All posts by Murphy Institute

Jobs With Justice Education Fund Seeks Research Assistant (Washington, DC)

Jobs With Justice is a national network of local coalitions comprised of labor unions, worker centers, community, faith-based, and student organizations.  We work locally and nationally to reduce inequality by expanding opportunities for workers to organize and to bargain collectively. The national staff provides strategic support to nearly 40 autonomous local coalitions, builds networks on common issues, shapes public discourse and leads strategic campaigns to strengthen power for working people. Jobs With Justice is committed to winning real change for workers by leading campaigns that combine innovative communications strategies, solid research and policy advocacy, grassroots action, and coalition building.

The Research and Policy Department of Jobs With Justice produces research that supports campaigns to raise standards for workers and informs the public discourse on workers’ rights, and advocates for policies that seek to expand bargaining.

Position overview: 

The Research Assistant contributes essential support to the Research and Policy Department of Jobs With Justice, and plays a lead role in coordinating the Labor Research and Action Network (LRAN). The Research Assistant is supervised by the Research Director.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Leads on producing original research products that support the mission of Jobs With Justice;
  • Leads on improving communication and coordination between members of the Labor Research Action Network (LRAN), a project of the Jobs With Justice Education Fund;
  • Executes work and campaign plans within staff teams to win significant victories that concretely improve workers’ lives;
  • Provides support to research and policy initiatives of the department;
  • Expands the organization’s understanding of critical work-related issues;
  • Is a supportive and flexible member of the JWJ national team.

Detailed areas of work currently include:

  • Producing original research products on a variety of work-related topics, which can involve arranging interviews, collecting new data sets, submitting FOIA requests, and working closely with JWJ local coalitions, unions, academics and other stakeholders.
  • Performing literature reviews, managing data, and providing other research support for the projects of the Research and Policy Department.
  • Conducting rapid response research as needs arise.
  • Reviewing JWJ communications materials and speeches for factual accuracy.
  • Scheduling and participating in LRAN meetings and identifying connections with key initiatives of the network.
  • Leading LRAN social media and development of website content.
  • Contributing to dynamic campaign teams and strategies, including supporting JWJ coalitions engaged in strategic campaigns.
  • Documenting relevant communications, activities and outcomes.
  • Collaborating broadly with JWJ staff to strengthen and win campaigns and strengthen local coalitions.
  • Representing JwJ with allied organizations and broader movement efforts where needed.
  • Performing administrative duties in support of the work of the Research and Policy Department.

Qualifications:

  • One to two years of research experience and a Bachelor’s Degree
  • Ability to build and maintain relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, including historically underrepresented communities
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to work in a collective environment
  • Self-motivated and strong work-planning, including good personal time management skills
  • Must have a demonstrated commitment to building a social justice movement in a labor, community or student setting
  • Experience with Jobs With Justice or Labor movement/worker organizing experience is a plus

This is a union-represented position

Salary: High 40s

Benefits: Generous benefits package that includes paid vacation, medical, dental, and retirement benefits.

Jobs With Justice Education Fund is an affirmative action employer and strongly encourages people of color, women, l/g/b/t/q individuals, those with disabilities, and those with working class backgrounds to apply.

To apply, please send resume, cover letter and writing sample to info (at) jwj.org. Be sure to put “Research Assistant” in the subject line.

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to personally acknowledge the receipt and status of each one. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please follow the job application instructions specific to the position you are applying for. No phone calls or direct solicitations please. Incomplete applications, or applications delivered by fax, mail, or in person will not be considered.

Adjunct Organizing Gains Momentum

As millions of Americans broke bread this past Thanksgiving, an important labor victory almost fell through the cracks. Last Wednesday, Temple University’s 1,400 adjunct professors voted 609-266 in favor a proposal to join the Temple Association of University Professionals, the American Federation of Teachers’ faculty affiliate at the school.

With this vote, the local union will double in size, and the negotiations for work terms will commence, pending official certification by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.

Temple University’s adjuncts are only the latest adjunct faculty cohorts to unionize. Adjuncts at Tufts, Georgetown, America, Northeastern, Seattle have all issued similar votes in the past couple years, while, closer to home, Barnard contingent faculty members voted to unionize this past summer,  and, as of now, adjunct faculty members at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering are moving forward on a union vote as well.

UMass Dartmouth Labor Education Center Seeks Labor Extension Specialist

The Arnold M. Dubin Labor Education Center, based in New Bedford, MA, is accepting applications for a 10 month, permanent position as a labor educator and coordinator of the Center’s work with students at UMass Dartmouth.  The two months off are June and July of each year.

