Executive Director: Contract Enforcement & Bargaining

Portland State University’s American Association of University Professors (AAUP) chapter seeks an experienced higher ed contract enforcement and bargaining expert to join its executive leadership team.

Executive Director: Contract Enforcement & Bargaining

This is a full-time position and an exciting opportunity at a challenging and critical time in the AAUP, in higher education, and in the labor movement.

The Director’s primary responsibilities are aligned with contract enforcement and bargaining. The Director will work in close collaboration with other PSU-AAUP staff members including the Administrative Director and the Executive Director for Membership, Organizing, and Strategic Communications and other elected member leaders. This collaborative work requires flexibility and creativity as well as the ability to step in and out of roles as needed to provide support and assistance to the Executive Council.

This position reports to the Executive Council and is supervised by the President.

Who we are:

The Portland State University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (PSU-AAUP) is a strong and healthy union chapter. Chartered in 1978, PSU-AAUP represents about 1,100 bargaining unit members consisting of instructional and research faculty and academic professionals. It is one of four bargaining units at Portland State University (PSU). PSU-AAUP is also a member of AAUP-Oregon, and recently became affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) at the state and national levels.

PSU-AAUP is committed to an organizing model of union work. The strength of our union comes from the energies and collective power of its membership. Information about our union’s governance documents and organization can be found on our website: https://psuaaup.net.

Portland State University is in the heart of downtown Portland, Oregon. PSU is an urban public university that serves over 21,000 students and is designated as a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

Job Duties include but are not limited to:

• Primary responsibility for the Labor-Management relationship for contract enforcement and bargaining, including as the lead for grievance casework from beginning to end
• Provides expertise and guidance in labor law for contract enforcement, bargaining, and long-term union strategy
• Serves as bargaining expert and supports member leaders in conducting strategic and effective negotiation
• Provides support for legislative and political strategy at local, regional, and state levels
• Mentor and train members and member leaders in all aspects of bargaining and contract enforcement
• Develop, edit, and maintain contract proposals and an archive of contract enforcement and bargaining documentation as well as Association policies and governing documents
• Coordinate with PSU-AAUP leadership and other staff on projects and long-range planning
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and knowledge, experience, and background in higher education, with strong writing, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Five or more years of contract enforcement and/or bargaining experience in a union environment
• Commitment to empowering workers through the labor movement
• Commitment to socioeconomic justice to the benefit of members
• Experience handling contract enforcement in a union setting
• Experience with labor law and regulations
• Experience developing and implementing contract campaign strategy
• Experience bargaining contracts in public higher ed or the public sector covering a diversity of employee roles
• Aptitude for working with budgets or understanding of university accounting practices and finances
• Experience working with a diversity of roles and diverse lived experiences
• Ability to work independently and effectively to lead others and achieve goals
• Strong data management skills and attention to detail
• Strong planning, time-management, and problem-solving skills
• Willingness to work nights and weekends as required

Salary and Benefits

Salary range begins at $95,000, to be negotiated commensurate with experience. PSU-AAUP offers an excellent benefits package including generous health insurance, vacation, sick time, and retirement contributions. Yearly cost of living adjustments as well as longevity increases are also part of Association policy.

To Apply

Submit resume and cover letter by email to bill.knight@gmail.com. Please include “Executive Director: Contract enforcement” and your name in the subject line and include in your email the names and contact information of three professional references.