UniServ Director, Level V – WEA MidState UniServ Council : Washington

Washington Education Association

UniServ Director, Level V
WEA MidState UniServ Council

Based in Yakima, WA

The Washington Education Association is seeking applicants for the position of UniServ Director – Level V – for the WEA MidState UniServ Council in Yakima, WA. A job description is included below. This position is currently available to internal and external applicants.

To be considered for this position the following documents are required:

• Cover letter
• Updated résumé reflecting qualifications for this position
• Signed WEA application form
• A list of three professional references (w/contact information including relationship to applicant)

Washington Education Association application forms are required and may be obtained by selecting ‘Online Application’ located at the end of this document. Applications may also be obtained at the Washington Education Association located at 32032 Weyerhaeuser Way South, Federal Way, WA 98001, or by calling Human Resources at 1-800-622-3393 extension 7002.

The deadline for receipt of cover letter, résumé, signed application and list of references is on or before 5:00 pm, June 16, 2020. If you do not submit your application and materials online (preferred method), please email, fax, or mail materials to:

Washington Education Association
Attn: Karen Knight, HR Generalist
PO Box 9100
Federal Way, WA 98063-9100
FAX (253) 946-4726
Phone: (253) 765-7002
kknight@washingtonea.org

The Washington Education Association is an equal employment opportunity employer. It is the desire of the Washington Education Association to interview applicants from an applicant/interview pool that reflects the diversity of the greater community for each vacancy as it occurs.

Location and Demographics
WEA Midstate is headquartered in Yakima, Washington, and covers 42 local bargaining units in three counties, ranging in size from two to 970 members – with a total membership of around 4,700. The furthest local is 115 miles away. All locals are serviced from the WEA MidState office in Yakima.

Located in south central Washington, Yakima is approximately equal distance between Spokane and the Puget Sound area (2 hours from Seattle). Our geography ranges from stunning mountains to lush rural valleys. The 300 days of sunshine each year and four distinct seasons provide multiple opportunities for outdoor activities, including river rafting, fishing, golfing, skiing, hiking, and mountain climbing. The Yakima region is home to Yakima Valley College, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, Central Washington University in Ellensburg, and Heritage University in Toppenish. The Yakima Valley is the second-largest wine producing region in the United States and the largest hop producer in the world. The valley has 60 wineries and 13 craft breweries. The population of the area is culturally and economically diverse. Our community is agriculturally based and includes the Yakama Nation Reservation and many orchards and farms. The public school population includes a large percentage of Hispanic and Native American students.

Council Description
WEA MidState has three UniServ directors and two support staff. The office is governed by an elected president and executive board. WEA MidState is highly collaborative, with governance and staff working closely together. The foundational philosophy for this democratic approach is a “team” approach that emphasizes strong relationships with mutual respect and collaborative decision-making.

WEA MidState Council includes both certificated and classified bargaining units. Our council is active in the Yakima and South Central Counties Labor Council and the broader community.

Job Summary and Essential Job Functions

Responsibilities

• Support and advance the WEA and WEA Mission, goals, core values and priorities.
• Assist the WEA in developing and implementing the systems, programs and organizational strategies that create a member-driven culture of organizing and advance the goals of WEA.
• Assist the WEA in developing and delivering dynamic organizing trainings for leaders, members and staff to support organizing campaigns
• Organize to build a strong union at every local or worksite consistent with the goals of WEA
• Assist the organization in building and exercising power at the state and local level
• Support state and local advocacy efforts as assigned – including, but not limited to:
  • Participation in developing and delivering member, leader and staff trainings in the following areas: member rights, advocacy, collective bargaining, political campaigns, leadership and organizational development, strategic planning, and internal, community and new member organizing
  • Working with leaders and staff to develop organizing and action plans; assist in execution and review of these plans
  • Involvement with contract negotiations and contract maintenance through grievance processing, mediation and arbitration
  • Providing local association bargaining assistance
  • Engaging in organizational and professional development through training, consultation and facilitation within WEA Midstate, local associations, governance and members
  • Committing to membership recruitment and development
  • Providing support for political action activities and lobbying
  • Developing relationships and working with broad-based organizations to support the goals of the WEA
  • Providing consistent and concise internal and external communications
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with Council leadership, local leaders, staff, and WEA management
• Provide counsel and advice to leadership and members
• Work collaboratively with staff, work teams, locals/districts and community groups where appropriate
• Promote and support education restructuring and reform; facilitate organizational change at the local and state level
• Participate in trainings identified by WEA
• Provide staff liaison/serve on WEA committees as assigned
• Participate in WEA shared staffing assignments, including assignments throughout the state of Washington
• Regularly attend and participate in WEA staff meetings
• Complete other duties as assigned