This position will develop curriculum and present non-credit workshops and conferences for union members and community activists.  In addition, the Labor Extension Specialist:

  • Coordinates labor and community joint projects and organizes meetings and special events for the local labor community, broader SE MA community and students. 
  • The position also serves as the primary liaison between the Labor Education Center and UMass Dartmouth students. This work includes, hiring, supervising, evaluation and setting work duties for interns and student employees and to assist in locating and developing community service projects.  In addition, guiding interested students to permanent work within labor and in community organizations. 
  • Promotes the Labor Education Center through social media such as Facebook, local media and public speaking forums
  • Provides guidance and advisement, in addition to education programs, to Central Labor Councils and Local Unions
  • Collaborates with the three other UMass Labor Studies Program staff to create a two time a year statewide newsletter and to organize joint trainings, conferences and attend regular meetings to represents the Labor Education Center
  • Creates monthly reports related to program budget utilizing multiple software systems including the University system (PeopleSoft)

Required Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in related field

Required Experience:

  • Demonstrated (over three years) experience teaching trade unionists and designing programs around labor issues.

Other:

  • Commitment to work with students and enhance their learning experience through work with labor and community organizations
  • Must be willing to travel (will be required to use own automobile, mileage paid).

To apply please submit a cover letter, and the names and phone numbers of three professional references, and a resume @ http://www.umassd.edu/hr/employmentopportunities/.

The review of applications will begin December 9, 2015 and continue until the position is filled.

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth values excellence, diversity, transparency, student-centeredness, accountability, innovation, engagement, collaboration, collegiality and safety.

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age over 40, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, or other protected class.

The University of Massachusetts reserves the right to conduct background checks on potential employees.

Worker Justice Center of New York Seeks Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocate

Worker Justice Center of New York pursues justice for those denied human rights, with a focus on agricultural and other low-wage workers, through legal representation, community empowerment and advocacy for institutional change. The organization is currently seeking to hire a full-time Advocate to join its Domestic & Sexual Violence Program. The position will be located in WJCNY’s Kingston, New York office.

Supervisor: WJCNY Program Director

Working Hours: 35 hours per week

Compensation: WJCNY offers comprehensive benefits. Salary is commensurate with experience and is based upon the union-negotiated compensation scale.

Job Summary: The Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocate is a non-exempt, union position. The Advocate will focus on providing case management services to women who are survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence, with an emphasis on farmworker women, and to adult U.S. and foreign born survivors of human trafficking.  The primary role of the Advocate will involve providing intensive, comprehensive, and culturally competent services within a six-county region, including Greene, Dutchess, Columbia, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster. The Advocate will work to create strong community collaborations with survivor-specific service organizations in order to ensure a quality, community response to domestic and sexual violence and trafficking against migrant, seasonal, immigrant, and non-immigrant farmworker women, and trafficked persons.

Job Requirements:

  • Conduct intake interviews in clients’ primary language
  • Screen intakes for facts indicating human trafficking
  • Create a comprehensive service plan tailored to each individual client’s legal, social and health needs
  • Complete a safety plan in collaboration with clients, including options for protecting the confidentiality of the client, the client’s address and case information, update safety plan as needed
  • Giving consideration to clients’ primary language, provide clients with referrals for emergency, short and long-term legal, social and health services
  • Accompany clients when interacting with law enforcement and in family court
  • Provide education to clients about workplace sexual violence
  • Cultivate and organize group support for victims who come forward
  • Participate in the local Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Forces and service coalitions and act as a community liaison to those entities

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor-level college degree or combination of education and experience in the social work, refugee, and/or human services area
  • Experience with diverse cultures and providing direct human services to victims of violence or trauma
  • Spanish and English fluency
  • Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to the cultural/ethnic diversity of the service population and to be sensitive to the needs of special populations
  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural setting, communicate and build rapport with survivors from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds and lifestyles
  • Ability to work cooperatively with clients, colleagues, law enforcement, management, and public
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal skills and organizational skills
  • Flexible schedule to meet client safety needs
  • Ability to meet short timelines, under pressure
  • Basic computer skills for data entry, email, and word processing
  • Valid New York State driver license, reliable vehicle and legally-mandated automobile liability insurance

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to Executive Director, Lew Papenfuse by email at lpapenfuse@wjcny.org, or by fax to 585-325-7614 or by mail to 1187 Culver Rd., Rochester, NY 14609. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

WJCNY is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all applicants regardless of race, sex, disability, religion, national origin or sexual orientation. WJCNY is an affirmative action employer and encourages applicants from women, people of color, persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.

CIVITAS Seeks Executive Director

CIVITAS is seeking an Executive Director to work on improving quality of life in its neighborhoods. CIVITAS is an Upper East Side and East Harlem community-based planning non-profit organization that since 1981 has worked to improve the urban environment, advocating for better land use, zoning and urban transportation, clean air and water, and public access to the waterfront. CIVITAS commissions urban planning studies, speaks out at public hearings, issues reports and keeps its members informed on current issues impacting on urban life.

