AFT Washington

Operations Manager

Based in Renton, WA

 

POSITION: Operations Manager. AFT Washington is excited to offer the opportunity to engage with our membership and community allies by leading our Administrative Support Team (AST) in their work to support our organizing, advocacy, and community building efforts. This position is responsible for supervising our AST, coordinating work between internal teams, and serving as organizational management along with the President.

Date Posted: June 10, 2025
Résumés accepted until: Position is filled.
Salary: $75,993.68 – $90,740.44 Dependent on experience

Our Vision: AFT Washington seeks a just society with access for all to unions, education, health care, and social programs that provide equal opportunity. To that end, we will encourage and provide resources for potential members to become members, members to become activists, and activists to become leaders, growing the union, its scope, and its depth, so that our members see the power of the union, are drawn to it, and realize that the power comes from them, their commitment and involvement.

Our Values:
AFT Washington values transformational unionism that includes:

• Strength through solidarity
• Unity among a diverse membership
• Action toward our goals
• Democracy in our locals
• Excellent working conditions and fairness for members
• Quality programs for students

The Opportunity: This position offers the opportunity to work independently and in small teams to fulfill our vision by living our values in the work we do with our members, elected leaders, and labor and community allies. As part of a mission driven organization, you would have the opportunity to express our values on a day-to-day basis and contribute to the well-being of our members, students, working people, and communities.

The Position: This job announcement is framed around the responsibilities required of the position at milestone points in the first six months of employment. Included is the knowledge base needed to be hired as well as learning that is expected to occur by certain points in time. There will be times when overnight travel may be needed for this position. Evening and weekend work is required.

Skills Expected Upon Start

• Professional proficiency with leading and supervising a small team of hourly staff.
• Professional proficiency with business writing including email, letters, and other correspondence.
• Professional proficiency with MS Office 365 including Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Professional experience with project management and the ability to track and guide multiple overlapping projects.
• Professional experience with addressing and resolving conflicts between employees.
• Ability to lead and motivate without explicit authority.
• Professional experience reviewing and understanding financial statements for an organization.
• Experience creating and monitoring an annual organizational budget.
• Experience working with vendors and outside providers to establish and maintain services for an organization.
• High degree of flexibility including the ability to quickly shift between multiple tasks and succeed with short deadlines.

Position-Relevant Knowledge Expected Upon Start

• Background in unionism, the labor movement, and supporting workers’ rights.
• Working analysis of systemic oppression and strategies for promoting equity.
• Understanding of anti-racism and how racial justice is entwined with economic justice.
• Framework for the value of public education from pre-K12 through post-secondary education.
• Familiarity with employment laws effective in Washington state.
• Understanding of collective bargaining agreements and bargaining unit work. 

Month One Responsibilities

• Introduction to AFT Washington Executive Board, Councils, and Committees with assistance from the President and staff.
• Meet with all AFT Washington staff individually.
• Develop an understanding of current AFT Washington campaigns and upcoming events.
• Develop an understanding of the duties of each member of the AST and their current workloads.
• Attend weekly Organizing Team meetings and become familiar with recurring names and terms.
• Take over leading weekly Administrative Support Team (AST) check-in meetings.
• Review the annual budget and financial status for the organization with the President.
• Review monthly bank statements and payroll reports.
• Attend planning meetings for upcoming AFT Washington events. 

Month One Learning Expectations

• Understand how work and requests flow between the Administrative Support Team (AST) and other staff teams.
• Become familiar with the OPEIU 8 Master Trade Section and Teamsters 117 collective bargaining agreements.
• Understand who AFT Washington represents and general concerns of each constituency.
• Understand the various councils, committees, and other action groups within AFT Washington and the role AST plays for each.
• Develop familiarity with Action Network, AFT Connect, Hustle, LeaderNet and other technology used by AFT Washington.
• Develop familiarity with the Spotlight, Pulse, Legisletter and other AFT Washington publications.
• Learn to use AFT Washington’s Zoom licenses to set up and host meetings.
• Become familiar with all AFT Washington policies and documented practices. 

