North Texas Area Labor Federation (AFL-CIO): Executive Director

Executive Director

The North Texas Area Labor Federation (NTxALF) is a newly formed AFL-CIO federated body representing 11 counties and over 40,000 union members and serves as the leading voice for working families in North Texas. The NTxALF is seeking a motivated, committed, experienced, and dynamic leader for a new position, Executive Director, to serve under the supervision and direction of the President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Executive Board of this ALF.

The jurisdiction of this newly formed federated body covers Dallas, Denton, Hood, Johnson, Parker, Tarrant, Wise, Collin, Ellis, Kaufman, and Rockwall Counties. The NTxALF will support the work of Labor Assemblies in Dallas and Tarrant Counties and any newly formed Labor Assemblies in the 11-county jurisdiction.

This is an opportunity for the right individual to have a powerful impact on building power for workers in the region. This newly formed entity will provide infrastructure, strategic support, and programs for the NTxALF covering political, legislative, organizing, mobilization, communications, and community engagement work. The Executive Director will also be responsible for the financial management of the NTxALF and for helping to grow the power and membership of the labor movement in North Texas.

Applicants must have:

• Discretion to handle confidential information and political relationships with care and nuance.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities at once and meet clear deadlines and goals.
• A commitment to growing the labor movement, as well as previous experience working within the movement.
• Experience with labor fundraising and adhering to a budget.
• Experience with staff management; experience managing staff within a union contract is a strong plus.
• The ability to pull together teams from different experience levels and backgrounds to achieve shared goals.
• Experience running legislative and electoral campaigns, as well as the ability to mobilize unions for shared organizing goals, including rapid response.
• Knowledge of CRMs, databases like the LAN, and familiarity with social media platforms.
• Ability to represent the organization effectively through public speaking, presentations, and written communications, adapting messages for diverse audiences.
• Comfort with using online platforms such as Zoom to facilitate online meetings.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to speak conversational Spanish.
• Familiarity with foundation fundraising and grant writing.
• Local knowledge base of the labor and political lay of the land.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 710 years in the labor movement or a movement-aligned group, with experience in the labor movement preferred.
• Experience managing a staff of at least three people.
• Experience fundraising and managing budgets.
• A problem-solving attitude and the ability to improvise and troubleshoot.
• Demonstrated comfort with technology and the ability to effectively use both Microsoft and Google Workspace tools.
• High school diploma or equivalent GED required.
• Must be able to start this position no later than March 30th.

Compensation: $90,000-$120,000 salary range. Benefits include health insurance, a retirement plan, paid sick days, and vacation days.

Overall Responsibility: The Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day management of the North Texas Area Labor Federation.

Finances:

• Create and manage a budget, ensuring financial transparency to stakeholders, including the Executive Board, Delegates, and Officers.
• Work with the Secretary-Treasurer and bookkeeper/CPA to manage the financial affairs of the ALF, including maintaining records, filing required reports, accurately accounting for all income, expenses, savings, securities, and property of the ALF, and depositing all monies in accordance with AFL-CIO requirements.
• In collaboration with the Executive Board and Delegates, craft and execute a fundraising plan to increase the funding base of the ALF through increased affiliation of both under-affiliated and unaffiliated unions, organizing fundraisers, securing grants, and other sources of funding to support the work and growth of the ALF long-term.
• Manage and sign off on all financial reporting for legal compliance.
• Review and/or prepare checks, electronic disbursements, and deposit forms for execution.

Governance:

• Build strong relationships with Board Members and Delegates, including navigating occasionally challenging internal dynamics.
• Ensure all ALF meetings are well-run, prepared for in advance, and that notices go out to the Executive Board and Delegates in accordance with the agreed-upon meeting notice protocol.
• Prepare agendas and materials for Board and Delegate Body meetings.
• As called upon by the Executive Board, assist in resolving disputes of affiliated unions.
• Ensure all meetings are governed by the appropriate governing documents for the ALF, including the ALF's Constitution, the AFL-CIO's Rules Governing, and, when needed, Robert's Rules of Order.
• Create and maintain a current roll of affiliated organizations, with their respective delegates and voting strengths.
• Represent the NTxALF at relevant national, state, and local governing bodies.
• In collaboration with officers and the board, draft financial and other policies, Constitutional amendments, and other documents as needed to continually strengthen the organization's democratic, transparent, and effective governance.

Hiring and Managing:

• In consultation with the President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Executive Board, create a staffing budget and hiring timeline to ensure that the core functions of the ALF are staffed and supported, as well as providing, when possible, support to Labor Assemblies.
• Ensure that the hiring process is fair and transparent for all positions.
• Create a healthy work environment for the staff that facilitates meeting goals and deadlines to support the work of the NTxALF and affiliate unions.
• Exercise general supervision over the work of other Area Labor Federation staff, affiliate and ally-released staff, volunteers, and interns.

Strategic Planning:

• Create a consistent strategic planning process that enhances programmatic support for electoral, legislative, and mobilization work, while maintaining support for union organizing and bargaining efforts when called upon by affiliates.
• Ensure the Strategic Plan includes strategies to grow the power and membership of the labor movement via organizing, legislative, regulatory work, and government investment, while continuing to strengthen relationships with community stakeholders such as businesses, aligned community groups, and elected officials.

Organizing and Collective Bargaining:

• As part of the yearly strategic planning process, collaborate with affiliates to identify and map out agreed-upon organizing and collective bargaining priorities to be incorporated into the NTxALF Strategic Plan.
• Following established jurisdictions for affiliates, collaborative processes with International Unions, and National AFL-CIO governance guidelines, ensure local organizing requests are reviewed and, when appropriate, shared through the proper affiliate channels. When requested by an AFL-CIO affiliate, it is supported, provided it does not cause jurisdictional conflicts.
• Be prepared to implement rapid-response and mobilization actions to support organizing and bargaining efforts through press outreach, union member and community member mobilization, social media strategy, and, when necessary, paid communications.
• Assist with strike support and solidarity activities, including strike line coordination, informational pickets, and engagement of community and ally organizations in organizing and bargaining campaigns.
• Proactively secure union member list sign-offs for activities related to organizing and bargaining mobilizations, particularly when such activities fall outside the parameters of the national AFL-CIO list agreement.

Political:

• Ensure that a transparent endorsement process is adhered to for local, state, and federal races within the ALF's jurisdiction, as well as support endorsement recommendations from the Labor Assemblies.
• Work with affiliated unions to identify priority state and local races, then build out a comprehensive member-to-member engagement program that includes canvassing, phone outreach, peer-to-peer texting, digital engagement, and local union mail.
• When properly funded, ensure that field activities for priority races are strengthened through paid digital and mail programs.
• Coordinate requests for release staff and member organizers well in advance to ensure full staffing and effective execution of electoral field work.
• Ensure there is a fundraising plan to grow the ALF's COPE fund to enhance the ALF's political power within its jurisdiction.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with elected officials at all levels of government within the ALF's jurisdiction.
• Work with affiliates to increase voter registration rates of their members