Chief responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1) Substantive planning, management of projects and initiating new ideas
• Spokesman: Representative of organization at key public meetings, events and press conferences
• Presentation of financial standing to Board of Directors
• Oversight of implementation of organizational mission and providing focus for future initiatives
• Development of position statements on key issues

2) Coordination with board of directors, staff, and volunteers
• Board of Directors organizer, motivator and chief outreach to Executive Committee
• Supervisor of all staff and volunteers

3) Outreach to groups, individuals, media and elected officials outside of the CIVITAS network
• Outreach to recruit new volunteers, contributors and allies for organization
• Spokesman: Representative of organization at key public meetings, events and press conferences
• Press officer for outreach to media
• Oversight of outreach to elected and public officials

4) Fundraising and financial management
• Development: Oversight of fundraising operations and goal setting (this includes the organization’s annual membership drive and benefit event)
• Oversight of accounting and fiduciary responsibilities
• Presentation of financial standing to Board of Directors

Requirements for the position include:
• A graduate degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Historic Preservation or a related field
• Excellent writing, verbal, presentation, research, and organizational skills
• An active ability and ambition to reach out to, and work with, Upper East Side and East Harlem civic organizations, public officials, CIVITAS members, volunteers, interns and the media
• Knowledge of, and experience in, fundraising and board management
• Ability to interact with the Board of Directors and its Executive Committee
• Capacity to identify and pursue new opportunities for CIVITAS

Compensation may range from $50,000 to $60,000 but the final compensation offer will be commensurate with experience.

If you would like to be considered for the position of Executive Director, please email your resume and a brief cover letter containing your thoughts about why you are interested in this position, and what you can bring to the table to CIVITASSearchCommittee@gmail.com. No phone calls please.

The Partnership for Working Families Seeks Strategic Researcher

The Partnership for Working Families, a national network of leading local advocacy organizations, is leading a national effort to solve urgent economic and environmental problems. We’re building an economy that works for everyone, by creating good family-supporting jobs for low-income communities and communities of color in the construction and transit sectors. We’re working to curb climate change and increase recycling by reshaping the way major cities manage their trash. And we’re maximizing the public’s investment in development and infrastructure projects by aligning public spending with community values.

As the pioneers of the community benefits movement we combine insightful research, cutting edge policy and broad alliance building to transform industry practices and create a more sustainable and equitable future in our cities.

In-depth research is critical to our strategy. Our researchers identify the best sources and develop compelling arguments that answer tough questions. They publish hard hitting reports framing national campaigns that transform industries that are essential to the economy. They help organize peer networking opportunities for our affiliates supporting the work of the dynamic leaders throughout our network.

The Partnership is seeking a talented researcher with a passion for social, racial and economic justice. The ideal candidate will have solid applied research experience, strong research and writing skills, experience with policy analysis and the ability to translate complex ideas and research findings into concrete recommendations for policy change that will improve the lives of working families.

Although this position will be based in our Denver, Colorado office, we will consider applicants that live in cities where our affiliates are located. For a complete list visit: forworkingfamilies.org/about/affiliates

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Find and cultivate new sources of information that advance national and local campaigns, including research on companies, industries, laws and policies, government agencies.

• Utilize a range of research strategies to collect quantitative and qualitative information, including internet and database searches, public records requests, interviews, surveys, etc.

• Work with supervisor and campaign leads to manage and execute campaign and organizational research.

• Communicate research results through a variety of mediums (presentations, memos, publications, infographics, etc.) that are persuasive, effective and creative.

• Prepare high quality internal and external materials that support national and local campaigns.

• Work with campaign leads to convene affiliates and provide peer networking opportunities.

• Work with supervisor on the production of publications, including writing, layout and design, production, dissemination and promotion.

• Support the work of the Partnership as a whole in addition to campaign research.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated commitment to social, racial and economic justice. Community and/or union organizing experience a plus.

• Previous experience utilizing a wide array of research methods, including but not limited to: internet searches, public information requests, government reports, telephone inquiries and key informant interviews.

• Background in planning, policy, land use, development processes and low-wage industries a plus.

• Interest in local (municipal & county) government and policy, economic development and tools for fighting poverty.

• Superb writing and editing skills.

• Master’s degree in public policy, urban planning or related social sciences a plus.

• Quick learner with strong critical thinking skills and ability to analyze complex information.

• Effective verbal and communications skills, transforming complex ideas and concepts into easily accessible and useful information.

• Proven ability to juggle multiple responsibilities, prioritize tasks to achieve goals and work well under deadlines.

• Ability to successfully work in a team and independently.

• Willingness and flexibility to travel for internal and external meetings.

• Excellent computer skills, experience with spreadsheets, databases and presentations.

• Investigative, campaign or strategic research experience preferred.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The Partnership offers a highly competitive salary and benefits package, including full family health benefits, generous vacation and personal time, and employer-matched 401k.

To apply, please submit a cover letter outlining relevant experience, resume, three work-related references, and a writing sample (5 pages or less) to: jobs@forworkingfamilies.org and include Strategic Researcher in the subject line. We will begin reviewing applications on in December 1, 2015. The position will remain open until filled.

No phone calls, please.

The Partnership for Working Families is an equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. We do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.