The University of Southern Maine invites applications for the position of Community Outreach Coordinator, Scontras Center for Labor and Community Education.

The University of Southern Maine’s Scontras Center for Labor and Community Education is a new, cutting-edge labor and community education/extension service that will offer labor education workshops, courses, certificate programs, trainings, symposia, and conferences that strengthen the community at work, facilitate workplace democracy and organization, and address inequalities of power and wealth in the wider society. The Center’s mission is to serve both existing members and leaders of unions and labor organizations and the broader Maine working class, including low-income workers and Maine’s thriving immigrant communities. The Center seeks to serve as a popular education and training hub for workers to develop the knowledge, skills and organizing capacity to be full participants in our democracy and the economy.

The Community Outreach Organizer will serve as the Center’s main relationship builder with union and community members and organizations and unions throughout Maine. The Community Outreach Organizer will collaborate closely with the Center’s Director and Teaching Fellow to build a dynamic network throughout Maine to further the Center’s mission.

The Outreach Organizer’s duties will include: deep one on one relational organizing; mapping community assets in communities throughout Maine; community needs assessments through listening, developing and maintaining relationships with community and labor organizations; attending organizational meetings; working with others to translate worker and community ideas and input into programs and training; identifying and recruiting constituencies to participate in the Center’s programs; doing specific and robust outreach and relationship building with Maine’s immigrant communities; supporting core training and education programs; promoting the Center’s programs through communications and social media; and engaging and building connections with USM’s University community including faculty, staff, campus unions, and students in the Center’s programs. The Outreach Organizer will do event planning and event outreach to support the Center’s public programming. Occasional evening and weekend work will be required.

This is a full-time, grant funded (funded by a legislative appropriation that must be periodically renewed) position with a starting annual salary up to $51,000 commensurate with experience. This position will be based primarily on the Portland Campus with expectation of work/service on our Gorham and Lewiston/Auburn campuses as well as in communities throughout all of Maine.

For a complete job description click here.

The University of Southern Maine is committed to developing a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. It embraces an inclusive campus community that values the expression of differences in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development, and institutional success. Our Office of Equity, Inclusion and Community Impact supports the University of Southern Maine’s DEIA and Community Impact focused departments, committees, groups, projects, training, and events. USM encourages women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds to apply.

We live our USM Service Promise: Student Focused Every Day. We are looking for a team member who understands that promise and supports our values: Respect & Care, Integrity, Equity and Responsiveness.

The University of Southern Maine provides a highly competitive benefits package that includes holidays, vacation and sick time; health, dental and vision insurance; life insurance; short- and long-term disability insurance; a tuition waiver program for employee and eligible dependents; a 403(b) retirement plan; and more. Click on our Benefits Information Summary to learn more.

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent amount of education and professional experience
• Demonstrated experience and success in community or labor organizing or community development (can be experience organizing workers and unions and/or community organizations).
• Three years minimum relevant professional experience.
• Ability to build trusting relationships.
• Experience in event planning and organization.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to relate to and communicate with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice for Maine’s working class.

You will create an applicant profile and complete an application and upload a cover letter and resume/curriculum vitae. Finalist candidates will be asked to provide a list of the names and contact information for references.

We will examine candidate packages on an ongoing basis as they are submitted.

We are not able to consider applicants who require Visa sponsorship support.

Appropriate background screening will be conducted for the successful candidate.

The University of Southern Maine is an EEO/AA employer, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities.

For inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Office of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System)