Senior Organizing Specialist, Mexico

Deadline to Apply: Until Filled
Location: Mexico City

Summary

Solidarity Center seeks to hire a pair of energetic, dynamic organizers who are passionate about labor rights to coordinate and support campaigns in Mexico to strengthen representative trade unions.  These individuals will manage relationships with stakeholders on the ground, including trade union activists, staff, and leadership. The Senior Organizing Specialists will coordinate the development and implementation of programs, often in partnership with the AFL-CIO, US unions and the Global Union Federations (GUFs).

The successful candidates must be thoroughly conversant in all aspects of organizing and bargaining as well as relevant political, economic, social and trade union developments in Mexico.  The Senior Organizing Specialists must have sound judgment and political sense that facilitate decision-making when managing relationships with stakeholders. The Senior Organizing Specialists will inform the Country Program Director (CPD) about significant organizing and bargaining developments in the country.

The Senior Organizing Specialists monitor programs to measure and evaluate progress and ensure budgetary compliance.  This position requires working knowledge of and experience in US Government regulations and procedures related to the funding and management of grants.

These individuals will coordinate with the CPD and field office staff to provide logistical support for international visitors from the Solidarity Center, AFL-CIO, US unions, GUFs, donor agencies, and other organizations.  Senior Organizing Specialists represent the organizing and bargaining programs of Solidarity Center and the AFL-CIO in meetings with partners, other national and international organizations, and donors.  They are expected to travel extensively within the country and may be reassigned to another country in the region as the need for organizing and bargaining expertise shifts (pending the lifting of COVID restrictions and confirmation of safe conditions).

Supervisor: The Regional Program Director, based in Washington, DC

Specific Duties:

• Assess bargaining needs in Mexico.
• Train local partners how to map out a sector and analyze it so they learn how to do this by doing.
• Build capacity to conduct organizing and bargaining activities.
• Serve as hub for country-specific information on organizing and bargaining and as a resource on organizing and bargaining for CPD.
• Share best practices with counterparts in each region.
• Work with local partners to build coalitions and develop strategy.
• Communicate with CPDs and copy them on correspondence related to their country.
• Serve as resource on organizing for other offices and internationally.
• Train partner-union activists, staff and leadership in trade union research, comprehensive campaigning, collective bargaining, and other trade union technical areas.
• Provide specified field programs with the technical assistance to develop and implement trade union strengthening programs, in coordination with the RPD and CPD.
• Develop in-country coalition-building contacts with local labor, and nongovernmental organizations, in coordination with the RPD and CPD.
• Assist headquarters to arrange in-country visits for organizing and bargaining related U.S. trade union visitors in coordination with the RPD and CPD.
• Provide guidance on trade union strengthening activities/programs to field offices, partners, AFL-CIO, and US unions.
• Facilitate partnerships between AFL-CIO and US unions with national trade  union partners and/or relevant trade union organizations as related to organizing and bargaining.
• Manage program funds, maintain and submit expense records with appropriate documentation, monitor budgets, and undertake other financial responsibilities as required.
• Contribute to design and development of organizing and bargaining programs that respond to the strategies, goals and objectives of the donors, the AFL-CIO and the Solidarity Center’s partners in the field.
• Monitor organizing and bargaining program performance and evaluate progress toward results; discuss substantive changes with the Program Officer and RPD.
• Provide assistance and support for program evaluations or audits of field projects/offices.
• Travel to conduct and/or oversee program development and implementation in Mexico.
• In collaboration with the CPD, develop coalition-building contacts with national and international labor, and non-governmental organizations in Mexico.

Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Spanish

• Familiarity with the Mexico labor context and trade union movement

• Ability to work independently and with limited supervision.

• Knowledge of organizing and bargaining as well as international relations and trade union, socio-economic and political developments in the U.S. and abroad.

• Previous trade union experience, and/or experience in the Solidarity Center.

• Ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously and make decisions that have major effects on costs and completion of projects.

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, international relations, labor relations or related fields and/or five years equivalent work experience.

• Good communications and writing skills and computer literacy for word processing and simple spreadsheets

• Good inter-personal skills.

As part of the collective bargaining unit, this position is generously compensated with an annual salary starting at around $97,000 which may be subject to U.S. foreign earned income tax exclusion for American citizens (please consult a tax professional to verify). A robust benefits package includes excellent health and life insurance, a retirement plan/pension, and ample paid time off for holidays, vacation, and sick leave. In addition, as an expatriate position, the Senior Specialist is entitled to housing, relocation expenses, annual home leave, and an education allowance for dependents. Field assignments typically last from three to six years, with the option to transfer to another post at the end of the assignment.

For Candidates Applying from the AFL-CIO: Please be advised that we will inform the AFL-CIO when any of its current employees apply for positions with Solidarity Center. This notification is a matter of policy for all candidates, regardless of each individual’s qualifications and competitiveness for a specific opportunity.

The Solidarity Center cultivates the values of diversity, equality, and inclusion among its staff and partners. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected under applicable law. Candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Job seekers who require a reasonable accommodation to apply should contact us at: information@solidaritycenter.org.

About Us:

The Solidarity Center is the largest U.S.-based international worker rights organization. Its programs are based on the principle that, by exercising their right to freedom of association and forming trade unions and democratic worker rights organizations, working people can collectively improve their workplaces, call on governments to uphold laws and protect human rights, and be a force for democracy, social justice and inclusive economic development. Its programs in more than 60 countries focus on human and worker rights awareness, union skills, occupational safety and health, gender equality, migration and human trafficking and pro-legal strategies, bolstering workers in an increasingly informal economy. Founded in 1997 by the AFL-CIO to tackle the enormous challenges workers face in the global economy, the Solidarity Center works to promote democratic rights and respect for workers; raise public awareness about abuses of the world’s most vulnerable workers; and, above all, help the world’s workers secure a voice in their societies and the global economy.