Skip to main content

This job has expired

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Employer
Education Minnesota
Location
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Start date
Jun 25, 2021
Closing date
Aug 15, 2021

View more

Category
Education, Executive, Government, Management
Employment Status
Full Time

Job Details

POSITION TITLE:                          Executive Director (2021-06)

DEPARTMENT:                              Executive Office

SUPERVISOR:                                 Education Minnesota President

LOCATION:                                     St. Paul office

HOURS/STATUS:                            Full time / Exempt

EMPLOYEE GROUP:                    Executive Staff

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The executive director serves as the chief of staff for the state’s 89,000-member educators union headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. This position is ultimately responsible for the management and direction of Education Minnesota’s approximately 150 employees, its various programs and its multiple operating entities. This position serves to protect the union and its interests by ensuring its successful continuation and sustainability.  In addition, this position is the primary liaison with the National Education Association (NEA), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the Minnesota AFL-CIO, top leaders in government and numerous state-level education organizations. 

As the custodial officer, the executive director oversees all official business of Education Minnesota, including but not limited to: financial reporting, affiliation agreements, employment contracts, charters, trust instruments, racial equity and social justice, legal documents related to ownership and other interest in property both real and personal, local union constitutions and current lists of locals and members.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Racial justice and equity

  • Approach all organizational initiatives and processes with an anti-racist and equity-based focus.
  • Promote organizational change in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Provide direction and leadership that advances the organization’s racial justice plan.
  • Ensure contracts and policies adopted by the governing board are fair, unbiased, and equitable.
  • Work with staff, members, officers, governing board, and community partners to help Education Minnesota advance racial equity for students, members and staff.

Governance support

  • Partner with the elected officers of Education Minnesota to work as a leadership team providing vision.
  • Sustain an effective governance system that values diversity of thought to guide the organization in accomplishing its mission and goals.
  • Analyze and identify internal and external issues that have the potential to affect Education Minnesota and provide strategic advice to officers and governing board members.
  • Ensure there are clear lines defined for members and staff in the governance of the organization.
  • Develop and/or implement programs, policies or initiatives to accomplish organizational goals, objectives and strategic priorities as adopted by the governing board, representative delegates and/or as directed by the president.
  • Report to the governing board regularly on Education Minnesota activities and programs, including financial status, personnel matter, work program progress, and new developments.
  • Assist the president in maintaining effective and appropriate relationships with the NEA, AFT, AFL-CIO and external organizations such as statewide education groups, government leaders and coalitions.
  • Represent Education Minnesota as directed by the president.

Staff Leadership

  • Establish a workplace that focuses on serving the needs of our members through unity, engagement and commitment.
  • Oversee of 150+ staff in four staff groups including; nine (9) executive staff, eleven (11) associate executive staff, seventy-six (76) unionized professional staff and forty-nine (49) unionized office support professionals.
  • Supervise six (6) executive staff in department management roles, which includes but is not limited to staffing, setting priorities, responding to grievances, discipline, suspension, and termination.  Departments include field services, finance, facilities management, government relations, human resources, IT, legal, membership, member benefits, print and production, professional practice, research, and outreach, and public affairs.
  • Supervise two (2) associate executive staff within the executive office.
  • Demonstrate innovative thinking, efficiency, and strategic planning.
  • Oversee the collective bargaining process for two (2) internal staff unions.
  • Convene labor and management workgroups to focus collaboratively on internal issue resolution.
  • Administer the budget adopted by the governing board and ensure execution of financial transactions and operations in accordance with the policies set by the governing board.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Leadership

Knowledge

  • Coaching and team building
  • Identify potential risk and provide a strategic response

Skills

  • Techniques of active listening and reasoning
  • Foster a respectful workplace
  • Analytical approach to decision making
  • Commitment to creating and sustaining an equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist organization (culture, climate, values, policies, practices, programs, and services)
  • Poise and professionalism in the face of adversity or conflict
  • Work well as part of an executive team with an emphasis on creating cohesion

Abilities

  • Inspire and engage others
  • Analyze organizational policies through a racial equity lens.
  • Build strong professional relationships based on integrity, empathy, compassion, and trust
  • Establish a position of influence with state and local leaders
  • Create and promote a strong level of member loyalty and engagement

Management

Knowledge

  • Laws, regulations, policies, and rules governing labor organizations or non-profits
  • State legislative process
  • Organizing, unions, collective bargaining and member rights
  • Political and social issues affecting public education

Skills

  • Excellent public relations, presentation, written, and verbal communication
  • Process-oriented with an attention to detail and commitment to quality
  • A strong commitment to serving the president and the vision of the organization

Abilities

  • Confidently communicate complex information to general audiences
  • Remain adaptable in a changing environment
  • Perform multiple functions simultaneously and meet critical deadlines
  • Provide sound advice envisioning the long-range ramifications of decisions
  • Identify and effectively respond to the needs of our members and staff

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in business administration, education, law, governmental relations, public policy or other closely related field
  • Five (5) years’ experience providing leadership at the executive level in an organization of 100+ employees, with emphasis on staff management and organizational development
  • Experience in workforce organizing or collective action
  • Experience managing an annual operating budget in excess of $30 million
  • Valid Minnesota driver’s license

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Graduate degree in a closely related field
  • Experience working in education, with education policy or education related initiatives
  • Experience in the development and implementation of racial/social justice initiatives
  • Nonprofit experience or leadership in a membership-driven organization
  • Prior experience working with or on behalf of a unionized workforce
  • Experience in community, labor, or political organizing

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION:

Maintain confidential information related to the organization, members and potential members, and staff.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Work is in a general office environment.  Employee is required to: talk and hear; frequently stand, walk and repetitively use hands dexterously (use fingers to handle, feel), reach with hands and arms, bend and physically lift and carry up to 10 pounds; occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds and infrequently travel by various conveyances (e.g., air, rail, auto) 15 – 20 percent of the time. Frequent evening and weekend work required.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Education Minnesota is dedicated to providing its membership with a united voice for public education, leadership in education innovation, dedication to Minnesota students and families and commitment to the needs of its members.  As Minnesota’s largest union, Education Minnesota has 89,000 active members in 440 locals across the state. Members include PreK-12 classroom teachers, higher education faculty, paraprofessionals and education support personnel in addition to approximately 8,500 retired members and 4,000 student members.  Education Minnesota has 16 offices statewide and an operating budget of more than $36 million, a pension fund of approximately $118 million, and $4.7 million in other budgetary responsibilities.

EDUCATION MINNESOTA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Education Minnesota is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where diversity is valued, supported and celebrated to benefit applicants, employees, members and students. All employment decisions are based on qualifications; merit and business need with preference given to people of color.

POSTING DEADLINE: For consideration, apply online and include a resume no later than midnight of Sunday, August 15, 2021

Company

Education Minnesota is the largest advocate for public education in the state. Our 70,000 members work at all levels from pre-kindergarten through post-secondary, at public schools, state residential schools and college campuses.

Company info
Website

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert