Microcosm is hiring a shipper and receiver in our Cleveland warehouse!!

October 23, 2024

We are seeking a full-time worker to join our growing team at our warehouse in Cleveland, Ohio. This is a shipping and receiving position, moving between departments as needed to help people get their books and be happy.

Microcosm is an independent book publisher founded in 1996 and based in Portland, Oregon and Cleveland, Ohio. We publish and distribute books, zines, decks and other materials that advance our mission of helping readers change their lives and world. In 2022, Publishers Weekly ranked us the Fastest Growing Publisher, and we also made the list in 2023 at number 3. We purchased a second warehouse in Cleveland (right next door to the first) in 2023 and are excited to start growing again at a more reasonable pace. Come grow with us!

Hours: This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with daytime work hours Monday-Friday

Location: On-site at our warehouse in the Lee-Miles neighborhood of Cleveland, OH

Experience: This is an entry-level or early career position and no prior warehouse experience is needed—we are happy to train the right person. Candidates with previous warehouse or book industry experience will be gladly considered, but ability to do the work plus willingness to work hard, learn, be part of a team, pay attention to details, and think critically about systems are the key things we are looking for. We’re looking for a hard worker down to assist colleagues wherever needed.

Job duties

Core duties will include:

Packing books, zines, decks, stickers, and other non-uniform rectangular objects securely and efficiently into boxes
Using our software to ship packages to customers all over the world, ensuring boxes are accurately labeled according to the rules of each carrier
Pulling items for orders from our warehouse shelving, checking to make sure we are sending the correct items and quantities
Checking, accepting, and processing shipments of books and other inventory
Receiving new inventory into our database, including ISBNs, quantities, expenses, cover images, and location
Calculating expenses and checking for accounting errors
Shelving items quickly, accurately, and without damaging books
Helping build new shelving
Observing all safety procedures
Maintaining an organized workstation and contributing to keeping the warehouse tidy

The ideal candidate will have the ability to:

Lift 30-40 pound boxes
Spend an 8-hour shift mostly on your feet
Climb step ladders
Use a pallet jack (or be willing to learn how)
Wear a mask while in the warehouse
Function in a loud and imperfectly climate-controlled environment
Quickly and accurately alphabetize
Read small print and identify discrepancies (e.g., two books with the same title, or a customer with multiple shipping addresses)
Be motivated by accuracy and efficiency (we aim for a 99.9% error-free rate)
Show up prepared and work hard for your whole shift
Work independently once trained
Be comfortable handling materials on topics that may be sensitive to some, including trauma, abuse, and recovery, non-christian religions, various marginalized identities, human anatomy, drugs, sexual instruction, erotica, leftist politics, and dad jokes
Notice messes or problem areas and take care of them without being asked
Work within our systems while also speaking up when needed, with an “us against the problem” attitude. Open communication is key!

Pay and benefits:

Starting wage is $14-16.50 per hour, depending on experience. Wage and job duties will be re-evaluated after 90 days.

Benefits include:

All company profits are distributed to staff in the form of profit-sharing
Health insurance with premium match after trial period
Paid time off after trial period
Employee ownership program after five years
Transparent compensation and clear metrics for advancement
Meaningful work at a growing company

Apply by November 10, 2024 by completing this application. No resume or cover letter is necessary.

Please do not contact us about your application—we will respond to all applicants by December 4th.