Community Developer, Part-Time

Customer Service Nonprofit Sales Marketing/PR/Advertising Entry Level

Tech Valley Center of Gravity (The COG), the Capital Region’s premiere Makerspace, is looking for a part-time Community Developer.

The COG is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Makerspace, hardware incubator, and STEAM education center located in downtown Troy, NY. We provide affordable access to a creative community, workspace, manufacturing equipment, and training focused on practical skills and hands‑on experience. Membership is open to entrepreneurs and hobbyists alike. The only requirement is a passion to create!

They’re familiar with all of the resources the COG has to offer, but more importantly, they have strong relationships with our members. They actively make connections between members to build internal communities with similar interests, and to help each other solve problems. To do this, they prioritize socializing with current and potential members, to learn more about their projects, interests, goals, and roadblocks.

As they build these relationships, they will manage an array of tasks that support the membership and the overall organization:

• Be the first point of contact for phone calls, general inbox emails, and walk-ins, providing facility tours and answering questions as best as possible or making referrals to the appropriate staff member.
• Assist members with customer service tasks, such as updating payment information, adjusting membership subscriptions, and registering for events.
• Onboard new members – assist with the signup process, issue building access fobs, answer questions, and make personal introductions to other members of the community.
• Capture photos, videos, and written descriptions of member projects and COG events, logging them in the COG’s "Story Database," to be used for email newsletters, social media, website, sponsorship asks, and grant applications.
• Create social media posts and manage a social media posting schedule.
• Complete administrative tasks, such as set up event registration pages, update the website, and compile/publish the COG’s monthly email newsletter.
• Assist with coordinating volunteer-supported events, such as regular Open Houses and mini vendor markets.

This position is suited to someone with 1-3 years of experience in customer service, marketing, public relations, and/or nonprofit administration.

The COG is committed to maintaining a positive and equitable working environment. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds and education levels with relevant skills and experience to apply. A successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Knowledge of makerspaces and their roles in the community.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.
• Strong communication skills, both written and interpersonal.
• Ability to switch between various tasks depending on immediate member needs.
• Experience with social media platforms (we currently use Facebook, Instagram, and Linked In).
• Experience with Google business suite (Gmail, Docs, Drive, etc)
• Experience with a customer database (we use CiviCRM, but experience with any CRM will be helpful).
• Prior experience in marketing, communications, graphic design, or sales. Experience with Canva or Adobe Suite products is a plus.

The COG is a non-profit organization with a small staff. The ideal applicant will be an enthusiastic, outgoing team player who works well with others and is willing to occasionally assist other staff with duties outside their own department.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and reach with hands and arms, as well as move…