About the UFW: For 50 years, the UFW mobilized farm workers and their organizations across the country to advocate for more equitable policies, such as immigration reform, pesticide protections, heat standards, hazard pay, and other worker protections. We engage constituents in systemic change to break the cycle of poverty while also providing critical services. The organization has staff in California, New York, Washington D.C., and Washington State. As part of pandemic farm worker assistance, the UFW will provide outreach and intake programming as part of the USDA Financial Relief for Farm Workers Program.

Summary

The External Organizing Coordinator performs a wide range of duties as assigned by the Regional Director. Plans direct, and coordinates UFW membership growth. Responsible for managing and directing worker activities in the collective bargaining process. Work involves developing operational plans that meet the demands of the organization’s needs, and political and Union organizing objectives. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

Planning & Administration

• Work with Organizing Team & Regional Director to develop an operational plan.
• Participates in MOR meetings.
• Ensures maintenance and accuracy of the database in assigned companies.

Worker Mobilization

• Ensures development and maintenance of a functioning and complete worker leadership structure.
• Directs and participates in the development and training of a volunteer organization.
• Implements programs designed to attract worker participation.
• Trains worker leadership in developing their agendas to conduct their meetings.
• Identify and Leverage workers’ issues.
• Use state and federal agencies as appropriate.
• Built majority support in assigned companies.
• Conduct NLRB/ALRB elections.
• Conduct card check recognition.
• Conduct a third-party recognition election.
• Must be able to begin and complete organizing campaigns

Contract Development & Negotiations 

• Plans with the negotiating committee to prepare and conduct negotiations.
• Develops industry, and area councils to increase bargaining power.
• Use innovative strategies to sign the first contract.

Relationships

• Develops and maintains mutually beneficial relationships with management at the assigned companies.
• Develops and maintains a relationship with the organizing committee and negotiations committee
• Refers media inquiries to Regional Director.
• Develops and maintains relationships with religious, political, and community leaders.

Other Duties and Responsibilities May be Assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervise the organizing team, organizing committee, and negotiations committee

Qualifications 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty effectively. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Education:

High school diploma, or equivalent.

Experience:

Minimum of three (3) years experience organizing, building committees, identifying, and developing leadership.

Knowledge:

Ability to use the MOR planning process and use effective training methods for both members and workers. Must have good organizational skills and the ability to work independently. Must be familiar with the history and mission of the UFW and be willing to make long-term commitments.

 Language Skills

Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Bilingual ability in Spanish and English.

Mathematical Skills 

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages. 

Reasoning Ability 

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. 

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations 

Requires a valid Class “C” Driver’s License. Must be proficient with MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Email, and Internet).

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Work Environment 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is typically moderate, though maybe loud at rallies and similar events.

COVID19 Vaccination Requirement

The UFW seeks to minimize the exposure and transmission of the COVID-19 virus in the workplace by providing occupational safeguards to its staff and thereby helping to prevent exposure to members of the communities, we serve. To ensure this objective, all UFW’s employees (full-time, part-time, and temporary), interns, and volunteers must receive the vaccine no later than thirty (30) calendar days from the date of hire. Staff must fully complete the Mandatory UFW COVID-19 Vaccination form and submit it via email. You also have the right to seek a waiver from the vaccine requirement due to a medical condition and/or disability or sincerely held religious beliefs and submit it no later than five (5) business days from the date of hire. 

Salary 

The salary range for this position is 64,680 to 75,000 annually.

Benefits

Benefits include Employer-paid family medical, dental, and vision benefits with a small employee contribution. Prescription drug plan with minimum co-pays and no annual maximum. Employer-sponsored pension plan with an employee self-contributing component with a guaranteed 6.5% interest rate. Non-matching 401k that with employee contributions. Vacation, paid holidays, 48 hours per year of sick leave, union plus discounts, and the ability to participate in supplemental health insurance.

The United Farm Workers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe a strong commitment to equal employment opportunity is more than a legal and moral obligation – it is also a sound business practice to realize the potential of every individual. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all! In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at the UFW will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Except where required or permitted by law, employment practices will not be influenced or affected by an applicant’s or employee’s race, color, religion, sex/gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, age, or any characteristic protected by law. 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for a position fighting for farm workers and immigrant communities! The UFW believes in second chances. As an organization, we will rely on individualized assessments in the hiring of those with past criminal convictions. The UFW will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with qualified disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. Persons of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual,l and transgender people, persons with disabilities, persons who have lived in poverty, formerly incarcerated, persons 40 years old or older, and people fluent in more than one language are strongly encouraged to apply for open positions with the UFW. 

This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, counseling, discipline, termination, access to benefits, and training. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and co-workers.