AFT-Oregon is seeking a full-time, experienced Staff Organizer (hybrid work based in Oregon).
The Staff Organizer is responsible for supporting local unions with creating organizing plans, nurturing members' leadership capacity and increasing membership density; and for collaborating with AFT-Oregon’s elected leadership to create and implement state-wide organizing goals.
The ideal candidate will have 3+ years of experience of staff organizing in a union context; with demonstrated experience with building membership, leadership mentoring, strategic goal setting, event and rally planning, data management, external organizing, and issue campaign development.
The position is based in the Portland geographic area and will require regular travel to our locals statewide.
The position includes a competitive salary (DOE) and excellent benefits package in accord with the United Employees Guild/AFT-Oregon Collective Bargaining Agreement, including full employer paid health insurance for both employee and family and 12% retirement contribution after six months of hire.
Initial hiring salary is budgeted for $77,878 - $80,993 annually. (Step 3 - 4 of Salary Schedule)
Salary placement depends on qualifications, experience, internal and external equity.
Application Materials
Please send resume, cover letter and list of three professional references (email, phone number and relationship) to: hiring@aft-oregon.org
First review of applications will be October 16, 2024.
(References will be contacted only if determined a finalist for the position)
Field Staff Organizer Job Description
Responsibilities and Essential Functions
- Collaborates with local leaders, AFT-Oregon staff and Executive Council members to create, implement and track effectiveness of federation-wide organizing plans that integrate the goals of the locals with those of the federation.
- Works with existing leadership groups (elected council, stewards, worksite leaders) to ensure that locals create, develop, and implement organizing plans.
- Recruits new members to the union, including recruiting for roles at locals, AFT-Oregon political organizing and advisory councils, and other roles, in collaboration with union leaders and AFT-Oregon.
- Cultivates a culture of organizing within the locals’ leadership and membership. Collaborates with local leaders to plan and help implement membership drives.
- Provides one-on-one training in the field with new organizers and leaders. Helps locals run issue-based organizing campaigns.
- Develops and cultivates organizing committees within and across locals. Helps locals create a membership tracking/organizing system that includes worksite mapping.
- Communicates with membership and potential members through home visits, worksite visits, email, phone calls, text messaging, and digital platforms, including knocking on bargaining unit members’ doors, both at work and at home, in collaboration with local leadership, to identify new union members and leadership.
- Develops a broad range of organizing workshops and training for local, regional, and state-wide educational events and provides one-on-one training in the field with new organizers and leaders
- Assesses and tracks state-wide opportunities for external organizing and for accreting new sectors into existing locals.
- Meets with workers interested in forming a union to assess the potential of their organizing campaign and, as appropriate, provides guidance and best practices for new unionization campaigns.
- Collaborates with AFT-Oregon Organizing team on the administration of the Member Organizing Institute program (MOI), including leading recruitment efforts and MOI weekend training. Works the field with participants, tracking progress and working with locals prior to and following the program to ensure success.
Other related duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience
- Demonstrated experience dedicated to the labor movement, social and economic justice, and public education for all.
- 3+ years of demonstrated experience staff organizing in a union context; working knowledge of issues relating to contract management and their relationship to strong internal organizing practices.
- Driving long distances for extended periods of time is required. Required to have a valid driver’s license and a working and insured automobile, adhering to AFT-Oregon insurance requirements. Ability to access locals and attend meetings in person
- Critical skills should include:
- Strong organizing ability. Commitment to increasing democratic participation within organizations.
- Ability to self-direct—independently develop and prioritize goals, tasks, and timelines, and take initiative in projects.
- Solution oriented with the ability to help locals see opportunities and take action.
- Ability to explain technical issues in lay terms.
- Experience with strategic planning and data management.
- Commitment to AFT-Oregon’s mission and to public education.
- Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Preferred Education and Experience
- External organizing experience building and growing union power with organizing non-union workers. Experience with grassroots organizing (external union organizing preferred), including targeting issues, identifying workplace leaders, membership building, leadership development, building worker committees and house visits.
- Public sector union experience.
Skills and Competencies
- Applies critical thinking skills using logic and reasoning. Identifies complex problems and reviews related information to develop and evaluate options, recommend and implement solutions.
- Provides superior attention to detail for developing work products and deliverables in alignment with organizational goals, legal and regulatory requirements.
- Is proactive in training others and delegating or coordinating duties and responsibilities to local union leaders and members to achieve assigned projects and activities.
- Is able to manage workload, juggle competing priorities to meet deadlines, project completion standards and deliverables.
- Is able to communicate effectively and persuasively in both verbal and written formats. Provides active listening skills.
- Is able to coach local leaders and membership on diversity and inclusiveness.
- Uses respectful communication and behaviors when interacting with management, colleagues, and clients. Is able to handle conflicts professionally, address disagreements respectfully, and seek solutions collaboratively.
- Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with coworkers, union members and other individuals in contact during the course of work. Contributes to a positive work environment; facilitates productivity and fosters strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Is familiar with Slack and Google Workspace including Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Groups, Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
About AFT-Oregon
AFT-Oregon is a state affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, a union representing Oregon workers in 27 unions across K-12, community college and higher education in faculty, classified staff positions, and child care workers, in both public and private sectors.
We are a strong unified voice in education and the labor movement and are committed to improving the quality of people’s working and personal lives through commitments to quality education, social justice and a powerful progressive labor movement.