Operations and Facilities Manager

Organization Overview

Free Geek Twin Cities is a nonprofit organization dedicated to digital inclusion and environmental sustainability through technology reuse and recycling. We reduce e-waste, support community education, and promote responsible technology use.

Position Overview
The Operations and Facilities Manager is a critical leadership role responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant execution of all operational and facility activities. This position directly manages the Intake and Recycling staff, drives continuous process improvement across the entire technology donation lifecycle, and maintains the physical infrastructure of the facility. The Manager is the primary owner of operational budgets, vendor relationships, and ensuring strict adherence to environmental and safety regulations, with a special focus on current state and county guidelines for e-waste and hazardous materials.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Team Leadership & Management

• Personnel Management: Provide direct supervision, mentorship, and performance management for Intake Specialists, Recycling Team members, and Facility Maintenance personnel, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Workflow Integration: Direct the daily activities of the Intake and Recycling teams, ensuring seamless integration between the documentation, data security (wiping), processing, and material routing stages.
• Training & Development: Design and deliver comprehensive training programs for staff and volunteers on operational procedures, safety protocols, and the best practices for handling, sorting, and breaking down electronic waste.
• Time Management & Reporting: Accurately track and approve staff schedules and hours worked, reporting timekeeping data to the Administration and Finance Manager for payroll processing.

2. Operational Excellence & Process Optimization

• Process Improvement Leadership: Proactively identify, design, and implement robust operational processes across the entire intake and recycling workflow.

• Data Security Assurance: Develop, refine, and enforce stringent procedures to guarantee 100% accurate completion, tracking, and documentation of all data-wiping activities, adhering to industry best practices and donor expectations.
• Inventory & Metrics Management: Establish and maintain precise protocols for weighing, documenting, and tracking all inbound and outbound materials. Ensure meticulous inventory records are maintained for required internal and external regulatory reporting.
• Logistics Coordination: Plan and execute the logistics for large-scale corporate and organizational donations, coordinating transportation, on-site assistance, and efficient processing of bulk technology contributions.
• Space Management & Flow: Oversee the strategic layout and organization of the warehouse and processing areas to enhance safety, optimize material flow, and ensure efficient utilization of all physical space.

3. Compliance, Safety, and Environmental Stewardship

• Regulatory Compliance: Maintain expert knowledge of and ensure strict compliance with all current state, county, and federal regulations pertaining to electronic waste (e-waste) and hazardous waste management, including but not limited to guidelines from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Hennepin County.
• Safety Program Oversight: Implement, manage, and enforce a comprehensive facility Health and Safety program, conducting regular safety audits, documenting incidents, and ensuring proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use.
• E-Waste Manifesting & Reporting: Manage all necessary record-keeping, manifesting, and reporting required for the responsible disposal and recycling of materials, maintaining the organization's standing as a responsible recycler.

4. Facilities Management & Resource Oversight

• Facility Maintenance: Manage the optimal functioning of all building systems (e.g., HVAC, electrical, lighting, security). Develop and execute preventative maintenance schedules for all equipment (e.g., hard drive destruction, pallet jacks) and the facility structure (e.g., painting, minor repairs).
• Vendor and Contract Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for and effectively manage third-party vendors, contractors, and service providers (e.g., waste haulers, cleaning crews, maintainence services) to ensure cost-effectiveness and quality of service.
• Inventory & Supplies: Oversee the procurement, stocking, and efficient management of all operational, custodial, and office supplies and equipment.

5. Outreach & Relationship Management

• Donor Stewardship:  Maintain strong, consistent relationships with corporate and organizational donors, acting as a liaison to ensure excellent communication and stewardship of key partnerships.
• Inter-organizational Liaison: Act as a key operational liaison between the facility, management, and external partners.
• Crossfunctional relationships: Build and maintain strong relationships with department leads to ensure smooth intake and recycling process.

Key Competencies

• Leadership in Operations: Proven ability to manage, coach, and motivate diverse technical and non-technical teams in a fast-paced, dynamic warehouse/production environment while simultaneously driving long-term strategic process improvements.
• Compliance & E-Waste Expertise: Demonstrable knowledge of current state and county regulations for recycling, e-waste, and hazardous materials management.
• Communication & Diplomacy: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for clear interaction with staff, volunteers, executive management, corporate donors, and external vendors/regulators.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving: Superior ability to use data and observation to diagnose operational inefficiencies, analyze complex issues, and rapidly implement effective, sustainable solutions.
• Technical Acumen: Proficiency in facility operations, preventative maintenance scheduling, and relevant software, including Inventory Management Systems, and CRM/Donor Databases (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot).
• Financial Management: Proficient in managing operational budgets, tracking expenses, and using financial reports to inform spending decisions.

Experience

• Required: Proven experience managing teams of diverse backgrounds in a production, warehouse, or recycling facility environment.
• Required: Demonstrated success in identifying, documenting, and implementing significant process improvements that resulted in measurable gains in efficiency, safety, or compliance.
• Required: Background in facility management, including preventative maintenance, building systems, and vendor oversight.
• Plus: Experience working with a unionized workforce or familiarity with collective bargaining agreements.