The USFFA is seeking a full-time Executive Director beginning June 1, 2021. USFFA represents the 460 full-time faculty and librarians of the University of San Francisco, 100% of whom are Union members. We seek a skilled administrator who is committed to building our union’s strength and organizing capacity. This new position will support union leadership in running our union as well as representing and activating our membership. The ideal candidate is a creative and strategic thinker with proven experience in negotiations resulting in strong collective bargaining agreements, with excellent communication skills, the capacity to evaluate budgets, and a deep commitment to labor organizing and social justice.

About our Union:
The full-time faculty and librarians at the University of San Francisco are building a university that fosters high-quality learning — in the classroom and across the campus, virtual and physical, and where students, staff, and faculty thrive through shared governance and an allegiance to core values of equity and justice. As the exclusive representative of the non-law school full-time faculty and librarians at the University of San Francisco, the USF Faculty Association (AFT4269) represents members for the purposes of collective bargaining in order to ensure their economic and material well-being as well as fostering and protecting their individual and collective rights under the collective bargaining agreement. As a faculty governing body, we are deeply committed to enhancing the academic and professional excellence of the University, promoting and preserving academic freedom, exercising our voice in shared governance and financial decision-making, and pursuing equity, access, and social justice for all members of our University community. The USFFA works to advance the Jesuit educational tradition as embodied in the University’s statement of Mission and Goals, and exerts substantial voice in the allocation of resources to promote the educational and professional excellence of the University.

The Executive Director (ED) will work under the supervision of the USFFA President while reporting to the Executive and Policy Boards, the elected leadership of the USFFA. As the sole full-time staff member for the union, the ED provides vision for strengthening and developing our members leadership and our union’s capacity to represent membership’s interests. In recent years, our Union has encountered an increasingly challenging and contentious negotiating environment driven by austerity and rapid change.

DESIRABLE QUALITIES:

• A proven leader and organizer with tenacity who supports, respects, empowers, and encourages the contributions of all full-time faculty and librarians.
• A strong leader who can oversee and manage the union office (currently virtual, possibly a physical office in the future) with support from a part-time administrative assistant, while providing support and guidance to the Executive Board.
• Experience in labor organizing, contract negotiations, union representation, or similar related work.
• A creative thinker with skills in both collective bargaining and day-to-day problem-solving issues within the Union and the members’ workplace.
• A person adept at creating value from difficult conversations
• A strong written and oral communicator.
• An effective team-leader who is inclusive, approachable, and builds consensus.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years’ union experience in labor organizing, collective bargaining, contract negotiations, grievance, and union legal matters.
• Ability to work flexibly as needed. This may include evening and weekend hours in order to accommodate unit member schedules.
• Ability to work both independently and within teams including a variety of members, staff and elected representatives.
• Ability to work cooperatively and respectfully with a wide variety of people.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, sexuality, and ethnic backgrounds of University employees and students.
• Ability to demonstrate discretion in handling sensitive personnel information.
• Fluency in digital communications: MS Office including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Google Suite, Zoom, Slack.
• Ability to accurately and coherently compose correspondence, grievances, memos, and bargaining language.
• Working knowledge of higher education law, structures, and policies.

DESIRABLE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Understanding of Human Relations protocols and related laws.
• Familiarity with QuickBooks or other online accounting software.
• In lieu of the above: demonstrated transferable education or work-experience skills.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
Administrative

• Manage and streamline the day-to-day operations of the USFFA including, with the Treasurer, union finances
• Generate and deliver monthly operations reports to Executive Board and Policy Board
• Attend Executive Board and Policy Board meetings and maintain records
• Attend USF Labor Coalition and San Francisco Labor Council meetings

Advisory

• Establish annual goals and organizational strategy with Executive Board
• Update the Policy Board and Executive Board on organizational activities, labor movement trends and developments
• Plan and implement contract campaigns in collaboration with the Executive and Policy Boards
• Conduct strategic planning in collaboration with the Executive and Policy Boards

Advocacy

• Represent, support, and advocate for faculty and librarians
• Execute strategic initiatives
• Co-chair Negotiations and Grievance Committees; handles grievances, correspondence, filings, timelines, and preparation for hearings (e.g. grievance, arbitration, ULP, mediation and fact-finding)
• Meets regularly with USF Director of Labor Relations on matters relating to the CBA and grievances
• Manage correspondence with members and the USF Director of Labor Relations on matters relating to the CBA and grievances
• Analyze University budgets, support for negotiations for CBA and grievance settlements
• Research and coordinate training and development on issues critical to our members and our contract, e.g. our members’ rights to organize and engage in political advocacy, contract language construction, retirement issues, and legal issues.
• Plan and participate in union meetings, organizing activities, and campaigns.

Communication

• Direct communications including Union newsletters, email and website, position papers, and campaign literature in cooperation with Communications Committee
• Manage volunteers, monitor committee staffing, support organizing and member services
• Serve as contact for AFT and CFT, maintain compliance with CFT/AFT constitutional obligations, and DOL legal reporting requirements

SALARY, BENEFITS & LOCATION:
Starting salary will vary according to experience and education but is tied to our member pay scale ($75 – $105K) plus a 10% retirement contribution paid as salary, and health, vision, and dental benefits. Work will be remote until the University reopens the campus for the Fall 2021 semester. The Executive Director is expected to reside locally by August 2021.

HOW TO APPLY:
To be considered, please submit the following by Wednesday, April 21st, 11:59pm.

• A current résumé reflecting qualifications for this position and the names of three references we can contact.
• A letter of application which addresses how your background, training, and experience have prepared you to assume the duties and responsibilities of this position.
• A writing sample (e.g. professional group communication, report or position paper of which you were the primary or sole author).
• Submit all materials as attachments in one email to: search@usffa.net.

For more information about the USFFA, see: https://www.usffa.net.

EEO Statement
The USFFA is an equal employment opportunity employer that values a diverse and equitable workplace free from discrimination. We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ people, immigrants, and veterans to apply. The USFFA is committed to accessibility and will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.