NYSUT
New York State United Teachers
 

Regional Staff Director
Southern Tier, Vestal and Elmira

Based in Vestal and Elmira, NY

 

Title: Regional Staff Director
Department: Southern Tier
Category: M/C
Salary: $187,000 to $192,000
Date: September 4, 2025

Overview:
NYSUT’s Southern Tier Offices provide and coordinate advocacy support for affiliated local unions in the Region. The Regional Staff Director supervises and guides the Labor Relations Specialists and the administrative support staff that provide the direct support to Local affiliates. The Regional Staff Director also works with additional staff responsible for coordinating constituency groups and other special activities. The Regional Staff Director will also serve as an ambassador for NYSUT to many groups and events within the labor, business, and social justice community. The anticipated start date for this position is January 5, 2026.

The Regional Staff Director reports directly to the Director of Field and Affiliates Services for oversight and for regular coordination between regional and statewide initiatives, goals, and support. In addition to the responsibilities listed below, the Regional Staff Director must be very cognizant and actively supportive of the practices, positions, and policies of NYSUT as they are adopted by the governing bodies and NYSUT Officers.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Managing the relationship between NYSUT and all affiliated locals in the Region.
• Developing and maintaining staffing assignments of LRS staff and affiliated locals.
• Providing front-line support and guidance to both LRS staff and local leadership for higher-level issues.
• Ability to assess, identify and drive support for locals in a manner that considers Local characteristics, constituency dynamics and other unique dynamics.
• Be a resource to regional staff for matters related to solution-based advocacy and problem solving including new unit organizing, collective bargaining, collective bargaining agreement enforcement, legal rights enforcement, and development non-legal solutions to complex issues. 
• Support and promote NYSUT initiatives around internal organizing and capacity building.
• Facilitate and promote mobilization efforts for regional and statewide initiatives. 
• Supervise staff performance and identify opportunities and needs for additional training and support. 
• Develop and/or facilitate strategy for conducting large-scale regional advocacy.
• Interact on a regular basis with the Director of Field and Affiliate Services for providing updates on activities and to seek additional support and guidance around responsibilities and duties.
• Responsible for administration of facilities, equipment and staff and budgetary items pertaining to the Regional Office.
• Represent NYSUT at various forums of local, school district and community groups
• Develop training programs for locals within the Region to ensure personal and professional growth, including organizing large-scale training conferences.
• Understand the departmental dynamics with NYSUT headquarters. 
• Serve as conduit between field staff and the Office of General Counsel for determining when legal intervention is necessary. 
• Interact with education and community organizations to enhance the role of public education.
• Provide operational assistance for other NYSUT functions such as legislative forums activities, member benefit programs, ED meetings, etc.
• Attend meetings and events outside of the area on a reasonable basis, most frequently to Headquarters in Latham, NY. 
• Attendance at meetings on evening and weekends in the regional area is routinely expected. 
• Utilize and promote the use of modern technology where appropriate for internal office operations and to assist in its adoption and development by staff and local affiliates.

Qualifications:

• An Advanced Degree is preferred
• Extensive understanding of public sector education collective bargaining including the ability to understand complex budgets.
• Superior problem-solving skills.
• Possess strong leadership and motivational skills.
• Experience in leading employee teams is preferred.
• Outstanding written and verbal skills are mandatory.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and adhere to deadlines, often simultaneously is essential.
• Knowledge of the American Labor movement and its objectives.
• Strong familiarity with modern technology including video/online meetings and webinars, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation development, web design, database management and social media is strongly preferred. Regular use of fundamentals of the foregoing is essential and required.

NYSUT- Who are we?
NYSUT is a statewide labor organization affiliated with more than 1,200 local unions, each representing its own members. NYSUT is affiliated with two national unions, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA). NYSUT represents nearly 700,000 people who work in, or are retired from, New York's schools, colleges, and healthcare facilities, including teachers, teacher aides and assistants, college and university faculty and professional staff, school bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, cafeteria workers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. NYSUT’s policy is to ensure an equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by the law. 

NYSUT is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. NYSUT is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. Women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ people are encouraged to apply. 

At NYSUT, we believe in creating a work environment free of barriers and bias, where individual outlooks and talents are respected and valued. 

Why Should You Apply?

• Competitive salary and excellent benefits, including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans, life and long-term disability plans, and retirement plans
• Generous PTO plan
• Work-life balance
• Collaborative and supportive work environment with a diverse group of experienced professionals
• Opportunity to work in a highly respected organization, make a meaningful difference in the lives of working people, and be a proud part of the labor movement at the local, state, and national levels.

How to Apply:
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and résumé to hr@nysut.org by September 14, 2025

www.nysut.org