Month Three Responsibilities

• Process AST leave requests and maintain the staff leave calendar.
• Provide Zoom support for 1-3 Union Organizing Representative (UOR)-led workshops.
• Draft one piece of content for an AFT Washington publication.
• Take notes on tasks and to-do items during executive board meetings.
• Support and staff AFT Washington events as assigned.
• Serve as primary contact for AFT Washington’s IT service provider and facilitate staff technology needs.
• Partner with the President on investigating and processing any staff complaints.
• Secure introduction to contacts at AFT including data analytics, strategic research, and regional leadership.

Month Three Learning Expectations

• Knowledge of state agencies, educational structures, and institutions relevant to member interests.
• Knowledge of communications vehicles used by AFT Washington and AFT.
• Review the annual AFT Washington scholarship process.
• Learn about AFT Washington Convention preparations and convention call requirements.
• Learn to navigate Company Web file structure.
• Develop an understanding of the AFT Washington per capita process.
• Become familiar with reporting and other requirements for COPE under the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC).

Month Six Responsibilities

• Work with AST to develop a scholarship fundraising plan.
• Take on a lead role in planning or executing AFT Washington’s biennial convention in collaboration with AST and the President.
• Participate in the review of Form 990 and the annual audit with the Financial Manager, as prepared by AFT Washington’s auditor.
• Take on the role as primary contact for office building management. 

Month Six Learning Expectations

• Learn COPE endorsement and contribution letter requirements and process.
• Learn COPE revoke letter requirements and process.
• Learn requirements and process for resolutions and amendments at AFT Washington’s biennial convention.
• Review AFT Washington’s office lease and learn how to request service from building management.
• Review annual reporting requirements with the Financial Manager including LM2 Report and Form L-3.
• Identify areas for continuing professional development.

Month Twelve Responsibilities

• Take a lead role in coordinating work for AFT Washington’s Contingent Faculty Conference with committee staff.
• Take a lead role in coordinating work for AFT Washington’s School Related Personnel Conference with council staff.
• Take a lead role in coordinating work for AFT Washington’s Powerful Locals Conference with the Communications Specialist.
• Take a lead role in coordinating work for AFT Washington’s Lobby Day with the State Affiliate Political Organizer and Government Relations Specialist.
• Take a lead role in planning and executing an annual staff retreat with the President.
• Take a lead role in planning and executing an annual board retreat with the President.
• Reflect on AFT Washington’s operations and identify potential opportunities and solutions to improve internal processes.
• Create a technology maintenance and replacement schedule for the organization. 

Month Twelve Learning Expectations

• Develop a robust understanding of AFT Washington’s biennial calendar of conferences and other events.
• Develop a complete understanding of staff roles and bodies of work.
• Learn about the specific needs and climate of all of AFT Washington’s affiliated locals.
• Gain insights into how AFT Washington fits into the larger labor movement in Washington state.
• Play a lead role in the orientation and onboarding of new staff.

Benefits

• High-quality medical, dental, vision, AD&D insurance with 100% employer-paid premiums for employee and dependents.
• 100% employer-paid retirement plan.
• Four weeks paid vacation during the first year.
• Eleven paid holidays, one paid birthday, two floating paid holidays and three paid personal days per year.
• $1,800 per year professional development benefit.
• Reimbursement for business mileage beyond daily commute. 

This position is not represented and considered at-will employment. 

Apply
Applicant’s résumé and three references are required. Cover letter and personal statements are not required but will be reviewed. Please submit application materials via email to:

Karen Strickland, President AFT Washington, AFL-CIO
Email: aftwashington@aftwa.org
Subject: Operations Manager Application 

For questions, please contact Karen Strickland by email.

AFT Washington is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified applicants to apply. The organization strives to eradicate all forms of oppression and achieve equity for all. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential organizational goals which are incorporated into the hiring process. All applicants will be assessed with consideration of their understanding of institutionalized oppression and strategies for addressing it.