Operations Assistant (Part-time)

GrubStreet is the leading literary arts center in the country, located in the Seaport District in Boston, Massachusetts. We are a passionate and dedicated team of professionals who take pride in our work and are committed to creating a warm and supportive work environment.

We are seeking a part-time Operations Assistant (up to 20 hours per week) to help ensure the smooth operation of our Center for Creative Writing by providing administrative support to staff, instructors, students, and community members. This position may require night and weekend coverage, and hours/shifts may vary.

We actively seek diversity, equity and inclusivity because the excellence of our work and the value of its impact depend on them. We strive to create an environment where the perspectives we bring to our work are valued as much as the work we produce.

Responsibilities

• Provide a welcoming presence at the reception desk by registering visitors to the space, checking students into class and directing them to classes, etc.
• Answer phones, return voicemails, and respond to general inquiries via info email address; direct or escalate calls and emails to appropriate departments as needed
• Check/distribute incoming mail and packages
• Ensure that classrooms are ready for use (technology, supplies) and check classrooms after use
• Provide basic IT/AV support for staff, students, and instructors (connecting to wifi, using the copier, Owl cameras, assisted listening devices, etc.)
• Provide event set-up and support as needed, including moving bookshelves, setting up chairs and providing AV support, as well as cleaning up after events
• Performing general office tasks such as printing, photocopying, and document organization
• Maintain clean and tidy common areas, restock supplies, and place supply orders as needed
• Assist in providing requested accommodations
• Move or lift objects weighing up to 50 lbs for various needs (boxes, chairs, etc.)
• Additional tasks as required to support the needs of the organization

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills – both oral and written
• Strong organizational skills
• Demonstrates GrubStreet’s commitment to anti-racism and equity in all communications and interactions with community members
• Ability to work nights and weekends with varying hours/shifts to potentially provide additional shift coverage preferred.

Position Details

GrubStreet is an equal opportunity employer. We provide a competitive salary and benefits package and a dynamic, collaborative work environment. The rate of pay for this position is $16/hourly.

About the Organization

We believe that narrative transforms lives, builds bridges, and produces empathy. By rigorously developing voices of every type and talent, and by removing barriers to entry, GrubStreet fosters the creation of meaningful stories and ensures that excellent writing remains vital and relevant. GrubStreet, the largest creative writing center in the U.S., annually engages over 8,000 students – both teens and adults – in programs that range from two-hour workshops to year-long graduate-level seminars.

Our teachers are working artists who bring the highest quality instruction and mentorship to storytellers. We also host a major writing conference each year and public storytelling events. The education and networks we facilitate foster a richer local writing scene, with a strong focus on increasing opportunities for writers of color, low-income writers, and teen writers. Our programs eliminate common barriers to participation in the arts and lifelong learning, and build community among participants. We continue to increase scholarships and provide free writing programs (including bilingual classes) for adults and teens in low-income communities across Boston.

Statement of Belonging

At GrubStreet, belonging means creating and maintaining spaces where we boldly share our voices, our experiences, and our work as writers, readers, and audience members. Every member of our community commits to engaging across differences with curiosity and a desire to learn and grow together.

Community Agreements:

• Practice cultural humility, ask questions, and engage with different perspectives
• Grace to speak in draft form and be open to making mistakes
• Check our biases and be aware of how we carry our own identity and privilege
• Acknowledge intent while also paying attention to impact

Position Status: Part-time

Position Level: Entry Level

Position Reports to: Operations Associate

Location: Boston

GrubStreet’s policy is to assure equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants by prohibiting discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This practice applies to all terms, conditions and privileges of employment including hiring, transfer, compensation, layoffs, promotions, training, benefits, termination and retirement.