Building Dignity and Respect Standards Council

Director

Based in Minneapolis, MN

 

ABOUT
The Building Dignity and Respect Program (BDR) is a Human Rights program built to prevent wage theft and other worker exploitation while securing dignified wages along with safe and respectful working conditions in the non-union sectors of the construction industry. The Director must communicate fluently in Spanish and English and bring an ability to navigate diverse cultural landscapes while conveying important technical information to workers and contractors.

BDR is a Worker-driven Social Responsibility (WSR) initiative that rests on a strong commitment to empower workers through labor rights education and access to a protected complaint mechanism so that they may form the first line of defense against labor abuses.

The Building Dignity and Respect Standards Council (BDC) was established to address the program’s need for an independent entity to monitor and enforce its standards under the construction worker-defined BDC Code of Conduct (Code), which represents Twin Cities construction workers’ definition of the human right to work with dignity. 

Learn more about the model on our website.

DIRECTOR
BDC is seeking to hire a Director to continue building the organization. Since the spring of 2020, the current director has worked with board members, part-time staff, allies, and partners to establish the organization, build infrastructure, and adapt the WSR model to construction. In addition, extensive work has been done to educate elected officials, labor enforcement agencies, developers, and the broader public about the nature of the current crisis and the innovative, worker-centered solution that the BDR program offers.

BDC is based in Minnesota with an office in south Minneapolis. The position involves regular travel to meetings and construction sites in the seven-county metropolitan area and occasional longer trips for conferences, educational events, or collaboration. The salary range is $80,000 to $85,000, depending on qualifications and experience.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership

• Work with the Board of Directors to carry out the mission of BDC
• Represent the organization and the BDR Program to allies and future partners
• Maintain the basic organizational infrastructure
• Raise funds for the organization through grants, donors, and other sources
• Hire, supervise, and develop the staff

Program Management & Growth

• Grow relationships to educate elected officials, labor enforcement agencies, developers, and the broader public about the BDR program
• Conduct audits and investigate complaints in both Spanish and English
• Design, implement and draft written audit reports that clearly explain BDC’s findings about relevant working conditions
• Extensive contact and interviews with construction workers, supervisors, and contractor management in both Spanish and English
• Train and supervise additional auditors and other staff
• Work with developers to join the program
• Work with other staff to coordinate and conduct comprehensive audits of participating contractors
• Intake, investigate, and resolve confidential worker complaints
• Conduct sensitive interviews with construction workers, supervisors, and management
• Work with contractors to improve their standards in order to correct violations and prevent future violations through audits, Complaint Resolutions, and Corrective Action Plans
• Design, implement and draft Corrective Action Plans and Complaint Resolutions

Administrative

• Prepare detailed, accurate notes from interviews and complaint investigations
• Work closely with other staff to improve auditing methods and tools
• Organize/analyze data from audits and complaints using our Salesforce database
• Perform additional duties and projects as assigned by the Board

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Fluency in Spanish and English
• Strong communication and interviewing skills in both Spanish and English
• Excellent writing and documentation skills, including attention to detail while keeping a strong level of organization
• Ability to connect facts and discern patterns
• Ability to interact well with people of different nationalities, genders, and educational backgrounds
• Willingness to work irregular hours and comfortable working outdoors
• Ability to work well as part of a team as well as independently
• Ability to work closely with labor and community allies
• Disciplined work habits and initiative
• Driver’s license and ability to maintain reliable access to a vehicle

Nice-to-have experience:

• Experience and knowledge of the construction industry
• Significant experience working with low-income and/or immigrant communities
• Working for labor and/or human rights
• Significant experience supervising staff

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This position is 40 hours a week with heavy computer use, irregular hours, and outdoor work
• Hybrid, based in Minnesota with an office in south Minneapolis
• The position involves regular travel to meetings and construction sites in the seven-county metropolitan area and occasional longer trips for conferences, educational events, or collaboration

HOW TO APPLY
Email a cover letter and a résumé or CV in a PDF to careers@buildingdignityandrespect.org. The subject line of the email should read “BDC Director Position.”

Applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled.

BDC is an equal opportunity employer committed to developing a workforce that reflects and can relate easily to the diverse populations involved in the BDR Program.