Lead Free: We have recently launched new social enterprise venture, named Lead Free, which will provide lead dust cleaning services in private homes, public buildings, schools, home childcare centers and other locations. In most cases, these services will take place after some significant renovation or lead remediation work has already taken place in a given building, which may have generated some lead-contaminated dust or paint chips found in window sills, walls and floors. Because of our low hourly rates and lead certifications, we will help painters and general contractors save time and money. We will also help them pass the test conducted by the City of San Francisco’s lead inspectors. Lead Free will be the only company providing lead dust cleaning services in San Francisco.
Lead Free is a social enterprise. The program would provide job training and transitional employment opportunities for low-income clients with significant barriers to employment. The project will give participants access to supportive services and additional training opportunities, such as vocational ESL, financial education and others through partnerships with organizations co-located at Plaza Adelante and within the Mission District. Participants will acquire a set of skills and move on to mainstream employment, opening their positions for subsequent trainees in future years. This social enterprise approach will enable the program to have a more significant impact than a comparable for-profit business venture. In addition to creating 6 jobs, the program will help a growing pool of participants overcome barriers to mainstream employment.
The project will be implemented over a 3 year period, with financial break-even projected at the end of year 2. At least annually, the Project Manager will assess each worker’s job-readiness and training/supportive services needs. Participants who are determined to be “workforce ready” will be assisted in securing other jobs, and replaced with new trainees.
Duties and responsibilities include:
A. Initial program implementation: The initial implementation involves setting up the initial systems and procedures, hiring and training initial staff, as well as acquiring the first set of contracts. Specific duties are as follows:
- Participate in all relevant trainings and become certified as a supervisor for lead dust abatement projects.
- Develop program operating policies, processes and forms.
- Develop and implement ongoing training of cleaning staff.
- Schedule and supervise initial cleaning staff.
- Secure contracts.
B. Ongoing Implementation: The on-going implementation includes growing the business, including acquiring additional contracts, hiring additional staff, and improving the businesses systems. Specific tasks, include:
- Lead recruitment and outreach efforts to procure potential employees.
- Hire cleaning staff.
- Conduct assessments of cleaning staff’s job-readiness and work with staff to develop.
- Manage certification process for workers to become certified lead-dust cleaners.
- Execute financial management and accounting procedures of the enterprise.
- Oversee outreach and marketing the services of the enterprise to potential clients.
- Identify supportive services and additional training opportunities for employees.
- Conduct annual assessments of each participant’s job-readiness and training/supportive services needs.
- Assist post-assessment participants in placements for jobs requiring increased skill set.
- Develop and manage relationships with additional outside contractors for placement of program participants.
- Procure cleaning equipment on an as needed basis.
- Answer questions about operations and practices that may be raised by clients.
- Serve as spokesperson for the enterprise to the media, local business groups and the community.
Qualifications
The individual will be able to start a social enterprise with a focus on business sustainability, while providing workforce development opportunities for low-income individuals. The successful applicant will be entrepreneurial while being mindful of the social and economic goals that this project is seeking to accomplish. Specific qualifications are as follows:
- Some knowledge of book-keeping and financial management skills
- Demonstrated capability to be self-directed and to manage multiple deadlines
- Must be able to develop workplans, follow through on tasks, meet timelines, and achieve specific outcomes
- Bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent) in business, industrial hygiene, community development or related field strongly preferred
- Knowledge of workforce development programs a plus
Experience:
- Experience in starting and/or operating a business is required, including development of a business plan, budget management, and staff management
- Experience in the lead abatement or industrial hygiene field preferred
- Understanding of local economic development and practices preferred
- Prior experience working with low-income, Latino communities preferred
Skills:
- Excellent analytical skills, including analysis of raw data, strategies and vision
- Excellent communication skills, including communicating with individual parties, making formal presentations, and providing testimony in public forums
- Ability to speak fluent Spanish and English strongly preferred
Compensation will be based on experience. MEDA is a fragrance free workplace. To apply please email resume and cover letter to Eric Cuentos.