Labor Educator

Under the supervision of the Director, the Labor Educator will be responsible for:
 
               The Washington State Labor Education and Research Center, created by the Legislature in 1987, is Washington's only entity dedicated to providing education, training and skills development for and about workers and their organizations.  The Labor Educator will work with Labor Center staff to plan and implement trainings and workshops with unions, community organizations, apprenticeship and Seattle College programs.  The Labor Educator may facilitate classes for union members, stewards and staff.  Topics may include contract enforcement, collective bargaining, leadership and communication, community-labor alliances, organizing, and basic workplace rights.  The Labor Educator will build strategic partnerships with labor and community organizations to develop training programs, and will be a resource to faculty and staff at the Seattle Colleges.  To meet the needs of our client organizations, the Labor Educator will frequently work on evenings or weekends, and throughout the state and region; bilingual candidates are especially encouraged to apply. 

Applicants invited to interview will be required to prepare and present a brief teaching demonstration as part of the interview process.

Initial application reviewed on April 1, 2020.

Application Procedures:

• Attached current resume
• Attached cover letter addressing how you meet the duties, responsibilities, and requirements for the position (please see supplemental information)
• Contact information for three professional references
• Response to the supplemental question

Supplemental Information
Please address in a cover letter your understanding of or background in adult popular education; any direct experience you have had in labor unions or worker organizations; your experience in working in groups whose class, race, age, first language, or gender does not match your own; and what you believe to be the biggest issue(s) confronting working people today.

Candidates are encouraged to emphasize specializations they may have in particular skill areas such as collective bargaining, contract enforcement, union management, labor law, or strategic research, and/or particular content areas such as working women, immigrant workers, young workers, workers of color, the building and construction trades, or global labor.

Seattle Colleges are committed to recruiting dedicated faculty and staff who together create a welcoming academic climate that reflects the diverse backgrounds of our community, including ethnicity, national origin, religion, race, gender, gender identity, age, status as a veteran or disabled veteran, disability, political status, and sexual orientation.
 
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted.  Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
 
This position is governed by a collective bargaining agreement with representation by AFT-Washington.

• Curriculum Development:  Use best practices of adult and popular education to develop curriculum and materials about work, workers and their organizations.
• Teaching and Facilitation: Use best practices of adult and popular education to present education and training programs in conference, classroom, and workshop settings.
• Outreach:  Communicate and build relationships with labor and community organizations with diverse constituencies regarding Labor Center programs, in person and via technology.
• Strategic Program Development and Coordination:  Work with Labor Center staff and a variety of community based organizations and partners to develop education programs and recruit participants
• Logistics and Administrative Support: Work with Labor Center and college staff to make Labor Center resources accessible to constituents.
• Resource for faculty and students in Washington secondary and higher education:  Work with campus programs and instructors to incorporate the specialized knowledge and practices of Labor Education into existing College and secondary school programs.

• Experience in three or more of the following areas:
  • Teaching or facilitation in adult education environment;
  • Program and curriculum design in adult or popular education arena;
  • Presentation, facilitation, or training experience in a labor or community organization
  • Participation in union campaigns such as internal or external organizing, bargaining, leadership Development;
  • Holding a staff or officer position in a union local
• Teaching, facilitation, presentation or public speaking skills
• Knowledge of unions, labor history and current issues in labor, community and social justice organizing
• Sensitivity to a broad variety of diversity issues and comfort engaging in controversial topics
• Willingness to engage directly and explicitly in challenging conversations including anti-racist, anti-sexist training and situational intervention
• Basic computer competence, especially with Microsoft Office, including email, document processing, presentation tools and basic web research
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability and willingness to travel to off-campus work locations
• Ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team. 

Salary : $53,600 - $68,900