Job Title: Service Unit Director, Central Panhandle Region
Job Classification: Professional A – FSO Bargaining Unit
Supervisor: Organizing and Field Services Management Team
Location: Central Panhandle Region, currently including instructional and non-instructional unions in Calhoun, Franklin, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington school districts. Extensive travel is required.
The Florida Education Association (FEA) is the largest association of professional employees and the largest labor union in the Southeast, representing more than 120,000 members. FEA members include teachers, education staff professionals, higher education faculty and graduate assistants, retirees, education students, and early career educators. FEA represents the professional and working interests of its members and plays a prominent role in shaping state policies that affect public schools. FEA is a merged state association affiliated with both the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
Position Summary:
The Service Unit Director reports to the Organizing and Field Services Management Team and assists in the day-to-day operations and programs of the local association in the locations above. The successful applicant will coordinate the service operations for the assigned local unions, provide consultation and assistance to elected leaders and members in the areas of member organizing, bargaining, contract administration/ grievance adjudication, business management, membership development, leadership and organizational development, internal and external communications, governmental and political advocacy, member and human rights, education reform, and other areas of interest or concern to the organization and its members. Frequent travel, long days, evening meetings, and some weekend obligations are required.
Qualifications:
1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required: Master’s degree preferred.
2. Knowledge of union work as leader or staff.
3. Successful experience working with teachers and Education Staff Professional locals. (Preferred)
4. At least two years as local staff or comparable experience.
5. Demonstrated ability in contract maintenance, grievance processing, member representation, and collective bargaining.
6. Knowledge of the impasse and arbitration processes.
7. Demonstrated competence in oral and written communications.
8. Experience with and understanding of professional education organization programs and services at local, state, and national levels.
9. Ability to analyze school finance budget information.
10. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and drive projects independently.
11. Successful experience multi-task under tight deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
12. Strong skill in using Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel).
13. Ability to learn new, proprietary software programs.
14. Capacity to work closely with other professional and associate staff.
15. Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Florida driver’s license.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
1. The Service Unit director is responsible for the day-to-day operations and programs of the assigned locals, including monitoring and coordinating local association program implementation including communications, training, employee relations, minority concerns, instructional and professional development, membership promotion, political concerns, legislation, etc.
2. Provides interface, consultative assistance, and support to local union officers/building representatives/committee members/delegates/staff in the planning and implementation of their collective bargaining, employee rights and contract enforcement programs. Includes but is not limited to communications, implementation of centrally developed and locally delivered training programs, local training programs, employee relations, minority concerns, bargaining and contract enforcement, membership promotion, political action, legislation, program evaluation, etc.
3. Plans, participates, and presents in site-based representative training, local program development, budget, political action/legislative initiatives, and any other areas for which the local unions seek guidance and assistance.
4. Assists leaders in developing organizing plans and creating a system/process to measure effectiveness.
5. Conducts regular visits to work sites to build positive relationships with local leaders and staff and advance the knowledge and skills of site leadership.
6. Coordinates the regional FEA office pursuant to FEA policies.
7. Maintains a positive relationship with other organizations and groups within assigned areas.
8. Maintains a continuous positive relationship with leaders and members in assigned local unions.
9. Performs other duties as assigned by the Organizing and Field Services Management Team.
Compensation and Benefits:
The salary for this position is determined by the negotiated agreement between the Florida Education Association and the Florida Staff Organization based on relevant experience. FEA provides medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term-disability insurance to its employees with no employee premiums. Additionally, FEA provides employer-paid retirement options, annual leave, sick leave, and paid holidays.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and three references via email to [email protected]. Candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis with preference given to those who apply on or before July 9, 2026.
THE FLORIDA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Consistent with the FEA Affirmative Action Plan, minority, female, and physically challenged applicants are encouraged to apply. Please contact FEA’s Office of Human Resources at 850-201-2814 or [email protected] to request an accommodation during the application process.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $76,003.00 - $128,883.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Relocation assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- working with teachers: 2 years (Preferred)
- working with Education Staff Professionals: 2 years (Preferred)
- local staff or comparable: 2 years (Required)
- ability in contract maintenance & grievance processing: 2 years (Preferred)
- ability in member representation & collective bargaining: 2 years (Preferred)
- knowledge in impasse and arbitration processes: 2 years (Preferred)
- oral and written communication: 2 years (Required)
- Microsoft Office: 2 years (Required)
- analyze school budget information: 2 years (Preferred)
- work collaboratively and drive projects independently: 2 years (Preferred)
- detailed multi-tasking under tight deadlines: 2 years (Preferred)
- ability to learn new proprietary software programs: 2 years (Preferred)
- work closely with other professional and associate staff: 2 years (Preferred)
- understanding professional education organization programs: 2 years (Preferred)
Work Location: On the road
