For full job details and how to apply head to: therestartproject.org/about/jobs

About the role

Passionate about repair? Love working in the community to help people embrace low-waste lifestyles? Ready to manage a team of volunteers to get our Hackney Fixing Factory up and running? We want to hear from you!

As our Hackney Fixing Factory workshop manager, you’ll be responsible for the day-to-day operations of our newest Fixing Factory, helping members of the public to fix their broken items, and managing a successful team of volunteers and freelancers to support along the way. You’ll deliver a programme of activities to teach people the basics of repair and change their mindset around electronic waste.

You’ll be based mainly onsite at the Hackney Fixing Factory, working with a passionate Fixing Factory team including workshop managers for other sites, and a central development and project management team. You’ll also work closely with Possible, our partner on the Fixing Factories project.

If you’re a fixer with the skills and enthusiasm to manage a welcoming, safe and impactful repair hub in Hackney, this is the role for you!

Key responsibilities

Activity and delivery

Take responsibility for overseeing onsite repairs and maintaining the process of logging incoming items at the Hackney Fixing Factory, ensuring these are done safely, effectively and to a consistent standard.
Deliver a regular programme of activities at the Hackney Fixing Factories, including community drop-in repair sessions, workshops for the general public and for businesses, training to support volunteers to develop their repair skills, and sessions for volunteers to repair damaged electronic goods for onward sale (training and support in delivering these sessions will be provided at the start).
Delivering other repair activities where requested.
Work with the Fixing Factory Lead to make changes to the Hackney Fixing Factory in response to feedback and project needs.
Participate in first aid training (to be organised by Restart) and act as an onsite first aider.
Participate in safeguarding training (to be organised by Restart) and act as onsite safeguarding officer for the Hackney Fixing Factory, responding to any safeguarding disclosures and recording and reporting these to our Designated Safeguarding Lead at Restart as required.
Take responsibility for ensuring health and safety, safeguarding and first aid protocols are implemented on site at all times and at external events where relevant.
Ensure that Hackney Fixing Factory is a clean, safe, effective, inclusive and pleasant environment for staff, volunteers and members of the public
Implement processes to manage the inventory of equipment, consumables, spares, and repaired items at Hackney Fixing Factory.
Ensure workshop, tools and equipment are maintained and well organised.
Be a keyholder for the workshop site.

Volunteer supervision

Supervise Hackney Fixing Factory volunteers and freelancers, including leading volunteer inductions, regular work and wellbeing check-ins and volunteer team meetings and celebrations with support from the Fixing Factory Lead.
Create an open, welcoming, inclusive environment for volunteers, encouraging collaboration and skill sharing
Implement our onboarding, recruitment and anti-oppression processes for volunteers and freelance fixers at the Hackney Fixing Factory.
Ensure there is a sufficient and growing pipeline of volunteers and freelancers, including leading recruitment for specific roles, to run activities laid out in the business plan, with support from the Fixing Factory Lead

Relationship management

Build and maintain positive relationships with local stakeholders including members of the public, local repair businesses, local authorities, volunteers and community fixing initiatives with support from the Fixing Factory Lead.
Maintain an open and honest line of communication with the Fixing Factory Lead, other workshop managers, operational group and Possible colleagues

Monitoring and evaluation

Collect, and train volunteers to collect, monitoring and evaluation data related to the Fixing Factories to support measuring the projects impact, with support from the Fixing Factory Lead
Take part in team-wide monitoring and evaluation workshops where requested

Income generation

Work with the Fixing Factory Lead to track and grow onsite income generating activities to ensure that the shop meets its objectives for financial sustainability. This includes overseeing:
Paid workshops and training sessions, including generating bookings from the public
Sales of refurbished items
Development of a repair club subscription
Other income generation activities as agreed with the Fixing Factory team.

Budget management

Follow agreed Fixing Factory finance processes, including correct and timely categorisation of regular project income and expenditure (training will be provided) with support from Fixing Factory Lead
Manage Hackney Fixing Factory day-to-day finances: petty cash, buying materials, workshop consumables and reimbursing volunteers' expenses.

Communications

Respond to enquiries about Hackney Fixing Factory via email with support from Fixing Factory Lead
Update the Fixing Factory website and Eventbrite page with events where needed (training will be provided if needed)
Manage booking systems for events with support from Fixing Factory Lead and Possible comms team (training will be provided if needed)
Publicise workshop activities and off-site events locally with support from Fixing Factory Lead
Respond to press and comms requests where requested (for example, providing quotations or facilitating visits from journalists). This does not necessitate acting as a ‘live’ press spokesperson unless you are comfortable with this.
Where requested, facilitate comms team interactions with Hackney Fixing Factory volunteers, including requests for interviews and comms training requirements with support from the Fixing Factory Lead when needed

Organisational and partner involvement

Attend monthly workshop manager meetings with the other Possible and Restart workshop managers. Hosting and chairing of these meetings will be on a rotating basis.
Attend weekly Fixing Factory team meetings, monthly 1:1s, local partners group meetings and any other meetings requested that contribute to the effective running of Fixing Factories.
Maintaining a good working relationship with a range of local stakeholders including Hackney Fixers and Hackney Council

Represent Restart at public events and meetings where appropriate.
Participate in organisational strategy development and reviews.
Be a team player: skill sharing, chipping in on communal tasks and helping each other out.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

You are able to repair electrical items independently, confidently, safely and quickly, or you demonstrate an understanding of electrical knowledge with ability to learn how to repair electrical items quickly - this will include changing plugs, and repairing items such as toasters, kettles and power leads
You have a strong commitment to safety and wellbeing - we have some golden rules to keep everyone healthy and safe - especially around electricity - you will be the guardian of these and be able to recognise and call out when you spot unsafe working practices
Passion for teaching others how to repair - you have experience teaching others to repair or you are keen to learn
Proven excellent time and task management - you’re highly organised, enjoy implementing processes and systems to maximise efficiency and are target driven
Proven to be focused and meticulous when recording information - you’re a stickler for detail and understand the importance of keeping accurate records up to date on a timely basis for successful project delivery.
Experience working in and with the community, including outside of normal working hours - you find this more rewarding than challenging, making time for whoever walks through the door, as well as being able to work regular weekend and evening hours.
Demonstrable excellent in-person communication skills - and the ability to interact with and manage members of the public, volunteers and other stakeholders in a variety of practical scenarios.
Experience and ability to work well as a team member and respond well to feedback- both in person onsite, and through contributions to the wider Fixing Factories partnership development. This project is going to be heavily influenced by the needs of the local community, so you need to be open to receiving regular feedback
Demonstrated ability to work independently and use own initiative - as well as being part of team and working to a project plan, you have the ability to put your own mark on the Hackney Fixing Factory

Great-to-haves

Experience overseeing a site based project - this could be anything from a community garden to a managing elements of a charity shop
Experience facilitating successful volunteer-based projects - and an understanding of how to retain and strengthen volunteer engagement in community initiatives
Experience leading a group to deliver an activity
Excellent written communication skills - you will have some experience of responding to email enquiries and are able to provide short quotes and copy for promoting Hackney Fixing Factory activities locally
Commitment to The Restart Project’s mission and an interest in sustainability or technology

If you have any questions please get in touch with Fixing Factory Lead, Shelini - shelini@therestartproject.org

Only people already eligible to work in the UK should apply.

Repair Workshop Manager