Career Opportunities
Whirlwind is a great place to work because we are a small, close-knit team that works hard and loves our work. We value creativity and initiative supported by open communication and focused leadership. We are a growing and vibrant non-profit social business that offers our team members opportunities for personal development, competitive compensation, worldwide travel, and the chance to make a real difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world. If you care enough to be good at what you do, and are good enough to care about others, Whirlwind may be the place for you.
Current Opportunities
Marketing Assistant - The Marketing Assistant will be reporting to the Marketing Director who will also serve as a mentor. Activities will range from fundraising with individual donors, grant writing, sales, product promotion, advertising, public relations, education of third-party purchasers, creation of instructional materials for customers and rehabilitation workers, and some operations functions such as relations with Whirlwind’s network of producers around the world. The Marketing Assistant will assist the Marketing Director on US customer relations, development of marketing materials in preparation for launch of two new products, promotion of the RoughRider via social media, demonstration of Whirlwind products, and development of Whirlwind’s community support in the US. In addition, substantial technical writing in support of the product development team will be required, conveying critical product information to users with diverse cultural and educational background by means of images and concise language. This position is planned to be a developmental experience in preparation for a full time marketing position. For more information please download the Marketing Assistant job description.
To request more information about this position, please use this form.
Franchise Field Support Associate – We are looking for someone with a passion for supporting small businesses in the developing world with direct onsite consulting. Over the next three years Whirlwind plans to expand our production franchise with seven Wheelchair Provision and Assembly (WPAC) sites around the developing world (locations TBD). The Field Associate will travel to newly established WPAC sites to support their activities including provisions, business processes and assembly for a short period. WPACs will be assembling wheelchairs from imported parts, doing quality control on completed chairs, doing assessment, prescription, repair and adjustment of wheelchairs for local users, and managing the small business processes related to those activities. You will need to be an expert in WPAC activities (we will train you) and be an excellent communicator, technologically proficient, comfortable being in the developing world, available to travel for extended periods of time, and work independently far from the office.
The Field Associate is someone who is conversant in a capacity building approach to working with partners in the developing world. You will need to have a proven track record of success in working remotely in the developing world on assigned objectives. You will need to be able to show that you can assess the readiness of a given organization and implement appropriate educational plans to bring the organization up to compliance. You are a “teacher” who is adept at communicating through translators and quickly creating and implementing training in order to transfer the necessary skills and knowledge to the audience at hand. You will provide Whirlwind staff with information required for reporting purposes and provide recommendations to WPACs for improving their performance.
To request more information about this position, please use this form.
Project Manager – We are looking for someone with a strong operational business and project management background to manage a 30-month world-wide project with a 1.7 million dollar budget funded by a grant from USAID (experience working with USAID or the US Government is highly desirable, as you will have much interaction with USAID). This project will establish sustainable Wheelchair Provision and Assembly Centers (WPACs) in 7 countries (locations TBD) in the developing world. WPACs will be assembling wheelchairs from imported parts, doing quality control on completed chairs, doing assessment, prescription, repair and adjustment of wheelchairs for local users, and managing the small business processes related to those activities.
You will manage project plan implementation, logistics, and development of management systems for the WPAC project including the set up of the model site in Indonesia, coordination of consultants and stakeholders for development of a web-based information system (WBIS), and production of an informational training video on wheelchair provision. You will manage the startup processes of each WPAC, including logistics relating to travel to model site, acquisition of needed equipment, parts shipping logistics, and coordination of field staff travel.
You will also manage a handcycle design development project, and generate quarterly reports from the WBIS and gather information on project metrics and ensure fiscal compliance is established in WPACs. You will have an Administrative Assistant who reports to you and you will also oversee operational activities in the office, including the operating budget, high level human resources, payroll, reimbursements, and fulfillment of orders from Whirlwind’s new US Distribution Center.
You are someone who has strong interpersonal and communication skills and is adept at motivating and influencing people. You also have strong financial, technical, organizing, planning and problem-solving skills. You have a Degree in Business, Operations Management or a related field. This is a full-time position with medical benefits.
To request more information about this position, please use this form.
Senior Quality Control Specialist - We are looking for a seasoned professional with experience in setting up, implementing and overseeing quality control procedures on physical products such as wheelchairs. You will ensure quality control for 6 wheelchair manufacturing sites around the world and a small but rapidly growing number of assembly sites in the developing world. You will develop and coordinate special activities and programs necessary to meet and maintain quality standards and reliability of our manufactured products. This position will most likely include periodic visits to the facilities, receiving and testing wheelchairs in our San Francisco headquarters and remote quality control through Internet video and web-based instruction manuals and videos. You are someone who has strong interpersonal and communication skills and is adept at motivating and influencing people. You also have strong technical, organizing, planning and problem-solving skills. You have a Bachelors degree in Engineering and at least ten years of experience in a role directly related to this position. Our ideal candidate is a retired professional who is interested in a light but highly meaningful work load.
To request more information about this position, please use this form.
Business Advisory Committee – We are seeking volunteers to serve on a panel to review the business plans of applicants in developing countries that seek start-up funding to establish a Whirlwind Wheelchair Provision and Assembly Center (WPAC). WPACs will be assembling wheelchairs from imported parts, doing quality control on completed chairs, doing assessment, prescription, repair and adjustment of wheelchairs for local users, and managing the small business processes related to those activities. They will also be developing the local market for wheelchairs. Committee members should have experience writing and/or reviewing business plans. Experience with small business development, developing countries, and/or durable medical equipment will be particularly valuable. Committee members can engage in consulting with WPAC prospects in the course of business plan development and coaching of WPACs in operations subsequent to startup.
To request more information about this position, please use this form.