Area Field Services Director (Southern Region)

DUTIES:  Responsible for coordinating any assigned resources in the most efficient, economical and effective manner possible. May design and conduct a variety of union-led initiatives, including internal organizing drives, political action campaigns and legislative initiatives, collective bargaining and negotiation assistance, leadership training and other educational needs, public relations programs, and constitutional and administrative functions.  Actively promotes AFSCME’s organizing agenda with affiliates, building political support and encouraging creation of strong organizing capacity at the affiliate level.  Creates productive relationships with other unions and independent public employee organizations and coalitions, to further AFSCME's goals.  Designs and executes strategies to affiliates, appropriate independent employee groups, and organizations with AFSCME.   For internal organizing, works with affiliates to stimulate activity, including developing campaign plans, offering strategies and tactics, conducting training sessions, and leading staff and workers in house calls and work-site visits.  Encourages affiliates to conduct active political action programs and to participate in the PEOPLE program.  Establishes relationships and maintains contact with elected officials and political candidates, providing them with information and arranging their support for AFSCME organizing campaigns and other AFSCME initiatives.  Works jointly with other unions, local and state labor councils, coalitions, and citizen groups to advance AFSCME campaigns.   Identifies and recommends potential volunteer organizers from within the AFSCME membership.  Encourages affiliates to use the union's educational capability to develop potential leaders. Requests AFSCME educational/subject specialists to work with and train AFSCME members and staff.  Actively seeks to raise affiliate visibility among the membership, their communities and within AFSCME by encouraging them to establish communication vehicles such as regular bulletins, newsletters and the like as well as seeking media coverage of newsworthy events.  Briefs the President or Secretary-Treasurer when either are visiting the area both on general activity level, special events, issues of local interest, and politically sensitive topics.  Performs constitutional and administrative oversight dealing with affiliate operations, and acts as administrator of locals and councils that are under administratorship.  Devises a plan to re-invigorate the affiliate and develop strong, active leadership.  In consultation with Headquarters, resolves jurisdictional and political differences between affiliates, as appropriate. Manages the area office's human and financial resources; determines the programmatic capability; administers the physical facility; and establishes and maintains all necessary business and operational relationships required to manage an enterprise efficiently.  Holds staff accountable for planning, performance and results and engages in periodic review.

REQUIREMENTS:  Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in labor studies, labor relation or political action and at least 10 years of experience in union leadership acting in an official capacity to plan, administer and coordinate major union activities or a combination of education and experience. Advanced knowledge of labor unions and organizing as well as labor laws, both public and private sector and ability to plan, organize and coordinate work activities. Advanced ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships.  Demonstrated ability to supervise staff and fiscally manage large budgets.  Advanced oral and written communications skills. Advanced ability to analyze research data and make logical conclusions. Skilled in the use of personal computer and associated software.  Bi-lingual skills may be desirable in certain assignments.  Extended work hours and extensive travel are required.