Lead Organizer
AFT Wisconsin
Madison, WI

Date Position Posted: February 4, 2008 

Deadline for Application: Open until filled. Reviews begin February 29, 2008

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES 

Growing and progressive federation of educators, state employees and other professional unions seeks a Lead Organizer to develop its Organizing Department. AFT-Wisconsin represents nearly 17,000 members in 550 job classifications in the state of Wisconsin. The federation is creating an Organizing Department and seeks to significantly increase its membership by organizing statewide. The Lead Organizer will launch the new department, implement an organizing plan, and train new organizers. The position is based in the Madison office but involves travel statewide. The Lead Organizer reports to the President of AFT-Wisconsin.

Duties include:

• With the assistance of the Organizing Committee in identifying targets, the Lead Organizer will draft and execute a detailed plan to organize in a higher education environment.
• Oversee the accretion of state employees into existing bargaining units.
• Consult with field staff and assist them in bringing new members into existing bargaining units.
• Work as both an internal and external organizer.
• Coordinate the work of other staff organizers, both internal and external, in the department.
• Train new organizers, both paid staff and member organizers.
• Assist in the political campaign for collective bargaining rights.
• Identify, recruit and train worker leaders.
• Draft an operating budget for all organizing activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate should bring the following qualifications and experience to the federation:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience as an internal and external union organizer.
• Demonstrated ability to move workers from unorganized to organized status.
• Fervent belief in unions and a passion for working family/labor issues.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Knowledge and experience in negotiation, representation, and bargaining.
• Experience in organizing new members in the higher education field.
• Creative problem solver who is open to new ideas.
• Demonstrated and documented ability to coordinate the work of team members.
• Experience with politics, government and legislative work.
• Demonstrated ability to mobilize members to participate in political action.
• Willingness to work long and irregular hours, including nights and weekends.
• Professional integrity and personal ethics, consistent with union values.
• Excellent computer skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Outlook.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

AFT-Wisconsin offers excellent salary and benefits. Salary and benefits for this position are dictated by collective bargaining agreement with the AFTW Staff Union and fall in the range $66,825 - $77,087.

TO APPLY 

 Completed dossier should include: AFT-Wisconsin application (available at www.aft-wisconsin.org/workataftw/), cover letter, resume, and a short writing sample (maximum five pages). Applications will only be accepted electronically. Please submit your materials to Bryan Kennedy, President of AFT-Wisconsin, at kennedy@aft-wisconsin.org. To ensure full consideration, application materials should be received by February 29, 2008; however, review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Candidates for this position may also be considered for the Internal Organizing position. Questions can be directed to Bryan Kennedy via email at the above address or by calling 608-662-1444, ext. 232.

The American Federation of Teachers and its affiliates
are equal opportunity employers.