Public Lab job posting: Inventory and Shipping Coordinator

Public Lab; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Public Lab in Portland, OR seeks a half-time Inventory and Shipping Coordinator to fulfill orders, track online store sales, manage inventory, and handle customer inquiries for environmental science kits.

The role focuses on packaging, quality assurance, supplier relationships, and ongoing supply chain improvements, with a commitment to community science and nonprofit mission.

Qualifications

• Hyper-organized with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to work with diverse teams and remote colleagues.
• Technical proficiency to learn and use inventory tools.

Responsibilities

• Track inventory levels and anticipate re-orders to maintain kit stock.
• Fulfill orders and monitor sales through the online store.
• Pack kits with care to ensure a high-quality unboxing experience.
• Coordinate with suppliers for stock, production, and pickup of materials.
• Support the Kits Manager and identify supply chain improvements.

Skills

Hyper-organized

Attention to detail

Administrative skills

Strong communication

Collaborative teamwork

Technical proficiency

Problem solving

Supply chain basics

Job description

Inventory and Shipping Coordinator

Start Date: Mid-Late February 2016
Location: Portland, OR
Terms: 20-25 hours/week

The Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science (Public Lab) is a community--supported by a 501(c)(3) non-profit--which develops and applies open-source tools to environmental exploration and investigation. By democratizing inexpensive and accessible Do-It-Yourself techniques, Public Lab creates a collaborative network of practitioners who actively re-imagine the human relationship with the environment.

Position Summary

We are looking for a half-time inventory, assembly, and shipping coordinator for our environmental science kit production and distribution program. The basic function of the job is to fulfill orders, track sales through our online store, manage inventory, and handle customer service and inquiries regarding our products.

Major Position Responsibilities

Overall Objectives

• A streamlined, reliable and efficient retail store that provides consistent and growing income from our popular kits to support the Public Lab non-profit.
• Increased efficiency and predictability of kit re-ordering, stocking, production, assembly, and shipping, for better cash-flow management.
• Reliable, transparent, and responsive reordering and restocking, and coordination with other parts of the organization.

Simplifying and optimizing assembly, tracking inventory

Tracking inventory is essential to good re-order planning and cashflow management. We're seeking a hyper-organized team member who can track supply levels of both completed kits and individual parts, and anticipate the need for re-orders while keeping our supply chain costs and storage space needs manageable. This position requires someone not only able to follow instructions and maintain systems, but to constantly improve processes.

Packaging, quality assurance and the customer experience

A key part of maintaining a clear and powerful brand and strong relationship with our community is making sure the kit unboxing experience is special. Our kits are many customers’ first contact with our community. Kit packaging must look good inside and out and we must meet a high standard of product quality and user experience.

Supplier relationships & pickup

We work with many suppliers locally, nationally and internationally. Ordering stock and coordinating manufacturing, shipment and pickup of materials is essential to ensuring that kits remain in stock. The Inventory and Shipping Coordinator will support the Kits Manager by maintaining relationships with our suppliers, ordering parts and materials, and identifying opportunities for improvements in our supply chain.

Preferred Experience

1-2 years experience in a retail, supply chain or manufacturing environment, or 2-3 years of customer service experience

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities Required

• Knowledge and appreciation of Public Lab (community & nonprofit), its mission, approach to R&D and kit development, programs and services, and the ability to communicate them effectively.
• High level of attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills.
• Strong communication skills–in written, verbal and online formats.
• Ability to work collaboratively, both in-person and with remote co-workers, to envision and promote positive change and to be supportive of others.
• Ability to facilitate activities amongst a highly diverse community of people from many different fields and experience sets.
• Technical proficiency (with full support from co-workers)--ability to learn, disseminate and teach about technology in the context of community development.
• Ability to identify and solve problems as a team member, and to make decisions and involve others in the decision-making process where appropriate.
• Ability to create a work environment that fosters shared goals and objectives, and to be part of a cohesive online and in-person community.

Public Lab is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, multicultural work environment. We encourage people with different ability sets, people of color, and people of diverse sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities to apply.