Location: Jackson, Miss. or Birmingham, Ala.
Position: Assistant Southern Program Director
Department: Southern Program
Position Type: Full-time exempt
Reports to: Southern Program Director
Salary Range: $76,000 – $91,000
Deadline to apply: Until Filled
Start date: Sept. 15, 2023
At this critical time for lower-income, frontline communities and people of color, Jobs to Move America (JMA) is uniquely positioned to advance a powerful agenda for equitable job creation and climate justice. As the U.S. builds out a new green manufacturing sector, we must make sure that these companies create good jobs for all. As the Assistant Program Director for JMA’s Southern Program, you will manage campaigns for community benefits agreements (CBAs) in Alabama and Mississippi, assist with the supervision and administration of a team of 10 staff, and help fight for corporate accountability. Read more about our program here.
Who We Are ─ About Jobs to Move America:
JMA is a national strategic policy center that supports reinvesting taxpayer dollars to create good jobs and a fair and prosperous society. We are committed to reclaiming our government as a force for good, expanding access to clean jobs for all working people, and transforming our economy through coalition building and policy development that centers environmental sustainability, racial and gender justice.
JMA is partnered with the AFL-CIO and more than half a dozen international labor unions. JMA also maintains regional coalitions of community, faith, environmental, and civil rights organizations across the U.S. We have offices in California, New York, Illinois, and staff in Alabama and Mississippi. We are quickly expanding.
To learn more, visit our website: www.jobstomoveamerica.org.
About the Position:
Jobs to Move America (JMA) is seeking an Assistant Program Director for its Southern Program. Under the supervision of the Southern Program Director, the Assistant Director will play a critical role in managing Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) campaigns, as well as in the negotiation and implementation of CBAs with strong racial equity and environmental justice provisions between community groups and manufacturing employers in green, clean technology industries. They will exercise direct supervision over, train, assign work to, and review the performance of up to four staff. The assistant director may also design and conduct a variety of organizational initiatives as assigned by the Southern Program director.
What You’ll Do ─ Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manage CBA campaigns, including all research needed to identify, develop, and execute new campaigns; potentially serving as a negotiator for major contracts for the Southern Program (including but not limited to CBAs); and monitoring CBA compliance and reporting.
- Lead the hiring, training, supervision, and evaluation of staff members from diverse backgrounds and disciplines as assigned by the Southern Program Director, holding them accountable to achieving programmatic goals and providing opportunities for professional development.
- Supervise Southern organizing team staff and their development of raps, assessment tools, debrief notes, outreach and turnout plans, and other campaign materials.
- Assign the appropriate workload to organizers to meet goals which are easily measurable, achievable, and time-bound; make assignments according to evidence-based practices such as evaluating assessment data.
- Supervise staff as assigned by the Southern Program Director and their implementation of Community Benefits Agreements in Alabama, Mississippi, and/or Tennessee.
- Collaborate with the Southern Director on implementing policies and procedures to support the work and development of team members, including tracking the goals of the Southern Program staff with the established systems for work plan, trackers and assessments, regularly discussing benchmarks, and conducting timely performance evaluations.
- Consult with the Southern Director to issue Corrective Action when necessary to improve staff performance, as well as Disciplinary Action when Corrective Action is not successful or appropriate.
- Support the Southern Director in program budget development and implementation.
- Overall, approximately 25 percent of the Assistant Program Director’s time will be devoted to team supervision (e.g., holding regular check-in meetings, reviewing work plans and progress, reviewing organizing materials); 25 percent will be devoted to administrative tasks (e.g., attending weekly staff meetings, developing policies and procedures with the Southern Program Director, assisting with Development needs) and 50 percent will be devoted to programmatic work (e.g., leading and preparing for campaign meetings, developing worker organizing strategy, meeting with stakeholders such as union partners.)
About you ─ Required Qualifications:
- At least six years of prior work experience as a labor organizer, researcher, or workforce development professional.
- Strong understanding of comprehensive campaigns and how to build worker power.
- Demonstrated commitment to economic, racial, gender, and social justice movements.
- Strong ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, the membership and employer representatives, consultants and coalition partners.
- Demonstrated ability to supervise, train, and manage staff, including evaluations and developing staff. Strong management skills are a requirement.
- Strong verbal communication skills and experience making presentations for a wide range of audiences, including government agencies, community organizations and labor partners.
- Proven ability to speak effectively in public forums and deal tactfully with the public
- Superior ability to analyze research data, make logical conclusions, and prepare reports.
- Experience analyzing policy options and components, providing recommendations on policy options
- Experience with organizing for the community and workers and utilizing policy research to help inform organizing efforts for the Southern Program
- Active participation in strategy development with staff and external partners to deal with and favorably resolve problems or disputes
- Proficient in GoogleSuite programs and Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint applications), and proactively learns new tools.
- Excellent organizational, planning, and follow-through skills; ability to follow through with deadlines; ability to manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities; attention to detail; and problem-solving skills.
- Advanced ability to plan, organize and coordinate work activities.
- Proven ability to negotiate agreements effectively.
- In-depth knowledge of labor unions.
- A valid driver’s license, automobile, and frequent travel is required for this position.
Extra consideration will be given to candidates who:
- Have experience in research with unions, policy organizations or community groups to develop campaign strategies to win for disadvantaged communities and workers through corporate accountability campaigns.
- Have experience with reviewing corporate profiles and basic knowledge of industry practices regarding employment issues.
- Have experience with workers’ rights, local governments, policymaking, budgeting, public transportation.
- Are skilled in the use of computers and associated software and Salesforce/VAN/LAN or similar data systems is a plus.
- Have personal ties or desire to live and work in Mississippi, Alabama or Tennessee.
Other Physical Requirements:
- Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards
- Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards
- Regular travel across Alabama and Mississippi will be required. Occasional weekend and evening work is required. Must have access to reliable transportation.
What Else You Should Know ─ Compensation/Benefits:
- Salary range: $76,000 – $91,000 (The salary range for this position is dependent on experience)
- 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for the employee and dependents
- Generous paid time off including 12 personal days, 12 federal holidays, and 2 floating holidays each year. JMA has a paid, two-week winter break at the end of each December. Staff can accrue up to 20 vacation days and 20 sick days. After 5 years of work, all staff are eligible for 3 months of sabbatical leave.
- 401(k) plan with 5% employer contribution after 6 months of employment
- Flexible spending account (FSA)
- Cell phone reimbursement
- Utility/Internet monthly stipend for those working from home
- Work from home office set up provided if needed
- Training and professional development opportunities are available upon completion of the probationary period.
- A strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and practices
- Qualifying Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer
- JMA is a unionized workplace. This position is included in the collective bargaining agreement.
How to Apply:
Complete the application form here and upload a cover letter and resume, and three work references. Only applications submitted via this process and/or meet the minimum requirements will be considered. No phone calls, please. Candidates who advance in the process will be asked to complete a pre-employment exercise.
JMA Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement
We are an EEO/affirmative action employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability. We work to ensure fair treatment of applicants and employees and actively enforce zero-tolerance policies against discrimination and sexual harassment. Those who identify as persons of color, women, veterans, or formerly incarcerated persons, and/or have had experience working with one or more of those groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
JMA Diversity and Inclusion Statement
JMA believes that diverse, engaged, and motivated employees are essential to achieving our goals of economic, racial, and social justice. JMA believes that each employee’s voice is valuable and that when all employees contribute ideas to the organization’s operation, it enhances the success of the organization overall.
In order to assist us in achieving our goals as a diverse and inclusive workforce, we ask optional self-identification questions in the job application.