Full-time, SPFE Member on Release
Community Coalition Organizer
Posted: July 22, 2022; Reposted: October 17, 2022
The Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) is working with the National Education Association as part of a Strategic Campaigns Institute. As part of our participation in this work, we will be hiring a member to be on release to work for the union doing community coalition building and participate in trainings with NEA and strategic planning with the local and community partners. Applicants must be a member of SPFE for the past four years.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
The Community Coalition Organizer will work closely with local union leadership and have the primary responsibility of implementing SPFE’s strategic community coalition organizing plan. This position will report to the SPFE President and Staff Director. Duties and responsibilities include:
Community Organization and SPPS Parent Relationship Building
- Identify strategic partners and building relationships in the St. Paul community on behalf of SPFE;
- Provide educational presentations and engage parent groups in conversations about our public schools and our shared goals for our students and schools;
- Participate in and/or recruit other members to participate in community partner activities and events when possible;
Community Coalition Recruitment
- Recruit SPFE members, parents, and community leaders to participate in a community coalition focused on educational justice for students in St. Paul;
- Work to ensure coalition participants are representative of all community races, ages, gender, and other identities;
Community Coalition Facilitation
- Plan agendas and facilitate meetings of the community coalition;
- Work closely with the community coalition on identifying shared short-term and long-term goals that we can work together on;
- Facilitate the development of a plan for organizing and reaching the shared short term and long term goals with the community coalition;
SPFE Member Engagement and Community Coalition Committee
- Engage and survey members about their community relationships and engagement in St. Paul;
- Recruit SPFE member leaders to support the relationship building work long-term;
- Facilitate regular meetings and check-ins with members doing community relationship building work;
Organizational Responsibilities
- Report on the community coalition work regularly to the SPFE Executive Board and at monthly membership meetings;
- Work closely with SPFE organizers and when needed provide worksite organizing support to schools engaged in a school-based campaign with families and the community;
- Establish and maintain a positive working relationship with the membership;
- Strategize and provide insight and guidance to local SPFE leadership regarding local growth and direction;
- Required to work irregular/extended work hours as necessary and function with a high degree of independence;
- Must have a driver’s license and vehicle to conduct responsibilities; and
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
We are seeking candidates who are members of SPFE and have been actively involved in the work of the union in leadership roles such as building steward, contract action team member, bargaining team member, or executive board member. Additionally, we are seeking candidates who excel in relationship-building, are results-oriented, and have strong project management skills. You should have:
- Member of SPFE in good standing;
- Minimum of 4 years as an educator in SPPS;
- A growth mindset for learning more about organizing and coalition building;
- Experience fighting for racial equity and social justice;
- Experience leading and collaborating with multiple stakeholders from diverse populations and with diverse personalities and viewpoints;
- Strong listening skills and ability to take what you hear to resolve an issue or make progress toward compromise;
- Experience with planning and leading organizing actions;
- Ability to quickly build relationships and trust with people;
- Experience conducting one-to-one conversations;
- Experience creating agendas, facilitating, and summarizing action steps for small and large group committees and meetings;
- Effective and efficient time management, prioritization of work plans, and implementation of plans to meet objectives and goals; and
- Effective oral and written communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of public education and educational policy issues;
- Experience with Google Docs, Dropbox, and Microsoft Office.
This is intended to be a a full time, member release position for the second semester of the 2022-23 school year and possibly for the 2023-24 school year. SPFE will negotiate a release agreement and the member will continue to be paid their regular rate of pay and benefits from SPPS.
If you are interested in applying for this position, please fill out the application at this link: https://forms.gle/sFyqQN7uKUYTKs4R9. Questions can be directed to Leah Lindeman at leah@spfe28.org.
SPFE is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified applicants regardless of gender identification, race, ethnicity, or religion.