New Year, New Job: 6 Boston Companies Hiring Now

With a new year comes resolutions, and what better way to fulfill them than in the place you call home?

For Bostonians, your resolution could be cultural: you’d like to finally walk the Freedom Trail or visit five of the city’s multitude of historic institutions. 

Maybe your resolution is to finally complete a cannoli crawl through the North End. Or maybe it’s to find a new job that boasts an amazing culture, an exciting mission or incredible perks.

If that’s the case, you’re in luck — there are more than 3,600 open roles on Built In Boston. And companies like Dawn Foods aren’t just offering all of the above. They’re dedicated to the Bostonians they hire and the community they live in.

With innovative HR practices and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts dedicated to developing and celebrating diverse tech talent, Dawn Foods takes care of its employees according to Mike Callahan, director of digital delivery.

Dawn also gives back to Boston at large.

“We have a corporate giving program that supports team member volunteerism, offers product donations and provides grants focused on hunger prevention, health, education and community vibrancy,” Callahan said.

The company is looking for engineers to join its team at the Digital Innovation Hub in Boston’s Back Bay. And they aren’t alone in their search for new team members in the new year. Built In Boston sat down with five other companies to find out more about their culture and the perks they offer, as well as what they are looking for in hires.

 

What they do: For more than 170 years, MassMutual has helped people secure their future and protect the ones they love. The mutual life insurance company is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. Its foundational values create a rewarding career during which employees fulfill their purpose, find interesting work and rely on a culture of care and support, according to Cicco.

 

Established yet innovative: Though MassMutual was founded before the Civil War, it’s always embracing new ideas. Employee feedback is constantly sought, which means the company has a track record of flexibility, inclusion and innovation. “We have the humility to recognize that this is an ongoing journey,” Cicco said. “We’re focused on building a thriving community where everyone is valued and feels that they belong.” Trust and accountability are a common thread at MassMutual. To support customers and policyowners, the company is consistently improving its offerings and creating new products to meet customer needs and push MassMutual’s digital capabilities to the next level. “All the while, we’re building on our established knowledge base and staying open to new ideas,” Cicco said. “The result? A strong, supportive community driven by innovative and impactful work.”

 

Mutually committed: “Live mutual” is the name of the game. It’s how employees describe their approach to work and relationships. “We’re committed to trust, teamwork, clear communication and a non-negotiable dedication to DEI,” Cicco said. “We always look out for each other’s well-being. Integrity and ethics are paramount. Our customers and our employees can count on us.” Employees carry this commitment into how they treat one another and show up for the community. At MassMutual, innovation and excellence are held to the same level as humility and support. 

“It’s a powerful combination, and one you might not expect from a financial services company – a culture based on mutuality, care and respect, mixed with a drive toward the future,” Cicco said. “We never settle for yesterday’s great things being our greatest.”

 

 

 

What they do: ezCater is an online catering marketplace. With online ordering, ratings and reviews and an award-winning customer service team, ezCater helps businesses hold successful meetings and cultivate happy work environments.

 

Support to succeed: Hashem loves that at ezCater, all employees receive equitable opportunities to succeed. But what makes the company stand out the most to her is its supportive culture. “Whether it is in the workplace or my personal life, I always feel like a coworker, manager or even director is there to support me if I need it,” Hashem said. “It motivates me to be an even better teammate because I I know the importance of my contributions to my team.”

 

Caring culture: In one word, Hashem describes ezCater’s culture as “nurturing.” “Everyone is so encouraging of growth and development whether that be in your personal life or career,” she said. “We've built a company based on kindness and transparency that allows people to be themselves.”

 

 

What they do: Kensho leverages S&P Global’s data to research, develop and implement artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to further fact-based and objective decision-making. Its solutions make data accessible, insightful, relevant and transformative.

 

Colleagues you can count on: “Kensho is rooted in empowering others, collaborating, delivering value and celebrating wins,” Arnold said. Leadership doesn’t restrict how folks work, but instead emphasizes hiring good people and enabling them to work effectively with the right tools and autonomy. Cross-functional collaboration allows for a diversity of thought and new perspectives when tackling problems. “Kensho is filled with colleagues you can count on, folks who are excited to work with one another and an environment where you are encouraged to bring your true authentic self,” Arnold said.

