Job Description

Wisconsin Education Association Council

Organizer

Based in Southcentral Wisconsin

JOB TITLE: Organizer ~ Southcentral Wisconsin
DATE OF POSTING: May 27, 2025
ESTIMATED DATE TO FILL: As soon as possible

I. General Description of the Position’s Function and Purpose:
The Organizer will lead field organizing efforts in targeted local associations and potential units within Wisconsin – both teacher and education support professionals. This position will focus on locals located mainly in Jefferson, Rock and Grant counties. The work will be centered around the basic tools of relational organizing: one-on-one meetings, asking potential members to join, power analysis, charting internal relationships, leadership identification, action and evaluation. The Organizer will also develop and implement membership recruitment and retention strategies, as well as coordinate and lead new unit organizing campaigns. This is a membership growth position, and applicants should be prepared to spend a majority of their time recruiting, maintaining and developing worker leaders.

The work will be carried out in close cooperation with UniServ Directors assigned to the targeted locals. The Organizer will report to the WEAC Field Services Manager. This is a temporary position (through 8/31/2026) that we hope will become a multi-year position, and is subject to the collective bargaining agreement between the WEAC and USU.

II. Responsibilities:
Organizing

• Setting up and conducting 10 to 15 one-on-one meetings per week.
• Conduct regular building and home visits for association visibility, potential member recruitment and related efforts.
• Build organizing member teams in 10 to 15 local associations or potential new units. Additional locals may be assigned over time.
• Build networks of leaders within existing and new member units.
• Utilize and carry out the tools of relational organizing: one-on-one meetings, power analysis, charting/mapping internal relationships, teaching and training, action, and evaluation.
• Organize and carry out member recruitment.
• Develop action plans for successful recertification elections and campaigns.
• Write and provide training (or train-the-trainer training) to local associations in organizing for power.
• Write and create relevant membership campaign plans and materials.
• Work cooperatively with relevant UniServ Directors, local leaders and others involved in local organizing efforts.
• Enter and analyze data related to member programs and organizing.

Negotiations and professional rights and responsibilities, including grievances

• Support collective bargaining in assigned locals by providing coaching, advice and/or serving as chief negotiator.
• Develop Professional rights and responsibilities committees in member locals.
• Provide counsel, advice, and representation to individuals in member locals.
• Represent individuals in job-related termination or nonrenewal conferences and unemployment compensation hearings.
• Assist members on plans of improvement.

III. Qualifications:
Required

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience. Higher level degree or coursework preferred.
• Minimum two years demonstrated experience growing union membership through recruitment and direct sign-up efforts, or equivalent work experience.
• Demonstrated experience in organizing issue and/or contract campaigns.
• Demonstrated ability to pursue projects with energy, passion, and perseverance, especially in the face of resistance or setbacks.
• Experience implementing member recruitment plans (or other similar growth plans) carried out largely by member volunteers.
• Experience developing and implementing plans based on analysis of current events, organization goals and attitudes.
• Experience in collective bargaining, meet and confer, and/or labor-management meetings.
• Experience in issue and/or grievance advocacy.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a collaborative team member.
• Experience coordinating activities of member organizers and/or volunteers.
• Current driver’s license, insured vehicle in good driving condition and ability to travel throughout Wisconsin to engage with assigned locals, members and potential members.
• Live in, or near enough to, assigned locals to enable daily in-person contact with locals.
• Willingness to commit the time and energy necessary to meet the extensive demands of the job.
• Willingness to travel, work nights and weekends as assigned.
• Ability to promote and adhere to the policies and procedures adopted by the NEA and WEAC Board of Directors and Representative Assembly.
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of individual member(s) concerns in a professional and confidential manner.

Preferred

• Recent (within the past three years) experience working in a public school.
• Working knowledge of Wisconsin public sector labor laws as well as labor relations law related to the membership recruitment, representational petition campaigns and elections.
• Broad understanding of the critical issues and problems facing preK-12 educators in Wisconsin and nationally.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze member data for strategic purposes.
• Experience as an association leader in education (local, UniServ, state, or national) or other public or private sector unions.
• Association staff experience.
• Experience in political action.
• Higher level degree or coursework.

IV. Interpersonal skills:
Required

• Effective public speaker
• Clear and lucid writing
• Social awareness
• Ability/desire to work with a diverse population
• Strong personal planning and time management skills
• Ethical, integrity, and inclusiveness
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback
• Initiative
• Problem analysis and resolution
• Relationship building
• Leadership
• Organizational sensitivity
• Flexibility
• Detail oriented

VI. Salary and Fringe Benefits
Excellent salary and benefit package under the Professional Staff Collective Bargaining Agreement. Starting salary range of $94,000 – $129,000, based on experience.

VII. Application Procedure
A person interested in applying for this position should submit a letter of application detailing your experience in the areas of responsibility outlined above, résumé, and the names of three references (references will not be contacted until after a first interview). This position is open until filled; however, the posting/acceptance of applications may close at any time.

WEAC
ATTN: Jill Hein
PO Box 8003
Madison, WI 53708-8003
or
[email protected]
(Reference: WEAC Southcentral Organizer)

WEAC Mission Statement
The members of the Wisconsin Education Association Council advocate for great public education for the common good.

The Wisconsin Education Association Council provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetics.

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