Organizing Specialist at Education Minnesota

EDUCATION MINNESOTA

POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION TITLE:    TEMPORARY Organizing Specialist

POSITION JOB#:   2024-13.R

DEPARTMENT:   Field Services

SUPERVISOR:   Director Field and Organizing

LOCATION:    St. Paul

HOURS/STATUS:   Full-time/Temporary (up to 1 year)

FLSA STATUS:   Exempt

EMPLOYEE GROUP:   TEMPO

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:  12 Months

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

Education Minnesota seeks an Organizing Specialist to build worker power and recruit new members.  The Organizing Specialist will engage in external organizing campaigns focused on specific geographic areas of Minnesota. The Organizing Specialist will work to build organizing committees, develop leaders and recruit members in their assigned area. This position will work closely with an organizing team including daily in-person meetings, regular meetings with workers and daily site visits. 

We seek to provide a path into the labor movement for social justice and racial justice organizers. We encourage interested candidates who have student or community organizing experience to apply. We seek candidates who are passionate about social justice, building member-led organizations and are passionate about conducting 1-1 organizing conversations. Consistent, personalized staff development and support will be provided.

Education Minnesota is a member-led labor union that has identified racial equity and social justice as primary organizational goals. All staff are expected to participate, individually and collectively, in ongoing training, discussions, and activities to advance these goals.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Organizing and mobilizing workers in the Twin Cities metro area
• Identifying and developing worker leaders
• Conducting daily one-on-one in-person visits, site visits, phone and web-based conversations, meetings, home visits and other interactions with workers
• Attending daily in-person meetings with supervisor and organizing team to discuss progress and plan activities
• Tracking and entering data/information into a database daily
• Taking direction and incorporating feedback on work activities to accomplish goals
• Working independently with minimal supervision and consistently meeting weekly goals
• Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to organize people to take action
• Ability to work independently, plan, and meet deadlines
• Ability to manage competing priorities and flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office/Google Suite and social media platforms

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• B.A. and at least six months of previous labor, student, or community organizing experience
• Willingness to work long, irregular hours and regular evenings. Work weekends as needed
• Valid Minnesota driver’s license and insured vehicle
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Knowledgeable about strategies to dismantle institutionalized oppression and ability to work with diverse communities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

•      At least six months experience in a private sector union organizing campaign
• At least one year of experience as a rank and-file union activist in healthcare or education sectors.
• At least one year experience in developing leaders and building organizing committees in union or community campaigns.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

•      Willingness to work nights and weekends as needed.
•      Able to successfully pass a post offer pre-employment background check.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Works in a general office environment. This position will interact with employees, vendors, members, and the general public on a somewhat regular basis. These interactions require judgment and discretion that can involve confidential information, private information and some disagreeable human interactions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Employee is required to: Continuously sit, talk and hear; frequently stand, walk and repetitively use hands dexterously (use fingers to handle, feel), reach with hands and arms, bend and physically lift and carry up to 25 pounds; occasionally lift up to 50 pounds and infrequently travel by various conveyances (e.g., air, rail, auto).

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Some travel required

Position requires daily work in an office and daily worksite visits. This is not a remote/telework position.

EDUCATION MINNESOTA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Education Minnesota is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing an inclusive environment of mutual respect where diversity is valued, supported, and celebrated to benefit applicants, employees, members, and students. Discrimination of any kind is prohibited. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, job requirements and business needs. Education Minnesota strongly encourages women, BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, immigrants, and veterans to apply.

POSTING DEADLINE: For best consideration, apply online; include a cover letter and resume. Posting will remain open until filled.

Apply online today!