eCommerce Operations Specialist

eCommerce Operations Specialist

About Mobile Loaves & Fishes

Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) is a social outreach ministry that has been empowering communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless since 1998. Founded in Austin, Texas, the organization serves its homeless neighbors through three core programs: Truck Ministry, Community First! Village, and Community Works. Often referred to as the most talked about neighborhood in Austin, Community First! Village is a 51-acre master planned development that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. We are now embarking on a new phase of community expansion, adding more than 1400 new neighbors over the next 5-10 years.

About the role

The eCommerce Specialist is an integral part of the Market & eCommerce Team, managing the inventory of all Village Merchandise and the day-to-day operations of the eCommerce store at shop.mlf.org. This person should be highly organized, creative, and able to juggle many different responsibilities; a strong relationship builder, team player, and a self-starter; and someone who is passionate about empowering communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless. This person is a servant leader responsible for stewarding and maintaining a welcoming presence for our neighbors, staff, volunteers, and all who engage with our online eCommerce store and visit the Community Market.

This is a full-time, non-exempt, fully in-person position reporting to the Retail & eCommerce Manager at Community First! Village, located at 9301 Hog Eye Road, Austin, TX 78724. Occasional nights, weekends, and overtime will be required.

Duties & Responsibilities

eCommerce

• Responsible for purchasing, receiving, organizing, and creating product listings for all MLF branded goods and Neighbor-made village merchandise on shop.mlf.org
• Manage all existing and future categories of online products, including jewelry, ceramics, fine art, books, and "Goodness Gear."
• Work closely with the Retail & eCommerce Manager to create and maintain a production and marketing calendar throughout the year.
• Manage the fulfillment of all orders coming through the eCommerce shop. This includes picking, packaging, and shipping out items to customers in a timely manner.
• Maintain a clean and organized fulfillment space in which items can be easily located.
• Perform customer service duties and respond to all [email protected] email correspondence in a timely manner.
• Master the Shopify eCommerce platform and work closely with the MLF Web Master on frequent site updates and redesigns.
• Build and steward strong relationships with product vendors and program managers within the Community Works department.
• Generate periodic sales and inventory reports.
• Work with the Communications team to write marketing copy for new and existing products.
• Strategically communicate with customers via regular email marketing.
• Photograph/edit product images.

Product Management

• Responsible for purchasing, receiving, organizing, inventorying, and displaying all MLF branded goods and Neighbor-made village merchandise.
• Assist the Community Market staff in leading preparations for and executing offsite Pop-up Markets that occur throughout the year.
• Work in partnership with the Community Market Coordinator and Community Market Assistant to create a warm and welcoming environment for all who visit the Community Market.
• Understand thoroughly the Square and Shopventory applications and operate efficiently within those platforms to manage sales and inventory.
• Generate periodic sales and inventory reports.

Other Responsibilities

• Assist the Community Market Coordinator in stewarding strong relationships with market volunteers.
• Occasionally fill in at the Community Market when help is needed.
• Communicate MLF's mission, vision, strategy, values and goals with external constituency groups
• Submit invoices, contracts, credit card receipts, and reimbursement requests in a timely manner and in accordance with accounting policies and procedures
• Promote a culture of high performance, goal achievement and a commitment to quality by implementing and leading a continuous quality improvement process within the eCommerce & Market. Promote regular and ongoing opportunities for volunteers, staff and neighbors to give feedback on Market and eCommerce operations.
• Demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit: enthusiasm and passion, question how things can be done better, optimistic about all possibilities, take calculated risks and recognize that execution is paramount (Ehrlichman)
• Attend mandatory team meetings and other meetings deemed necessary
• Ensure that all program activities operate consistently and ethically within MLF's mission and values and in accordance with MLF policies and procedures
• Perform other miscellaneous duties as necessary to fulfill the mission & vision of MLF
• Other Duties & Responsibilities as needed

