Metro Field Director

UFCW Local 663

Metro Field Director

Work across Minnesota, primarily based in the Metro Area

Job Title: Metro Field Director
Status: Full-time
Immediate Supervisor: UFCW 663 President and Secretary-Treasurer
Location: Geographically work across Minnesota, primarily based in the Metro Area
Starting Salary: $100,000+ (depending upon experience)

UFCW Local 663 is a union of 14,000 hard-working grocery, retail, meat packing and processing, food preparation and manufacturing, healthcare, and other workers in Minnesota. We strive to improve the lives of our members and of all working families by building an organization for economic, political, and social justice in our workplaces and communities. Local 663 is part of the 1.2 million member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

JOB SUMMARY:
We are seeking a highly motivated Metro Field Director , responsible for directing the staff in the Minneapolis Metro and Brainerd Lakes area in Minnesota and serving the membership of UFCW Local 663. The position involves directing Field Staff through organizing members, building power, enforcing and negotiating the collective bargaining agreements, and building coalitions with community partners. The ideal candidate for this position must be a team player with collaborative interpersonal skills and display proven ability to thrive in an environment with frequently shifting priorities.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Direct and support organizers and staff representatives on internal organizing, building power, contract enforcement, and contract campaigns;
• Develop deep relationships with partner community organizations to support each others’ work through alignment to amplify our collective power;
• Build worker power through 1 to 1 conversations, and model for other staff representative(s) and member leaders;
• Build relationships with member and non-member leaders throughout assigned work locations;
• Direct and support organizers to lead teams of member organizers to build worker power and accomplish the goals of the Local;
• Direct and support organizers and staff representatives and members in enforcing collective bargaining agreements, including all steps of grievance handling;
• Direct and support organizers and staff representatives to empower and train members to be effective Stewards and leaders in their workplace, including participation at Labor Management Meetings;
• Able to be a lead negotiator, including filing reopeners, organizing workers to support gathering and drafting proposals, researching, and presenting proposals at the bargaining table;
• Provide training and development to organizers and staff representatives to lead in negotiations;
• Serve as a resource to members for legislative issues, trends in bargaining, and other matters related to terms and conditions of employment;
• Communicate effectively, including written materials such as leaflets, fliers, texts, and letters to meet members’ needs;
• Ability to learn UFCW databases (ActionBuilder, LUMM and Sidekick) as needed to ensure updated data;
• Participate in Leadership Team meetings and planning;
• Other duties as assigned.

Examples above provide a general summary of the work required and should not be treated as a complete list of expected duties to be performed by employees in this classification.

DIRECTIONS AND DECISION MAKING:
This position reports primarily to UFCW 663 President with partial reporting to the Leadership Team on a regular basis and will be expected to keep them regularly apprised of developments on all labor relations activities. This position requires self-accountability, independent decision making, ability to think on your feet and prioritize issues. Physical location of position is at the discretion of the President.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must live in, or be willing to move to, Metro Area of the Twin Cities in Minnesota;
• Strong commitment to social justice and building the labor movement;
• Excellent leadership and motivational skills;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including excellent “one-on-one” interpersonal communications and ability to navigate complex interpersonal relationships;
• Experience leading workers through contract campaigns, including experience leading members on strike;
• Knowledge of union organizing practices and principles;
• Ability to train and educate others;
• Ability to learn Federal and State labor laws and work collectively to enforce them;
• Required to work irregular/extended work hours, including evenings and weekends, with occasional overnight stays;
• Ability to direct, train and coordinate member leaders and organizing committee members;
• Ability to self-motivate, work independently, and stay on task and on time;
• Ability to drive long distances and maintain a valid driver's license;
• Experience with Outlook, Microsoft Office, Excel and Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Google Docs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual in Spanish and English;
• Previous union experience as a staff representative or Field Director;
• Experience with enforcing collective bargaining agreements at all steps of grievance handling process, including mediations and arbitrations;
• General knowledge of the roles and duties of union officers and staff and understanding of UFCW Local 663 union philosophy;
• Experience in contract negotiations, labor relations, and dispute resolution;
• Knowledge of anti-union employer tactics;
• Education or past work history in Legal Studies, History, Education, or Leadership.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
High School Diploma or greater with experience as a member of a union or experience in union organizing or advocacy is preferred. Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the primary responsibilities will be considered.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AS REQUIRED BY ADA:

• Work is performed from a field office.
• Driving, travel, temporary assignments, and extended work hours are required.
• Valid driver's license required.
• The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand and must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• The ability to observe details at close range.  
• Frequently moves boxes weighing up to 75 pounds.

Particular consideration will be given to candidates with fluency in language(s) in addition to English, and community leadership in our diverse immigrant and refugee communities. 

Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. UFCW Local 663 encourages people of all backgrounds to apply.

Must pass a pre-employment background check and reference check. We offer a starting salary of $100,000+ (depending upon experience), car allowance or mileage, health benefits, paid vacation, paid holidays, sick time, pension, life insurance, and cell phone/phone stipend.

TO APPLY:
Please submit cover letter and résumé or CV covering your work history; writing sample; and a minimum of three professional references to Rena Wong, UFCW Local 663 President at: View email address on unionjobs.com .

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

WHEN APPLYING: Be sure to indicate that you saw this information at .