Dpw Support Operations Manager

JOB SUMMARY

The Department of Public Works (DPW) Support Operations Manager oversees planning and management of critical, internal staff-support crews, processes and infrastructure during the Burning Man event production cycle. This role is responsible for coordinating operational logistics and timelines, handling the annual preparation of budgets, actively supporting hiring efforts, resource acquisition, and the documentation and follow-through needed to meet seasonal goals for each of their assigned DPW crews and projects. The Support Operations Manager sits on the DPW Council and provides senior leadership to the entire department.

This temporary, eligible for benefits role is:

• From March - October: Full-Time, exempt, based remotely - San Francisco, Reno or Gerlach Preferred.

The deadline to apply for this role is 5:00pm PST on Feb 25th, 2026.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Staff Management (35%): Planning, development, operational management, and problem solving pertaining to DPW Staff Support crews.

• Provide managerial support and operational oversight to the DPW Project Managers of crews reporting to this role: DPW Staff Camp, BRC Staff Commissary, BRC Staff Showers, BRC Craft Services, DPW 411 (Dispatch), DPW Radios, BRC Yellow Bike Project.
• Demonstrate leadership through transparent decision making, clear communication, and by exercising integrity in every interaction. Establish clear expectations and boundaries for all staff and the scope of their project.
• Maintain an ongoing effort to recruit and train new staff members; Foster a team culture that serves to improve staff retention; Pro-actively assist with curating team building exercises, mindsets and events.
• Respond to all personnel-related matters, including but not limited to conflict resolution, workers comp claims, payroll tracking, and human resources inquiries.
• Mentor DPW Project Managers to nurture their growth and confidence as leaders; Invest in their success in creating a smooth experience for themselves, their team, the Burning Man Project staff they support, and the future of their project.

Project Management (30%): Oversight of planning and implementation of operational elements for each project or process.

• Plan production timelines & assist with staff schedules for each unique team or process.
• Oversee onsite daily operations; offer support and guidance to managers and staff around decision-making that adheres to established timelines and goals.
• Ensure teams are communicating clearly and working to develop strong interdepartmental coordination; Hold meetings as needed.
• Determine the operational needs of each team and provide access to resources necessary to complete all aspects of the work effectively and on time.
• Maintain an active presence in the creation and updates of project SOPs, tracking sheets, projections, onboarding materials and any further documentation needed to outline success.
• Assess material and supply needs and aid in their timely procurement through the purchasing department; ensure teams have what they need when they need it.
• Assist with designing processes for reliable fulfillment of deliverables and follow up regularly to confirm that teams are meeting agreed-upon deadlines and outcomes.
• Anticipate the unexpected and be ready to jump in where needed to assist with creative problem solving, to approve plans or resource needs, and help to keep operations running safely.
• Manage contractor/vendor relationships; convey expectations clearly, negotiate challenges, and confirm that services are being rendered as agreed.
• Create a detailed post-event analysis documenting the season's operational successes, challenges, and specific recommendations for future improvements.
• Submit end-of-season EMBER reports detailing observed operational challenges and pain points across the event and other departments.
• Actively improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and strong succession planning documentation throughout the lifecycle of this role.

Budget Oversight (20%): Develop accurate budgets based on a clear understanding of scope for each project and mentor staff on how to work within a budget.

• Create annual budgets following a review of staffing and other expenses during the previous cycle; prepare justification for budget variances in the coming year.
• Educate each manager on the details of their budget with an eye toward department specific nuances; provide guidance on spending decisions.
• Work with managers to schedule staff and coordinate projects in a manner aligned with their budget.
• Monitor changes to project scope and operating schedules that may affect costs.
• Accurately track spending and keep the finance department informed of unforeseen costs; assist with gaining approval for emergency spending.
• Review and approve the bills for materials, equipment, and services.
• Work with the DPW Business Services Manager to finalize vendor contracts, monitor their performance, and negotiate final payments.

Safety (10%): Oversee and make informed judgments on factors that impact the health, safety and well-being of Burning Man staff and participants.

• Ensure compliance with Black Rock City’s safety and quality specifications; develop plans to keep job sites secure, safe and determine where safety measures will be improved.
• Document and review seasonal incident reports and close-call records; ensure corrective measures are implemented and that all information is understood by necessary parties.
• Support and create documentation for worker compensation claims; provide follow up information and assist Human Resources in providing accommodations for staff as needed.
• Be available for and actively participate in any BRC emergency response protocols as directed; Pre-establish response plans with crew Managers, including any preemptive cross-training; Be prepared to activate teams as necessary and provide calm, clear guidance throughout.