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Principles

• MLF is a faith-based organization whose ideals and philosophy come directly from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As an organization, we strive to reflect this precept in our communications, both internally and externally.
• Commitment to serving those who have experienced homelessness and personal alignment with MLF's vision, mission, core values, and goals.
• 2+ years of professional eCommerce experience required. Retail experience a plus.
• Must have strong writing skills and be able to submit examples.
• Undergraduate degree in business, marketing, communications, or related field preferred.
• Experience with copywriting, graphic design, photography, email marketing and web design a plus.
• Inventory management experience a plus.
• Demonstrates integrity, strives for excellence in her/his work.
• Strong relationship builder and communicator.
• Comfortable teaching others and giving guidance through a collaborative leadership style.
• Present self and organization to the community in a positive, sincere and professional manner.
• Ability to remain poised under pressure.
• Must be proficient in the use of technology, including Microsoft Business Suite; Adobe Creative Suite; Square and/or Shopventory; and Shopify and/or Shipstation; Mailchimp or other email marketing platforms.
• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational skills; detail-oriented.
• A self-starter, willing to take ownership of projects.
• A desire and ability to consistently improve the customer experience.
• Ability to make decisions and manage projects in a changing and fast-paced environment and anticipate future needs, even when limited information and resources are available.
• Neat, clean, and appropriate appearance.
• Must have a valid driver's license.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Move about the office space
• Bend, stretch, reach, grab, and pull
• Frequently move merchandise
• Must be able to frequently lift at least 50lbs

Benefits

• Day one 100% Employer paid, Health, Dental, Vision, Life, STD & LTD Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off & Holiday Pay
• Matching 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Corporate Discount Program
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Partnership Benefits

MLF PURPOSE/VISION

We empower communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless.

MLF MISSION

We provide food and clothing, cultivate community, and promote dignity to our homeless brothers and sisters in need.

CORE VALUES

The vision is supported by core values centered on our belief that homelessness is the result of a profound, catastrophic loss of family:

• God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life
• By virtue of being created by God in His image, we are all called to live in community and relationship with Him through each other
• The family is the original cell of social life
• You shall love your neighbor as yourself
• All members of the human family are equal in dignity
• The Lord God took the man and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it. Gen 2:15

GOALS

• Transform the way people view the stereotype of those who find themselves homeless
• Reconnect the homeless to self, family and community
• Help the chronically homeless rediscover and utilize their God-given talents to do purposeful work
• Connect human to human, heart to heart through the fellowship of food and hospitality
• Inspire people into a lifestyle of abundance by giving their best first

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

These Guiding Principles are the basis upon which MLF team members make decisions, plan strategies, and interact with each other and our community. The principles define the kind of leaders we are striving to be.

Yes, and...Positive Attitude

• Looks for the positive in any situation

• Begins with yes, and looks for positive possibilities from a proposed idea

• Has a generally positive attitude

Semper Gumby (flexible/adaptable)

• Adapts to big & small change well

• Can formulate alternative plans when things change

• Is teachable (learns from others) and willing to change

Relational

• Develops numerous strong relationships with staff, neighbors & volunteers

• Shows humility in his/her servant leadership

• Looks for the good in others. Assumes the best in other's intentions

• Treats others with love & respect, including when talking about them to others

• Works to proactively resolve conflict with others, goes directly to the person

Team Player

• Puts MLF above himself/herself and his or her program

• Depends on others to help with solutions

• Brings strengths of the team together

Communicator

• Keeps others informed of things going on in their program

• Communicates effectively to staff, neighbors & volunteers

• Resolves conflict well & in a timely manner

Multiplier

• Delegates effectively to staff, contractors & volunteers

• Invests in developing staff, contractors & volunteers

• Empowers staff, contractors & volunteers so that their talents & ideas are unleashed

Good Steward

• Stewards MLF physical resources (money, land, equipment, etc.) well

• Stewards MLF human resources well (staff, volunteers, donors, neighbors, & board)

• Takes care of oneself physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually

Dependable/Accountable

• Sets reasonable deadlines & meets them consistently

• Keeps others informed if they will not meet a deadline

• Comes on time & prepared for meetings

This is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

MLF is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen based on ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetics, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation in accordance with federal and state law.