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Project Manager

POSITION: FULL TIME

LOCATION: IN-PERSON, PHILADELPHIA

CLOSING DATE: until filled

OUR MISSION

Tiny WPA’s mission is to grow and support a diverse multigenerational community of civic change agents—Building Heroes—who lead others in making Philadelphia a better, safer, healthier, more equitable, and prosperous place to live, work, and play. We believe that through design-build and citizen-led improvements, we can create stronger places and more equitable spaces across our city.

THE ROLE: PROJECT MANAGER

As Tiny WPA scales its impact, we are seeking a resourceful, highly motivated Project Manager to help shape our growth. This individual will manage a wide variety of concurrent design-build projects, ensuring our Building Heroes have the opportunities they need to learn, earn, and lead. This is a role for a collaborative problem-solver who is as comfortable fine-tuning a budget as they are co-leading a workshop or supporting a community build on-site. This role requires a collaborative problem-solver who unhesitatingly supports the team wherever needed. On a given day, this could include coordinating a community build, chatting with neighbors, navigating a project budget, or providing hands-on support in the shop.

responsibilities

  • Project Leadership: Manage numerous concurrent projects from conception to completion, ensuring they stay on track and maximize impact for stakeholders and Building Heroes.

  • Operations & Logistics: Conduct project assessments, track learning/impact, and handle material runs and onsite logistics.

  • People Leadership: Directly support, mentor, and coordinate Building Heroes, junior staff, and volunteers on-site. Foster a culture of safety, learning, and collaboration, ensuring every individual has the guidance they need to succeed and grow within our community.

  • Collaboration: Work independently and collaboratively with colleagues and community partners; co-lead workshops and community engagement sessions.

  • Administration: Create estimates and quotes for clients; ensure proper permits are secured; document and report project goals and outcomes.

  • Communications: Support how we tell our story and demonstrate impact through marketing efforts, including our monthly newsletter and social media 

To get a better sense of the breadth of projects that the Project Manager could be working on, please visit www.instagram.com/tinywpa

QUALIFICATIONS

As with all positions at Tiny WPA, the Project Manager must have multiple skill sets. In addition to excellent project management skills, the Project Manager should have strong skills and demonstrable experience in at least one of the following:

  • Design (Graphic, product, or architecture)

  • Fabrication/Construction (Digital, wood, and/or metal)

  • Community Organizing

  • Teaching

  • 4+ years of relevant work experience in project management, community design, or a related field.

  • A deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and the mission of empowering diverse communities.

  • Demonstrated experience in people leadership, specifically in mentoring, coaching, or managing small teams in a hands-on or collaborative environment.

  • Strong proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar), ability to use project management tools such as Asana

  • Proficiency in design software (i.e. Procreate, AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator) is a plus.

  • Strong interpersonal and written communication skills with the ability to engage diverse audiences.

  • Valid driver’s license and the ability to travel to various project sites across Philadelphia.

  • Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of PA Act 153 background checks (Child Abuse, State Police, and FBI Fingerprints), which will be initiated upon hire.

physical requirements

Tiny WPA is a "lead by doing" environment. To successfully fulfill the responsibilities of this role (including on-site project management, material logistics, and shop support) the candidate must be able to perform the following essential functions:

  • Regularly lift, carry, and maneuver materials and equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.

  • Navigate and remain active within a fabrication workshop and across outdoor community construction sites with uneven terrain.

  • Maintain high levels of visual and auditory awareness to ensure personal and team safety in an active shop environment with high ambient noise and moving machinery.

  • Assist in "filling gaps" during project builds, which may include digging, assembly, and hands-on fabrication alongside our Building Heroes.

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time position that is on-site at Tiny WPA’s workshop, located at 3145 W. Jefferson St. Suite C7, Philadelphia, PA 19121.

Tiny WPA is a small nonprofit. We work deeply and love what we do, but we also strive for a culture where everyone feels supported, healthy, and happy.

  • Pay: The starting rate for this position starts at $25/hour (based on a standard 37.5-hour work week with 30 minutes of unpaid lunch daily) and varies based on experience 

  • Classification: This is a Non-Exempt position; hours worked over 40 in a workweek are paid at time-and-a-half.

  • Health & Wellness: Includes a health insurance stipend, vacation days, and paid sick leave.

At Tiny WPA, we value lived experience alongside formal credentials. If you don't meet every single qualification but believe you have the skills to thrive in this role, we encourage you to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Please email a cover letter, resume and project samples/portfolio to Renee Schacht at renee@tinywpa.org. The subject heading of your email should be ‘Project Manager: Your Name’. We will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

If you move forward, we will set up an interview followed by a session to see how you design, build, and collaborate in real-time. We will ask you to join us for a paid, multi-hour “design-build” session alongside our Building Heroes. This is the best way for you to decide if you love our hands-on pace, and for us to see how your leadership style fits within our team.

At Tiny WPA, we value lived experience alongside formal credentials. If you don’t meet every single qualification but believe you have the skills to thrive in this role, we encourage you to apply.