Operations Associate (Full-Time) (Kingston, NY)

Keap has recently moved to Kingston and is looking for an Operations Associate to help us in all aspects of production, shipping and logistics so that we can produce the highest quality products for our loyal community of subscribers and partners, ship them effectively in a timely manner, all while creating an environment that is safe, comfortable, fun and always improving.

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8AM - 4PM

Starting base pay: $21.50/hour

Location: Kingston, NY

//About Keap

Keap is a monthly candle subscription—at the core, Keap facilitates a reconnection to the natural world, our loved ones, and our own spirit. The candles blend the scents of acclaimed master perfumer Christophe Laudamiel with a regenerative approach to materials and packaging. We make our products in-house in our Kingston studio and are a certified B Corp.

The company has been featured in leading publications such as the New York Times, Dwell, and Metropolis.

We’re a small, caring team in the early days of a long-term journey to build a company that will benefit generations to come. We’re looking for kind, thoughtful, self-reliant, problem solvers to join the team and help inform not just our operational improvements but also the direction of our company and culture. If you love scented candles, are passionate about regenerating our planet and believe this job description suits you, we would love to hear from you.

//Who this might interest

This is a unique opportunity to join a long-term minded small business, with a strong mission-driven ethos. We are looking for someone who enjoys tinkering and solving problems, and is hungry to learn and apply their skills in the real world. The ideal candidate has a broad palette of interests and has a genuine interest in Keap.

You are joining a small team responsible for the entire candle making process, shipping, and logistics for the company, and who are using lean methods to improve the safety, quality, speed, and environmental care with which we create our results.

In this role, you’re equally at home figuring out how to use lean thinking to improve our wicking process as you are creating a Google spreadsheet to share reporting. You understand the importance of standards and are able to apply them consistently, in order to make every candle unboxing feel magical. You are able to prioritize effectively, manage your time adroitly and communicate clearly so that you get your work done while keeping the rest of the team updated.

You enjoy the idea of taking a scientific approach to your work: continuously measuring it so that you can notice variations and assess the effect of experimental changes.

You are comfortable jumping from one area to the other, and taking on other studio tasks as required in a fast-paced environment, whether it’s tracking down a freight delivery or watering the plants. You enjoy working as a team and sharing great service with your co-workers.

When you are done, you don’t wait for someone to give you more work. You proactively solve problems you have noticed in the flow or in the workspace and seek to make things work better for everyone.

You are dedicated, self-starting, thorough, and thoughtful in your approach to problem-solving.

//In this role, you will…

- Perform all steps of the candle making process, from start to finish, including wicking, pouring, finishing, labeling, inspecting and boxing

- Perform all steps of the shipping process, from preparing shipments in our shipping software to boxing up candles and loading them onto the USPS truck

- Perform all steps in our waterspider system, re-provisioning stations with raw materials and supplies, receiving and testing inbound shipments, and participating in all the logistical areas needed to run a high quality operation

- Perform regular preventative maintenance on equipment, always looking for ways to make it easier and quicker

- Help to improve the way Keap produces and ships candles

- Work closely with the rest of the operations team, and occasionally with the Customer Love team

- Be willing to jump into other operational areas as needed

//What we’re looking for

- A commitment to embodying our Values, to:

Lead with Love - We lead with empathy and treat those we serve in the same way we would wish to be treated.

Be Long Term Committed - With every decision we make, we aim to do what is right for the sustainable, long-term good of our customers, community, ourselves, and the planet.

Be Intellectually Rigorous - We seek to be both teachers and students in all that we do, always humbly looking for further improvement.

- Strong initiative and thirst for learning

- Exceptionally detail-oriented

- Take pleasure in performing work at a high standard of quality

- Effective communicator, in both written and verbal English

- Strong sense of service and empathy

- Comfortable working with data and using web apps for work tasks

- Enjoy being part of a team working towards shared goals

- Unafraid to gracefully speak out and bring up issues and obstacles

//Requirements

- Bachelors degree or equivalent

- Computer literacy, very comfortable using Google Chrome and Google Docs

- Availability to work on-site weekdays 8AM-4PM

- Good mathematical skills, basic understanding of statistical methods

- Ability to occasionally lift 50 lbs and stand for long periods of time

- Comfort working with industrial equipment, plus doing some lifting

- Experience with “lean” systems a plus, but not a requirement

//Keap and COVID-19

Keap takes the COVID-19 pandemic very seriously and has been closely following guidance from the CDC, OSHA, WHO, and New York State.

We have added new protocols to our workplace safety, including the wearing of masks. This role does not require repeated exposure to members of the public and the duties are almost entirely done with more than 6 feet distance from other team members.

//How to apply

Please see instructions at: https://www.keapbk.com/blogs/careers/ops-associate-full-time

Keap is an equal opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to fight for equality, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.

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This position is full-time and on-site at our new studio in Kingston, NY. All full-time Keap employees receive a generous paid vacation benefit, major candle benefits, and more.

Keap is a Public Benefit Corporation, and our ultimate vision is to restore balance to humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Making amazing candles is what most people know about us, but we measure our success as a company by our progress on that greater aim.

We are sorry that we cannot respond to each applicant individually. Due to our small size and the large volume of applications we receive, we are only able to respond to candidates who best match the qualifications of our open positions. The process can take some time, so we appreciate your patience.