North Shore Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

Political Director / Campaigns Director

Based in Cleveland, OH

 

The North Shore Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, is a federation of labor unions in Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties. With nearly 150 affiliate unions representing over 80,000 active and retired union members, it is Ohio’s largest central labor council. The North Shore AFL-CIO strives to ensure all working people are treated fairly, with decent paychecks and benefits, safe jobs, dignity, and equal opportunities by making sure everyone who works for a living has family-sustaining wages and benefits and the ability to retire with dignity.

Job description:
As directed by the North Shore Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, the Political Director/Campaigns Director is responsible for the year-round implementation of Federation programs and activities and will carry out the critical aspects of the field mobilization/member communication program within the North Shore Federation of Labor’s jurisdiction. Working at the direction of the North Shore AFL-CIO Executive Secretary and in coordination with the Ohio AFL-CIO, the Political/Campaigns director will work directly with union affiliates, community partners and other allies to execute key components of all Federation field activities and programs and will help build local labor federation structures for successful and sustainable mobilization that strengthens the Federation’s programs in communications, governance, politics, legislation, community engagement and organizing.

The Political Director/Campaigns Director’s primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Advancing the Federation’s legislative program priorities
• Advancing the Federation’s political program priorities
• Building participation in the Federation’s priority activities
• Building support for affiliate organizing
• Coalition & relationship building in the community
• Developing and enhancing union and worker mobilization
• Communicating the Federation’s agenda/priorities
• Educating and Mobilizing affiliate unions and their members on key issues/campaigns
• Recruiting activist talent to contribute to Federation priorities.

Description of Duties:

• The Political Director/Campaigns Director represents the interests of the North Shore AFL-CIO and its officers and staff with affiliates, constituency groups, and allied organizations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships affiliates, constituency groups, and allied organizations.
• Work with affiliate unions, and community groups to obtain support and implement overall state and local campaign plans and a pro-worker agenda in Greater Cleveland.
• Work with unions and community allies, to increase participation in labor-to-labor and public walks, phone banks, rallies, marches, meetings, and other events.
• Build and grow a volunteer base & communication network and develop new mobilization structures and enhance existing ones to expand labor’s ability to create larger, more creative, and more strategic member turnout for legislative, political, organizing, and solidarity actions
• Train, organize, and motivate union leaders and activists to help build self-sustaining organizations and committees and to engage in workplace education and activation of union members in support of endorsed candidates and issue campaigns.
• Assist in developing the North Shore AFL-CIO political program by expanding labor’s political power on electoral campaigns, legislative campaigns, and organizing campaigns by working directly with affiliates to implement these plans.
• Manages and regularly update database(s)/reporting tools for outreach to unions, community allies, individual volunteers, and works to expand these networks.
• Coordinate meetings and events, including but not limited to labor-to-labor walks/lit drops, rallies, pickets, phone banks, marches, legislative actions, trainings, etc. The representative must build turnout, assist in agenda preparation, and make sure numerous logistical details are attended to.
• Prepare and submit weekly activity reports to the Executive Secretary.
• Regularly attend Federation, local union, constituency groups, community services and community action groups’ meetings.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of 1-3 years of experience in labor or community organizing preferred.
• Alternatively, a minimum of 2-4 years of legislative, organizing, or electoral campaign experience.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing and driving field political/issue education and mobilization programs.
• Familiarity with the labor movement at either the local, state, and national level.
• Knowledge of and experience with both state and local structures of unions/the labor movement.
• Ability to manage political/issue campaigns at a regional level.
• Ability to work independently within the context of a plan.
• Ability to lead and motivate others within charged political environments.
• Excellent listening, interpersonal, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective time management skills, including prioritizing and managing multiple tasks, and demonstrated experience in developing personal work plans and goals.
• Demonstrated ability to build teams and work effectively in a team environment in both a lead and a support role.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in politically sensitive and high-pressure environments.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts while maintaining important and effective relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to train others.
• Demonstrated ability to build and strengthen relationships.
• Ability to navigate complex organizational structures.
• Computer proficiency is required; LAN/VAN and Action Network experience preferred, database/spreadsheet, email, Internet, word processing, social networking skills required.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel on a regular basis as needed throughout the region.
• Ability to work long hours and weekends as required.

Starting Salary: $71,226.46.

Benefits commensurate with the contract between the North Shore AFL-CIO and OPEIU Local 1794.

Location:
This position is based in Cleveland, Ohio. Candidates must live in or plan to relocate to the region.

To Apply:
Submit résumé and cover letter to: bpearson@clevelandaflcio.org, with subject line “Political Director/Campaigns Director.”