Driver (PT)/CHI

Cradles To Crayons; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 27,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

Cradles to Crayons in Chicago, IL is seeking a part-time Driver to collect and deliver donated items, and to help maintain our inventory and warehouse space. The role emphasizes safe driving, timely pickups, and courteous interaction with volunteers, donors, and partners.

The Driver will work 16–20 hours per week, primarily in the Greater Chicagoland area, and will contribute to smooth operations across warehouse and Giving Factory functions.

Qualifications

• Must have a valid driver’s license and a clear driving record.
• Medical clearance for truck and van operation required.
• Previous delivery/driving experience.
• Warehouse experience.
• Customer service experience.
• Able to lift a minimum of 40 pounds.
• Familiar with Chicago area and able to operate GPS.
• Ability to work Monday through Friday and during events.

Responsibilities

• Model and lead a positive culture within Operations.
• Ensure safe pick-up and delivery of donations in the Chicago region.
• Organize donations from drop-off locations into Cradles to Crayons vehicles.
• Track donations loaded onto trucks and stored in the warehouse.
• Monitor vehicle maintenance and report issues.
• Maintain professional relationships with donors and partners.
• Ensure safe warehouse storage and clear aisles.
• Assist with warehouse movements and inventory flow.
• Participate in special events with Cradles to Crayons vehicles.

Skills

Valid driver’s license

Delivery experience

Warehouse experience

Customer service

Lift 40 pounds

Familiar with Chicago area

GPS navigation

Flexible schedule

Tools

GPS navigation

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Chicago - Chicago, IL, Position Type: Part Time, Salary Range: $24.04 - $24.04Hourly, POSITION SUMMARY

Opportunity: Part-Time Position at Cradles to Crayons - ~16-20 hours/week

Department: Operations

Title: Driver

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Reports to: Senior Director, Operations

Location: Chicago, IL

ABOUT CRADLES TO CRAYONS:

Cradles to Crayons (C2C), founded in 2002, provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive—at home, at school, and at play. We supply clothing, shoes, diapers, school supplies, and more, free of charge. Our vision is that one day all children will have the essentials they need to thrive.

Two in 5 kids in the United States are currently facing Clothing Insecurity, going without basic essentials like pants, shoes, diapers, and school supplies during their critical development years. Three of the top 10 reasons kids miss school are rooted in Clothing Insecurity—just one example of the significant short- and long-term social and economic costs when these needs go unmet. Cradles to Crayons keeps Clothing Insecurity at the core of our mission and is the only large-scale nonprofit organization to focus on this resource gap. Since its founding, Cradles to Crayons has distributed more than three million customized packages of essentials to children in Massachusetts, Greater Philadelphia, Chicagoland, and nationally, through Giving Factory Direct—a first-in-kind online product donation platform launched in 2021.

Cradles to Crayons takes a three-pronged approach to mitigating Clothing Insecurity:

1. In-person Engagement—through tens of thousands of children and adults volunteering at our Giving Factory warehouses to sort and package high volumes of new and like-new donations from our communities for our Service Partners to distribute to the children they serve.
2. Online Product Donations—Giving Factory Direct matches product donors directly to children who need the items they have to donate. GFD is currently available in a growing number of communities as we expand our reach nationally.
3. Advocacy and Awareness—Cradles to Crayons is uniquely positioned to raise Clothing Insecurity as a national issue through awareness campaigns, data/evaluation, and legislative outreach.

Cradles to Crayons has earned the highest possible rating from Charity Navigator for 13 consecutive years. Only 2% of charities nationwide have received this distinction. C2C has a budget of $12.9M for FY22.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Driver is a member of the Operations team and is responsible for the collection of donated children’s items, the delivery and distribution of partner orders, and the maintenance of our inventory and facility. A large emphasis of this position is safe driving, and the timely pick-up and delivery of donated children’s items. The Driver will spend the majority of their time in the community, organizing donations at various drop-off locations in the Greater Chicagoland area, where there is regular interaction with volunteers, partners, and donors. This position is the face of Cradles to Crayons in Chicago and the surrounding communities. The Driver is also responsible for unloading the donations and securing the items in the correct space in the warehouse for storage. This position has additional responsibilities in the warehouse to help facilitate the movement of inventory through the warehouse and to maintain the facility.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Model and lead a positive “One Cradles” culture, underpinned by Cradles’ Cultural Values and related behaviors.
• Ensure the safe pick‑up and delivery of donations from locations in the Chicago region.
• Efficiently organize donations from drop‑off location into Cradles to Crayons vehicles.
• Accurately track the amount and type of donations being loaded onto the truck and being placed within the warehouse.
• Monitor C2C vehicles to ensure they are properly maintained and operational and report any issues to the Warehouse and Inventory Manager.
• Maintain a positive and professional relationship with those who are donating items as well as with partner organizations when delivering or distributing product.
• Ensure donations in the warehouse are stored properly and safely and that aisle ways are unobstructed and free of debris.
• Manage the onsite collection bin(s) and organize and track donations that are received.
• Work with the operations team to optimize space in the warehouse.
• Perform custodial related activities in warehouse and surrounding grounds.
• Assist with warehouse projects as needed.
• Attend special events with C2C vehicles as needed.

Assist with Operations and Giving Factory production, when requested

• Perform the duties needed for Giving Factory stations to run properly.
• Responsible for providing a high level of customer service during all stages of the volunteer experience, including:
• Ensuring stations are safe, clean and “volunteer ready”
• Assist in the station training of Champion volunteers, staff, and interns.
• Work closely with Champion volunteers, checking in before and after shifts to communicate shift goals, etc.
• Following assigned volunteer shift responsibilities regarding pre-shift, shift engagement and wrap-up, post shift.

Assist with the fulfillment of orders

• Perform other warehouse, inventory, receiving and distribution tasks as directed by the Manager on Duty
• Receive gently used donations as outlined in the Material Handling Policy
• Unload delivery vehicles either palletized or floor-loaded.
• Load delivery vehicles with pallets or unpalletized materials
• Assist the Warehouse Coordinator with the movement, organization and tracking of inventory
• Lead volunteers
• Perform cleaning and sanitizing duties as directed
• Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Must have a valid driver’s license and a clear driving record
• Medical clearance for truck and van operation required
• Previous delivery/driving experience
• Warehouse Experience
• Customer service
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 40 pounds.
• A familiarity with Chicago and surrounding area and able to operate a GPS system.
• The ability to regularly work a Monday through Friday schedule as well as special events outside of standard schedule

DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH:

Diversity and Inclusiveness are core values at Cradles to Crayons, and we continuously strive to be a team where everyone feels welcome and supported. It is the policy of Cradles to Crayons to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Individuals from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This is a warehouse environment and normal changes in temperature are to be expected while working inside the warehouse or outside, on or around the loading dock. There are no hazardous or significantly unpleasant conditions.

ACCOMMODATION:

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made by Cradles to Crayons which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others, or which impose undue hardships on the organization.