Council Focus

• The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated history of building member engagement and empowerment through union organizing, political activism, professional development – all with a student-centered focus – in a public education or similarly situated labor organization
• The ideal candidate must be able to blend the competing interests of local associations and ensure that member voices, opinions and viewpoints are strongly considered in the work of the Association
• The ideal candidate must commit to be a good steward of members’ dues dollars in the context of their work and responsibilities

Minimum Job Requirements and Essential Functions

• Bachelor’s Degree or comparable experience
• Ability to compose documents under pressure, strong ability to communicate verbally, in writing and through various media
• Demonstrated history of success working with communities of color or with other historically under-represented groups; the ability to understand the relevance and importance of diversity, equity and inclusion internally and in public education
• Ability to think creatively to resolve problems, issues, and conflict
• Demonstrated successful experience in:
  • Organizing to build strong locals
  • Commitment to member-driven and organizing union culture
  • Knowledge and experience in state and federal educational reform issues
  • Collective bargaining experience and knowledge of traditional, collaborative and interest-based bargaining, problem solving, and alternative dispute resolution
  • Contract maintenance
  • Member rights protection
  • Political action and lobbying skills
  • Designing, developing, delivering and helping others execute organizing plans
  • Problem-solving and other mediation of sensitive interpersonal situations
  • Cultural Competence/Relevancy or Multicultural Education
  • Ability to relate to all membership levels: Higher Ed, Certs, ESP members, and leaders – as peers
• Strong work ethic.
• Ability to work with diverse groups and individuals.
• Ability to work well in teams, including providing cross-organizational support to other areas of the organization
• Proficient computer skills and experience in, but not limited to, word-processing and online research.
• Working knowledge of school district budgets and education funding in the state of Washington
• Ability to coordinate personal workloads and schedules in a fast-paced working environment
• Ability to establish, track and assess metrics (data) related to organizing goals and membership objectives; ability to deliver and communicate complex data
• Ability to work in a self-directed and efficient manner, maintaining calm under pressure
• Ability to train members in traditional, collaborative and interest-based bargaining
• Ability to travel both in and outside the state of Washington
• Ability to meet requirements of working with large and small locals, higher education and educational support personnel in a large geographic area
• Ability to obtain a valid Washington State driver’s license, possess a satisfactory driving record, and have a dependable automobile for Association travel; proof of automobile insurance with liability limits of at least $100,000/$300,000 required
• Willingness to take temporary assignments in other state locations as required

Preferred Job Requirements

• Experience as an education employee, or working directly with education employees
• Staff or Association leader experience in education associations, local, state or national school employee organizations, or professional organizations
• 5 or more years working as an organizer in an education union setting
• 5 or more years’ experience with internal, new member, and community organizing
• Knowledge of special programs, i.e., special education, bilingual, gifted, etc.
• Experience facilitating organizational change
• Experience as a UniServ staff or comparable union work
• Knowledge and awareness of poverty issues and their impact on student achievement
• Knowledge of Common Core State Standards and the four-tiered evaluation system

Salary Range and Benefits

Annual Salary Range: Level V (E) – $106,120 to $151,368

Benefits:

• Employer-Paid Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
• Generous Sick and Vacation Leaves (PTO)
• Long-term Disability plan
• Defined Benefit Plan
• Defined Contribution Plan (401k) (w/employer contribution)
• Covered by the WEA/WEASO Collective Bargaining Agreement

Application Procedure and References
In order to be considered for this position, a completed and signed WEA application form – including resume, cover letter and a list of three professional references who have professional knowledge of your background and work experience – must be submitted to WEA Human Resources on or before June 16, 2020. Reference contact information must include name, email addresses, phone number(s), and relationship to you.

Important note: When submitting your application materials online, select Save as Draft until you have all materials together and ready to be attached and uploaded – i.e., cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references. This will ensure your application materials remain together as a single submission.

Online Application

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Job Posting Courtesy of UnionJobs.com