DPW Commissary To-Go Shift Lead

JOB SUMMARY

The Department of Public Works (DPW) Commissary To-Go Shift Lead will assist in the construction, operation, and strike of the Commissary space for the Burning Man event production season. They will aid with assembling To-Go orders, working with the kitchen crew to ensure meals are ready for pick up in a timely manner, tracking & recording all To-Go meals digitally and through analog means, and will assist the rest of the crew when necessary.

  This temporary, ineligible for benefits role is: 

• From August - September : Full-Time Non-Exempt , based Black Rock City, Nevada . 

The deadline to apply for this role is 5:00 pm Pacific on June 20th, 2026.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Commissary To-Go Operations (90%)

• Assist with the opening, closing, and daily operations of the meal shifts including cleaning the tables after meals and adhering to, exercising health and sanitation best practices, and ensuring that required standards of cleanliness are met.
• Show up to your required meal shifts that may be during early morning (Breakfast), mid-day (Lunch), or early evening (Dinner) and take To-Go orders over the radio for  scheduled shifts or as needed.
• Take To-Go Meal orders via radio, properly put out correct orders, and ensure that those meals are picked up by the proper departments.
• Review and adhere to Commissary policies and guidelines, including enforcing a dress-code, maintaining appropriate conduct, health and safety best-practices, and adhering to proper meal-pass requirements for each attendee. 
• Collaborate work with the TSA team to coordinate trash and recycling removal.
• Collaborate with the meal vendor team to coordinate and ensure smooth and timely operation of the Commissary To-Go space.
• Maintain clear communication and coordination with Commissary Management to ensure that operations run smoothly and any challenges are addressed in a timely manner.
• Create and maintain a respectful, friendly, and comfortable environment where services are provided with care, and thoughtful acknowledgment and accommodation are provided to the best of the Commissary Crew’s ability as feasible.

Other Functions and Responsibilities (10%)

• Assist in tent construction and strike pre/post-event.
• Work with the Team to support LNT and Waste disposal plans for all relevant operations.
• Help implement and support changing safety protocols as directed.
• Be familiar with, understand and act in accordance with Burning Man’s staff policies, protocols and behavioral standards.
• Monitor personal well-being by setting realistic boundaries and managing self-care while proactively addressing any concerns with management.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

• Documentation - Assists in the creation, publishing, and maintenance of process documentation related to their assigned duties.
• Knowledge sharing – Helps acculturate and educate junior staff in Burning Man culture and business processes.
• Learning – Pursues ongoing learning in their area of expertise, working to stay current on emergent knowledge, skills, and processes.

QUALIFICATIONS

  Required

• Experienced and comfortable with using 2 way radios or willing to learn.
• A flexible and understanding attitude that balances the needs of people and daily practices with care and attention.   
• Reliable, responsible, dependable, and fulfills obligations.
• Effectively manages own time and supports the efforts of the team as a whole.
• Knowledge of and willingness to practice cleaning and sanitation procedures as they apply to the Commissary process and protocols.
• Capable of working in an extreme environment including drastic temperature changes, high winds, poor air quality and low to no visibility at times.
• Ability to temporarily relocate for work at the Burning Man event held in Gerlach, Nevada

Preferred 

• Valid driver’s license and a good driving record is helpful.
• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and adhere to all applicable speed and traffic laws at all times.
• It is helpful if the candidate has previously been to Burning Man and/or is familiar with its culture.
• The ability to lift 50+ lbs.
• It is helpful if the candidate can handle positive interfacing with many different types of personalities.

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

• N/A

COMPENSATION

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

• From August - September is $16.00 to $18.50 per hour .

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• On-playa: This position requires periods of heavy lifting, bending, kneeling, squatting, and climbing. This position will be physically demanding, and requires individuals with good physical health, and endurance. Work will 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. Much 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.