Love the arts? Hate landfill?

           Want your work to make an impact in Philly?

The Resource Exchange is hiring!

We are seeking long term additions to our environmental arts nonprofit who are interested in contributing their values, skills & commitment to our nonprofit’s mission and ongoing development.
No short term/temp/seasonal applicants please

Who we are

The Resource Exchange is Philadelphia’s Center for Creative Reuse. We are a nonprofit reuse shop, gallery, and workshop space, providing inspiration and reclaimed materials for creative and environmentally resourceful making, teaching & living. 

We promote creative reuse, recycling, and resource conservation by diverting valuable materials from the waste stream and redirecting them to artists, builders, educators, and the general public.

What we do

We promote the artistic, environmental, and economic benefits of creative reuse.

We save a wide variety of reusable materials from the region’s landfills, and make them accessible to the public at low cost, including:

• art/craft/maker materials    • fabrics/textiles    • building materials/tools    • classroom supplies

• vintage + gently used home goods    • film/theatre props    • unique salvage

We serve as a community hub that connects creativity, sustainability, community and the local economy, with an in-store gallery of handmade works & wares, as well as workshops & events.

Full Time Operations Team (4 shifts/wk *Sunday is required)

– Starting rate is $18/hr, with annual increase and flex paid time off determined by Board vote and commensurate with years worked

– Paid holidays on business closure days

– A work/life balance of a 4 day work week as standard

– Potential for training & promotion from within for full time staff with relevant qualifications who demonstrate leadership and interest in furthering their role & responsibilities

Part Time Operations Team Less than 4 shifts/wk *Sunday is required)

– Starting rate is $17/hr, with annual increase determined by Board vote

– Paid holidays on business closure days

Your Role

Our Core Responsibilities align with our mission, and are shared in various ways by everyone:

• Reuse retailing in the creative reuse warehouse, serving as a pivotal connection between our mission and our community 

 • Offering friendly communication and service to customers and donors at all times

• Donation intake, including evaluating materials for reusability, and ensuring that they are appropriate for our organization

• Working diligently to save, process, and redistribute an ever-increasing volume and variety of reusable materials back into the community

• Providing donors, customers, and the general public with sustainability information and referrals with our resourcePhilly guide to local reuse & recycling options

• Researching pricing efficiently for discounting many types of donated and salvaged inventory

• Keeping the shop & gallery artfully laid-out and impeccably organized, adhering to our high merchandising & display standards

• Maintaining clean, organized, and safe donation intake, processing & storage areas at all times

• Working with our wonderful volunteers on a wide variety of tasks

• Promoting our nonprofit’s mission, developing new connections, and maintaining existing relationships with customers, donors, and makers of all kinds

• Sharing our creative reuse mission on social media, highlighting our unique & varied reclaimed inventory, customer projects, featured artists, donor spotlights and related content

Qualifications

• Commitment to both the environment and the arts is essential

•Recent retail experience strongly preferred

• Sincere interest & ability to engage with customers & donors (retail experience required)

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail & accuracy are critical

• Must be able to frequently lift 50 pounds, and bend, reach, and stand for extended periods

• Familiarity & interest in a wide variety of art, craft, building materials, tools, and techniques (experience with basic shop/carpentry tools and equipment strongly preferred)

• Computer and tablet proficiency (experience with Square or WordPress a +)

• Ability to work in a warehouse environment, often in either hot or cold conditions

• Ability to multitask many responsibilities simultaneously, while prioritizing big picture goals

• Ideal candidates will excel in a nontraditional, hands-on setting, able to work independently & interdependently within a diverse team

What we offer

30% Employee Discount to a wide range of reclaimed materials (with first access to new arrivals)

A bring-your-whole-self-to-work, unique work environment

Meaningful work alongside a small but mighty, dedicated team making a difference every day

To Apply If you haven’t already, please visit The Resource Exchange at 1800 N. American St. in Kensington before applying to see what we do in person!

Send your resume to info@theresourceexchange.org along with a brief cover letter telling us why your particular skills, experience, and interests fit the position and our mission. If you’ve already used our reclaimed materials, donated, volunteered, or been to one of our workshops or events – let us know!

***No calls please***

The Resource Exchange provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status. Candidates of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and lived experience are strongly encouraged to apply