Other Functions and Responsibilities (5%):

• Participate in leadership and team responsibilities as a member of the DPW Council.
• Attend meetings for DPW and Burning Man Project staff as required/requested.
• Manage role-related correspondence via assigned Burning Man Project accounts and mailing lists.
• Be familiar with, understand, and act in accordance with Burning Man’s staff policies, protocols and behavioral standards.
• Work with your teams to plan and execute LNT and Waste disposal processes for all relevant operations.
• Adjust workflows to support emergent safety protocols as directed.
• Monitor personal well-being by setting realistic goals, boundaries and managing self-care while proactively seeking support and addressing any concerns with management.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned by the DPW Associate Director.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

• Documentation - Drives the creation, publishing, and maintenance of process documentation related to assigned duties.
• Teaching – Takes a leadership role in the acculturation and training of staff. Teaches live or e-learning classes, as requested. Promotes a culture of teaching and learning throughout the community.
• Mentoring - Mentors subordinates in acquiring the knowledge, skills, and experience that will allow them to advance in the organization. Aids, encourages, and inspires their team.
• Training development - Collaborates with the education team to develop training materials in their area of expertise, as requested.
• Learning – Pursues ongoing learning in their area of expertise, working to stay current on emergent knowledge, skills, and processes. Participates in conferences, forums, and networking events, where appropriate.
• Speaking – Represents Burning Man as a subject matter expert and culture-bearer, as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Familiarity with Burning Man and experienced in event-based production work (2 years event-related experience).
• Proven leadership and senior management experience (2 years managing both teams and individuals).
• Understanding of event production timelines, budgeting, inventory maintenance, and working with integrated plans.
• Competent at navigating digital and online technology; Able to proactively engage in advanced learning, teach, and effectively update existing online applications, tools, systems, spreadsheets, and documents.
• Able to maintain meticulous organization and tidiness in the work environment and thoughtful discernment in handling important or sensitive information (ie, tracking, personnel data or concerns, payroll, etc.)
• Clear, service-oriented, and professional communication, verbal and written. Experienced with using 2-way radios and following radio protocol.
• Able to embody present, supportive and responsive leadership qualities for a diverse team while maintaining firm boundaries and adhering to set standards; Operates with a high level of behavioral integrity and reliability.
• Effectively manages own time, the time of individual team members, and the efforts of the team as a whole with uplifting, solutions-driven and compassionate motivation when possible.
• Able to integrate feedback into action, remain calm and focused under pressure, and maintain a professional demeanor that leads by example.
• Able to think quickly, problem solve on the fly, and apply critical thinking to unexpected situations.
• Capable of working in an extreme environment including drastic temperature changes, high winds, poor air quality, and low to no visibility at times.
• Able to temporarily relocate for the duration of the DPW on-site work season staged in Gerlach, Nevada. (approximately 12 weeks)

Preferred

• Proficient at working in Google Suite (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Drive, etc).
• Experienced in public speaking.
• Has prior experience overseeing a largely volunteer workforce.
• It is helpful if the candidate has previously been to Burning Man, Black Rock City, DPW and/or is familiar with its culture.

Note: If you have gained the necessary experience to succeed in this role and have acquired this experience in other ways, we encourage you to apply and share all relevant experience in your application.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

• Valid driver’s license and a good driving record.

COMPENSATION

Individual compensation decisions are dependent on a variety of factors, including prior experience and geographical location. The anticipated rate for this position:

• From March - October is $1500.00 to $1700.00 per week.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Off-playa: Work is primarily sedentary in nature, no special demands are required.
• On-playa: Work is primarily sedentary but will also include the need to find and meet with department representatives who may not be in the vicinity therefore this could include walking or using some form of transportation. Some of the work will be in outside weather conditions and will be exposed to fumes or airborne particles as well as possible extremes in temperature.

NOTICE FOR ALL APPLICANTS:

• Burning Man Project celebrates the importance of creating a diverse environment and enthusiastically encourages Black, Indigenous, Peoples of Color, LGBTQIA+, Immigrant, women, and people with disabilities, of all ages, to apply.
• Burning Man Project provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
• Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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