The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) represents over 117,000 members and nearly 400 locals across the state and employs a full-time staff of over 170. Our members are public school teachers, faculty, professional staff, and education support professionals working at public schools, colleges, and universities. As a member-driven organization and the largest union in New England, our collective power makes MTA an influential voice for educators, students, and their communities. We are proud to be an advocate for social, racial, and economic justice and for a public education system that provides one of the cornerstones of a democratic society.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
The Regional Organizer (Statewide team) will provide strategic leadership, planning, resources, and direct assistance to a) advance regional and statewide solidarity, coordination, and power building, and b) link statewide organizing, bargaining, and political campaigns to local and regional initiatives that connect members to the life of the union, and c) strengthen local organizing, including membership growth and rank and file leadership development.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
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Support organizing and growth of regional networks to foster solidarity and coordination in the region and around the state.
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Collaborate with and serve as a resource to leaders, members, and staff in the planning and implementation of regional and local capacity-building including internal organizing, new unit organizing, issue organizing, membership sign-up and retention, leadership identification and development, power mapping, engaging marginalized constituencies, and advancing a common good agenda.
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Create regional organizing and capacity-building programs, in collaboration with other divisions, including trainings, events and materials focused on achieving bargaining, internal organizing, common good, and political campaign goals.
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Collaborate closely with the Government Relations and Grassroots divisions to design and implement statewide legislative, ballot, and electoral campaigns that build power through strengthening local capacity, engaging rank and file members, and advancing a common good agenda and coordinate statewide campaign activity in the region.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
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Assist regional councils/networks/county associations and locals to build relationships with students, parents, and the community, including the formation of labor-community and campus coalitions, and to pursue common good initiatives.
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Support initiatives that engage and empower marginalized groups, such as educators of color and ESPs, and center social and racial justice in local and regional organizing.
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Provide support for local/regional initiatives to build cultural competency, a climate of equity and inclusion, and other topics designed to increase awareness and support of equity and inclusion values.
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Partner with field staff and locals to establish robust systems for membership sign-up, new hire orientation, building/campus communication networks based on 1:1 contact, and collection and tracking of data to connect members to the life of the union.
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Partner with field staff and locals to develop organizing plans for bargaining, issue campaigns, membership recruitment and engagement, and leadership. identification and development with clear goals, strategies, and benchmarks
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Develop and coordinate the Summer Member Organizing program, including coaching and mentoring SMOs, canvassing, cutting turf and compiling and analyzing data, alert Field Managers to any SMO performance or other supervisory issues.
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Collaborate with Bargaining Campaign & Strategy Specialists to implement strategic and coordinated bargaining campaigns in the region and link local bargaining and local issues to statewide campaigns.
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Assist with the recruitment for and utilization of the Senate District Coordinator/Political Action Liaison program.
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Develop proficiency for use of technology and applications to enhance organizing, targeting, and member communication and recruitment, including NEA360, the VAN, and Hustle.
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Serve as a regional and sometimes statewide rapid response organizing team to be nimble in response to crises or opportunities.
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Contribute to building a unified and powerful statewide union dedicated to social, racial, and economic justice.
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Provide support to MTA committees, task forces, and other teams as assigned.
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Other related duties as needed or assigned within areas of responsibility.
QUALIFICATIONS
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Commitment to the mission and strategic goals of the MTA and the organized education profession.
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Demonstrated knowledge of rank and file organizing and mobilizing principles and demonstrated ability to develop and implement comprehensive organizing plans that include rank and file leadership development, data analysis, messaging, power analysis, and benchmarks and assessments.
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Substantial experience with grassroots community or rank and file union organizing including one-on-one organizing conversations, assessments, leadership identification and development, and moving people to action.
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Understanding of key concepts and commitment to dismantling systems of oppression that create inequity by race, class, and gender.
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Ability to listen and influence across multiple MTA stakeholders and promote intercultural dialogue and organizing.
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Experience building coalitions among diverse organizations and understanding of the historic tensions that exist in the relationships between community and labor and knowledge and experience in navigating the complexities of the relationships.
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Ability to develop effective relationships and teams with diverse constituencies of members, community groups, staff, and leaders.
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Working knowledge and experience with bargaining for the common good and open bargaining strategies.
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Successful experience utilizing data for targeting and developing bargaining and organizing campaigns.
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Facilitation, training, and presentation skills including demonstrated ability to train members and leaders using a popular education model.
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Understanding of and commitment to a vision of a labor movement that advances social, racial, and economic justice and a common good agenda.
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Ability to establish and maintain successful working relationships and teams with staff, leaders, and members.
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Proficiency with MS Word and Excel; experience with Power Point, VAN, and Hustle preferred.
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Effective writing and communication skills.
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Bachelors’ and Masters’ degrees preferred.
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Ability to work well under a tight deadline and in a team environment.
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Ability to work evenings, weekends, and long hours when needed.
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Driver’s license and access to a car required.
*MTA reserves the right to waive any qualifications at its discretion*
The MTA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all staff.