 

Culture of curiosity: At Kensho, employees are encouraged to ask questions and seek new knowledge and ideas. They work together to solve problems that don’t have easy answers, and they don’t mind getting their hands dirty. Kenshins are given the freedom and support to challenge the status quo, explore their interests and passions, and innovate in unique ways. Team members also listen to one another and maintain open and solutions-oriented mindsets.

“Curiosity drives our culture, which allows colleagues to embrace ambiguity openly and pivot when needed,” Arnold said. “Employees are free to express their ideas, thoughts and opinions without fear of failure.”

 

 

What they do: Dawn Foods is a family-owned business that offers bakery manufacturing and ingredients distribution. Dawn Foods has built partnerships with bakeries for more than 100 years. The company provides insights, innovations, bakery products and expertise to its global customers.

 

Global, but community-focused: Dawn is on the cookie-cutting-edge of baked goods. It offers a 24/7 self-service e-commerce platform, which provides flexibility for customers to order when they want. “It’s really cool to see how much digital resonates with our customers,” Callahan said. “We give them precious time back in their day to manage other aspects of their business.” With plenty of local customers, Dawn can learn about how its products are used and even taste what customers create with them.  
 

Diverse perspectives drive results: Dawn is a global company, and its teams span regions and functions, backgrounds and industries. When those perspectives come together in an agile environment like Dawn’s, there are exciting results. The company’s collaboration shone brightest when it baked its e-commerce site from scratch in 2020. “The collaborative nature of our organization allowed us to deliver a great customer experience, and it helps us move quickly in areas that we want to improve,” Callahan said. Dawn frequently collaborates with customers, too, to understand the products it should build next. “Our customers are at the core of what we do,” Callahan said. “Being close with them helps us understand their pain points and how we can address them.”

 

 

What they do: Flexcar is on a mission to disrupt traditional car ownership. Its subscription program offers a convenient and affordable alternative to leasing and owning cars. There’s no down payments, no depreciation and insurance and roadside assistance are included.
 

A context that motivates: According to Dunn, the context and culture Flexcar employees dedicate their energy to is what makes the company an outstanding place to work. The context is car ownership, something everyone can relate with in some way. “This familiarity and connection to the problem, coupled with the underlying complexity it takes to do well, makes for truly motivating work,” Dunn said. “I love the ‘it’s complicated to make it simple’ aspect of what we do.” The culture is driven by the quality of people Flexcar brings together. “Through intentional investment and organic cultivation, our broader team is action oriented, adaptable and conscientious, all of which are critical to an early stage organization.”

 

Aspiring for ownership: Flexcar is ambitious, and that ambition shows up in many ways. The big, gnarly problem the company is trying to solve is one example, and that attracts certain mindsets. Dunn also sees ambition in the incremental decisions that move Flexcar toward the standard of service and organization that it strives for. “Not every action works out, but culturally, we do a good job of providing a pathway to step up and into ownership opportunities,” Dunn said.

 

 

What they do: Bevi’s smart water machines replace the need for single-use water bottles. The IoT-enabled machines provide pure, sparkling and flavored water. With $160 million raised in venture capital, Bevi plans to grow its product line with new developments.

 

Work that shines: Bevi boasts a community of eco-minded and innovative people who want to make the world a better place. Employees whole-heartedly believe in the positive impact that Bevi’s product has on the environment. “Our team genuinely cares about the mission and vision, and you feel that energy the moment you step into the office,” Rudnicki said. “Employees are inspired to do work that really shines.” Bevi’s welcoming environment creates a space for colleagues to build strong working relationships. There are plenty of opportunities to engage and have fun, like volunteering, bi-weekly team meals, happy hours, lunch and learns, annual retreats and time to celebrate and learn. “Team members, in turn, feel comfortable sharing new ideas, asking tough questions, and pushing each other to make Bevi better,” Rudnicki said.

 

Driven by unity: Bevi’s mission brings the team together. “We are a group of people who are passionate about the product and working toward ridding the world of single-use plastic, one bottle at a time,” Rudnicki said. Team members rely on each other, which encourages collaboration across functions and levels. “We hire smart players from diverse career backgrounds who all contribute something different and necessary for Bevi’s success,” Rudnicki said. “Every role and every level has something to teach and something to learn, and we attract team members excited to do both.”