Florida Education Association

Service Unit Director
United Faculty of Florida

Based in Southwest Florida
(Ft. Myers through Tampa area – extensive travel required)

 

Job Title: Service Unit Director, United Faculty of Florida
Job Classification: Professional A – FSO Bargaining Unit
Supervisor: UFF Executive Director
Location: Southwest Florida (Ft. Myers through Tampa area) - Extensive Travel Required

The United Faculty of Florida (UFF) is the higher education affiliate of the Florida Education Association (FEA), representing more than 20,000 faculty members and 8,000 graduate assistants in universities, university development research schools, and colleges. We have over thirty chapters from Key West to the Panhandle. FEA is the largest union of professional employees and the largest labor union in the Southeast, representing more than 120,000 higher education and K-12 educators. FEA and UFF are affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, and the AFL-CIO.

Position Summary: The Service Unit Director (SUD) reports to UFF’s Executive Director and supports the day-to-day operations and programs of several UFF chapters that are certified bargaining agents, including collective bargaining agreements covering higher education faculty and graduate assistants. The primary responsibilities of this SUD position include organizing and collective bargaining support. Collective bargaining support includes special magistrate hearings and other labor relations assignments such as grievance consultations, bargaining trainings, and arbitration representation. Additionally, the SUD provides consultation and support to UFF chapter leaders and members in the areas of membership organizing, membership development, member advocacy, bargaining, collective bargaining agreement administration, grievance processes, organizational development to support volunteer teams, internal and external communications around organizing, labor relations and worksite issues, governmental and political advocacy, member and human rights, and other areas of interest or concern to the organization and its members. Additionally, SUD assists with ensuring efficient day-to-day operations and initiatives of FEA, UFF, and UFF’s elected steering committee. The successful candidate must possess the ability to successfully establish and maintain professional relationships, efficiently manage multiple high-priority projects, and effectively navigate politically sensitive issues.

Qualifications:

• A four-year degree from an accredited college or university is required.
• A master’s, doctoral, or other advanced degree is highly desired.
• At least two years professional experience in unionized higher education (i.e., member leader or union staff member), including training and involvement with collective bargaining, member representation, and member advocacy is required.
• Professional union organizing experience is required.
• Professional experience with political advocacy is highly desired.
• Professional experience working with elected boards, councils, or committees is highly desired.
• Ability to effectively build and maintain professional relationships is an essential requirement for this position.
• Ability to simultaneously manage multiple high-priority projects is an essential requirement for this position.
• Ability to thrive and maintain professionalism in high-profile/high-pressure situations is an essential requirement for this position.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively, including overnight, is required.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provide member advocacy and collective bargaining and member advocacy support to UFF elected leaders and members.
2. Design and implement organizing campaigns to maintain and grow membership within existing UFF Chapters.
3. Create and facilitate training to enhance labor relations activities.
4. Conduct regular site visits and provide various union-related support to UFF elected leaders and members.
5. Assist with chapter program development, political actions, and union initiatives.
6. Support the UFF Executive Director and chapter leaders in evaluating programs and allocation of resources.
7. Work closely with FEA and UFF elected leaders and staff to achieve established goals and initiatives.
8. Monitor and coordinate local program implementation including communications, training, employee relations, minority concerns, instructional and professional development, membership promotion, political concerns, legislation, etc.
9. Maintain a positive relationship with other organizations and groups within assigned areas.
10. Maintain a continuous positive relationship with chapter leaders and UFF governance leaders.
11. Perform other duties as assigned by the UFF Executive Director, the FEA Director of Organizing and Field Services, or their designee.

General Responsibilities:

1. Acknowledge and support the advancement of FEA’s and UFF’s vision, mission, and strategic goals.
2. Identify, contribute to, and support new opportunities to advance FEA’s and UFF’s vision, mission, and strategic goals.
3. Perform all work assignments in a manner that effectively and efficiently utilizes FEA and UFF resources.
4. Contribute to and support the development and implementation of departmental and interdepartmental programs and services, especially as it pertains to all aspects of organizing, bargaining, and member representation.
5. Perform all duties, responsibilities, and assignments within the guidelines outlined in the FSO/FEA Collective Bargaining Agreement, in accordance with FEA, UFF, and Chapter Policies and Procedures.

Competency Framework: It is Incumbent upon the candidate to embrace, exhibit, and reliably possess the following effectiveness competencies:

• Oral Communication - Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information; makes clear and convincing presentations, listens to others; attends to nonverbal cues.
• Self-Management/Initiative - Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is self-motivated; demonstrates responsible behavior.
• Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust; fosters commitment; works with others to achieve goals.
• Written Communication - Recognizes and uses correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information that is appropriate for the intended audience.
• Planning and Evaluating - Organizes work, sets priorities, determines resource requirements, determines goals and strategies, coordinates with other organizations, monitors progress; evaluates outcomes.
• Integrity/Honesty - Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy.
• Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, courtesy, tact, empathy; develops and maintain relationships; deals with difficult people; relates well to people from varied backgrounds; is sensitive to individual differences.

Compensation & Benefits: The salary for this position is determined by the negotiated agreement between the Florida Education Association and the Florida Staff Organization based on credited 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, vacation leave, sick leave, and paid holidays.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and résumé via email to feahr@floridaea.org Candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

THE FLORIDA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Consistent with the FEA Affirmative Action Plan, minority, female, persons with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Please contact FEA’s Office of Human Resources at 850- 201-2814 or feahr@floridaea.org to request an accommodation during the application process.