NATIONAL ORGANIZERS

Job Announcement:

Two (2) USAS National Organizers:

United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) is currently hiring two (2) full-time National Organizers to be based out of Washington, DC. The position requires a two-year commitment and a willingness to work flexible hours including nights and weekends. The position offers a $30,000 salary, a comprehensive health benefits package, and a union contract including flexible vacation time and a Cost-of-Living Adjustment. Applications are due March 15, 2010. Applicants will be notified in late April and the position will start in May/June 2010. Incoming organizers will be trained by the four current national organizers, three of whom will leave shortly after the two incoming staff start. USAS National Organizers are overseen by a National Coordinating Committee of student organizers.

For more information on USAS, please visit www.usas.org

Job Description:

Formed in 1997, USAS is a grassroots membership organization run entirely by youth and students. USAS uses the strategic leverage of students to support the formation and continued strength of unions in the US and around the world, particularly campus workers and garment workers who manufacture collegiate licensed apparel. National staff work closely with students to support ongoing campus organizing; coordinate the activities of local organizations into international actions and campaigns; put together meetings, trainings, and conferences; maintain communication and coordination with domestic and international allies; and facilitate the infrastructure development of a dynamic movement.

Responsibilities of National Organizers will include:

NOTE: Responsibilities will be divided among the three staff, (two incoming and one current), based on strengths, interests and experience.

1. Coordinating and supporting national campaigns, including:
• campaign support and guidance
• materials development
• maintaining and developing relationships with ally organizations
• development and guidance of nationally-coordinated campaigns
• development of policy related to national campaigns

2. Leadership development, including:
• travel and campus visits
• outreach to new schools
• training and supporting students and youth, including high school age youth
• supervision of student regional organizers
• facilitating spaces in which student leaders are able to take on increased
responsibilities for national campaign coordination and organizing work
• leadership development of oppressed people

3. Organizational development, including:
• communications and media work (including traditional press and new media/social networking platforms)
• grassroots fundraising, including online strategies
• maintaining relationships with national funders (foundations, international unions), including providing written proposals and reports
• implementing new national organizing structure (details provided upon request)
• arranging logistics for national and regional conferences and gatherings

Required Qualifications and Experience:
• Organizing experience as or with students, workers, and/or community members
• Ability to work independently and in groups
• Ability to manage and direct one’s own work
• Experience and/or willingness to work in a non-hierarchical staff team
• Strong commitment to developing leadership of oppressed people (working class, people of color, women, trans/genderqueer, queer, differently abled people, etc)

Strongly Preferred Qualifications and Experience:
• Experience as a member of USAS
• Strategic campaigning skills
• Corporate research skills
• Knowledge of/experience with the labor movement/global justice movement
• Knowledge of/experience with liberation movements (black liberation, queer, etc)
• Bookkeeping and database general skills
• Financial management skills and fundraising experience
• Previous office experience
• Experience and skills with new media and web design
• Experience with group facilitation and public speaking
• Experience training direct action philosophy and tactics a strong plus
• Spanish and other foreign language skills a strong plus

USAS is an affirmative action/ equal opportunity employer.

Application Instructions:

In addition to answering the questions below, please submit a résumé and cover letter. E-mail completed applications in a single PDF file (or a single Word.doc file) to register@usas.org with 'Staff Application-[your last name]' in Subject Line by March 15, 2010. Feel free to include letters of recommendation from employers, people you have worked with, mentors, campus workers, etc. if desired.

Please send us a résumé that highlights desired qualifications and experience and includes:

a. Organizing experience
b. Positions of responsibility or leadership that you have held
c. Past internship experiences
d. Volunteer work
e. Relevant academic coursework or research
f. Anything else that you think we should know about you
g. Three references

Please provide SHORT answers to the questions below. Answers to the questions should total no more than five pages.

Organizing and Organizational Development

1. What do you think USAS National's priorities should be in the following areas? Please explain. Alternatively, if you do not have experience with USAS nationally, describe an experience you have had building and/or sustaining a social justice organization.

a. Campaign strategy (can include garment worker, budget cuts, unionization, etc)
b. Leadership development (can include outreach, collective liberation, training, support, etc either on local or national level)
c. Organizational development (can include fundraising, national structure, staffing, etc)

2. Describe challenges and opportunities in your organizing. What lessons have you learned that you would like to pass on to future organizers?

Collective Liberation
1. How would you work towards collective liberation within the context of USAS and fight racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ableism and other forms of identity-based oppression? Alternatively, describe how such forms of oppression have intersected with your organizing.

Personal Development
1. Describe an experience you had with working with a team. How did you deal with any disagreements that may have arisen?
2. Describe an experience you had with building a coalition and/or working closely with an organization of which you are not a member. Focus specifically on the development of those relationships, and how you dealt with any difficulties that may have arisen.
3. What do you do to avoid burnout and what do you think organizations need to do to avoid burnout? How can you help student leaders to avoid burnout?

Skills and Misc
1. What languages do you speak? Are you fair, proficient, or fluent in speaking, listening, reading, and writing?
2. What computer/web skills to you possess?
3. Do you identify as a woman, person of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer person, working class, differently abled or other oppressed identity? [OPTIONAL]
4. When are you available to start working for USAS?

WHEN APPLYING: Be sure to indicate that you saw this information online at UNIONJOBS.COM. Do not just say the Internet.