Job Opportunities
Posted: 8/24/26
Expected to close: 9/30/26
Applications accepted & reviewed on a rolling basis.
Tech Valley Center of Gravity (The COG), the Capital Region’s premiere Makerspace, is looking for a part-time Community Developer.
The COG is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Makerspace, hardware incubator, and STEAM education center located in downtown Troy, NY. We provide affordable access to a creative community, workspace, manufacturing equipment, and training focused on practical skills and hands-on experience. Membership is open to entrepreneurs and hobbyists alike. The only requirement is a passion to create!
The Community Developer is the concierge to the COG community. They’re familiar with all of the resources the COG has to offer, but more importantly, they have strong relationships with our members. They actively make connections between members to build internal communities with similar interests, and to help each other solve problems. To do this, they prioritize socializing with current and potential members, to learn more about their projects, interests, goals, and roadblocks. As they build these relationships, they will manage an array of tasks that support the membership and the overall organization:
- Be the first point of contact for phone calls, general inbox emails, and walk-ins, providing facility tours and answering questions as best as possible or making referrals to the appropriate staff member.
- Assist members with customer service tasks, such as updating payment information, adjusting membership subscriptions, and registering for events.
- Capture photos, videos, and written descriptions of member projects and COG events, logging them in the COG’s “Story Database,” to be used for email newsletters, social media, website, sponsorship asks, and grant applications.
- Create social media posts and manage a social media posting schedule.
- Complete administrative tasks, such as set up event registration pages, update the website, and compile/publish the COG’s monthly email newsletter.
- Assist with coordinating volunteer-supported events, such as regular Open Houses and mini vendor markets.
Desired Characteristics and Qualifications
This position is suited to someone with 1-3 years of experience in customer service, marketing, public relations, and/or nonprofit administration.
The COG is committed to maintaining a positive and equitable working environment. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds and education levels with relevant skills and experience to apply. A successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:
- Knowledge of makerspaces and their roles in the community.
- Strong planning and organizational skills.
- Strong communication skills, both written and interpersonal.
- Ability to switch between various tasks depending on immediate member needs.
- Experience with social media platforms (we currently use Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn).
- Experience with Google business suite (Gmail, Docs, Drive, etc)
- Experience with a customer database (we use CiviCRM, but experience with any CRM will be helpful).
- Prior experience in marketing, communications, graphic design, or sales. Experience with Canva or Adobe Suite products is a plus.
The COG is a non-profit organization with a small staff. The ideal applicant will be an enthusiastic, outgoing team player who works well with others and is willing to occasionally assist other staff with duties outside their own department.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and reach with hands and arms, as well as move around a manufacturing environment. Occasionally, personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required to project eyes and ears. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The COG is a wheelchair accessible space.
Compensation, Schedule & Benefits
- This is a 20 hour per week, part-time position, paying $21 per hour. Benefits include a flexible schedule, paid holidays, paid time off, and comped makerspace membership.
- This is an in-person position. Some tasks may be able to be completed remotely on an as-needed basis.
- Our advertised staffed office hours are 11am-5pm Monday to Friday. We anticipate the main working hours to be within that time frame, but the actual schedule is flexible. Occasional evening and weekend availability required to assist with events and connect with nights & weekends members.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should fill out the application, including a cover cover letter and resume, at the link below.
Please use your cover letter to tell us about what you hope to bring to this role. Your cover letter is an integral part of your application and will illustrate your attention to detail, writing style and skills. Successful applicants will use the application and cover letter to demonstrate their relevant skill-based talent and experience.
More Information About The COG
The Tech Valley Center of Gravity (The COG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves as the Capital Region’s premier Makerspace, providing low-cost access to equipment, tools, technology and space, as well as business expertise, education and resources. The COG is also a NY State certified business incubator supported by Empire State Development and an affiliated partner with Innovate 518, the regional innovation hotspot. In this role, we support hardware startups in their foundational phase, as they develop initial prototypes, perform customer discovery, and transition to manufacturing. The COG offers regular STEAM education programming and classes for young makers through the THINQubator, our children’s Makerspace.
The COG’s mission is to empower makers to connect, collaborate, and create.
The COG’s Vision:
- The COG will be a preeminent makerspace community that seamlessly blends hobbyist, educational, and entrepreneurial ambitions by providing a place for all makers to practice and develop hands-on skills.
- It will be a fun, exciting, and creatively stimulating environment that encourages connection and collaboration as cornerstones to self-empowerment.
- Every person, regardless of background, will be able to see themselves here because they’ll see active members just like them doing great work.
- Dozens of successful, world-enhancing businesses will be able to say “We started at the COG”
- The COG will be a factor in why makers choose to live, work, and play in the Capital Region
Learn more and take a virtual tour by visiting the website at www.tvcog.net.
The Tech Valley Center of Gravity is an equal opportunity employer.
