BlacSpace Cooperative Inc.
BlacSpace is a new cooperative enterprise that leverages the Black Arts Movement tradition to cultivate a supportive ecosystem where Black arts, business, ownership, and culture can thrive. We tend to cultural reforestation to halt the loss of Black culture in Oakland and to build the health, wealth, safety and stability of Oakland’s Black Arts community. With a focus on the collective sustainability of Black-led cultural groups, BlacSpace provides a pathway towards cultural permanence through broadening ownership and governance of cultural enterprises, building
collective power, and ultimately supporting the acquisition of real-estate that grounds Oakland’s Black Arts community into the landscape for good.
BlacSpace Cooperative’s mission is to connect and sustain an ecosystem of cultural anchor organizations in Oakland. We…
➔ build collective capacity for Black-led cultural groups through shared back-end office
➔ support Black creatives to move towards cooperative business models and shared space acquisitions
➔ provide a vehicle for business ownership, and
➔ convene and activate a Mutual Aid Network.
Role Description:
BlacSpace Cooperative is seeking an Infrastructure and Administrative Coordinator to join its small but mighty leadership team to establish, grow and maintain this new cooperative. The person in this role will execute the daily operations of the cooperative while building its systems, ensuring that the vision of the cooperative is implemented and that all operations are in accordance with its values. Coordinator will also liaise with key stakeholders, community members, vendors, and
organizational partners to meet goals, objectives, and maintain organizational excellence. We are seeking someone who digs the details, while having an eye for the big picture, someone who loves structure (especially building it), but thrives in a flexible and ever-changing environment, someone who has a radical heart and an organized mind.
Responsibilities:
Infrastructure Creation and Execution
● Partner with Operations Steward to execute infrastructure vision on behalf of cooperative and identify process improvements
● Research radical operational structures & systems, and present recommendations to leadership
● Draft process & policy documents
● Identify tools, systems, and platforms for effective infrastructure operation and maintenance
● Ensure organization is in compliance with local and state government regulations [tax forms filed, fees paid, etc]
● Maintain digital platforms and tools (ie. Keep Google Drive organized)
Financial Management
● Manage interface with fiscal sponsor
● Payment processing & vendor management
● Manage receipts, invoices & financial data
● Coordinate with Bookkeeper to maintain finance platforms
● Coordinate with Operations Steward on budgeting and cash flow projections
● Manage all platform subscriptions (ie. bank account, credit cards, paypal, etc.)
HR: Onboarding & Payroll
● Partner with HR consultant in onboarding Employees and Contractors, collecting required paperwork and onboarding in Gusto payroll
● Submit Payroll via Gusto for all employees and contractors
● Draft and submit contracts for signing with all employees, contractors, and vendors Event Planning & Logistics
● Full spectrum event coordination and management for small and larger community gatherings and hospitality events. (2 retreats per year, periodic small gatherings)
● Work with staff leaders, board members, membership, partners and community members to execute smooth event flow Administrative
● Attend Leadership & Board Meetings
● Take & Formalize Meeting Minutes
● Schedule meetings & events
Other tasks as needed.
Minimum Qualifications:
● At least 3-5 years of executive administrative, project management, systems setup, cultural production & event management experience
● Strong written and verbal communication skills
● Proficient in Google Suite, Payroll processing platforms, Project Management Platforms
● Well versed in learning and adapting technological platforms to needs of business
● A willingness to explore, learn, be fluid and adaptable to the needs of a forming and growing organization
● Cultural Competency in collaborating with Black-led cultural arts organizations
● Creativity!
Preferred Qualifications:
● Experience building and developing cooperative and social justice organization campaigns
and programs
● Cooperative experience
● Startup experience
● Finance management experience
● Staff management experience
● Grounding in the Cultural Arts & Solidarity Economy ecosystems
● Passion to grow the organization and the vision
● Based in the Bay Area
Impactful Opportunities:
● Become a worker-owner of a newly formed cooperative after a period of time
● Co-design an innovative, unique multi-stakeholder cooperative model
● Work with a majority Black-women leadership team
● Attend 2 annual, in person retreats
● Participate in a caring, loving, transparent, human-centered work environment
● 8 weeks of paid vacation
BlacSpace Cooperative is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Black, BIPOC, queer and trans, women and gender
non-conforming applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply and send a Resume and Cover Letter to blacspacecoop@gmail.com