proper pathways of communication and supporting documentation for escalating personnel issues.
• Manage personal time effectively and work alongside individuals and teams to foster an environment of accountability, collaboration, and adaptability.

Off-Site Cart Return and Processing (15%):

• Travel to Reno with the Cleaning Team to help oversee the cleaning and return of golf carts to the vendor.
• Ensure carts are cleaned to specifications and returned in optimal condition.

Other Functions and Responsibilities (5%)

• Attend and support crew attendance to Team Meetings and DPW Morning Meetings. 
• Work with the team to plan and execute waste disposal plans and enforce LNT (Leave No Trace) principles.
• Monitor the well-being of self and staff, setting reasonable work expectations and proactively addressing any concerns with management.
• 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 - 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. 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.
• 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.

QUALIFICATIONS

 Required

• Strong focus and situational awareness, even in fast-paced and dynamic environments.
• Physically capable of safely lifting, moving, and stacking materials up to 50 lbs repetitively.
• Clear, service-oriented, and professional communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to assess and tailor responses to meet varying support needs patiently and effectively.
• High level of integrity with discretion in handling sensitive information. Able to maintain a clean, organized environment, strong work ethic, and remains calm under pressure.
• Attention to accuracy and detail in data entry with the ability to distinguish between similar items, even when differences are subtle or not immediately obvious.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and capable of prioritizing and supporting multiple projects under tight deadlines; Strong time management skills with the ability to work independently, manage team members’ workloads, and contribute to team goals.
• Adaptable, capable of handling diverse tasks, integrating feedback, and applying creative, analytical thinking to improve established processes.
• Committed to fostering a positive, collaborative and empowered team environment by motivating and supporting others while respecting individual needs and perspectives.
• Capable of working in extreme environments, including drastic temperature shifts, high winds, poor air quality, and periods of low or no visibility.
• Willing and able to temporarily relocate to the Burning Man event site in Gerlach, Nevada, during the event production cycle.

Preferred 

• Experience in event purchasing and familiarity with standard operating procedures.
• Proficiency in using 2-way radios for communication.
• Prior experience attending Burning Man and/or familiarity with its culture is highly beneficial. Additionally, projects in remote wilderness and/or desert environments. 
• Familiarity with the Department of Public Works (DPW) and its role in supporting the event.

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

COMPENSATION

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

• From August - September is $17.00 - $20.00 per hour.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Off-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.
• 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.

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.