Employment Opportunities

National Office:

Executive Director (formerly General Secretary)

Regional Coordinator (Midwest)- Department of Organizing and Services

Staff Counsel

Part-Time Fundraising Coordinator

Legal Internships and Externships

Executive Director

Position Description

The executive director is the chief administrative officer of the Association, appointed by and responsible to the Council. He or she is responsible for implementing Council and executive committee policies, plans and personnel directives, along with actions and mandates approved by the annual meeting.  The person appointed to that office shall be well acquainted with academic institutions and committed to core AAUP principles, including academic freedom and shared governance.  The executive director approves academic freedom and shared governance investigations, collective bargaining campaigns, and searches for positions on the administrative staff.

The executive director is responsible for the financial stewardship of the association as well as managing the budget and operations. The executive director exercises a significant role in the coordination and planning of the Association’s programs and services. The executive director coordinates fund raising with the foundation staff and takes an active role in that task as well.

The executive director provides staff service to the president, the executive committee, and the Council. The executive director speaks for the Association and serves as a national voice on higher education issues, when appropriate. The executive director is expected, as a member of the Washington Higher Education Secretariat, to collaborate with chief officers of other higher education organizations. The executive director works with key education leaders in government and higher education. The executive director coordinates relationships with other higher education unions and promotes collective bargaining nationally. The executive director shall seek adherence to AAUP's recommended standards in the community of higher education.

The executive director will be accountable to and will report directly to the Council.  The executive committee of the Council will evaluate the performance of the executive director on an annual basis using this position description as a basis for evaluation.  In the evaluation process, the executive committee will solicit the views of the staff, Association members, and others in the higher education community who work and interact with the executive director on a regular basis.

Position Qualifications

Candidates must be familiar with and committed to AAUP principles and have experience in higher education, or other non-profits with missions similar to those of the AAUP.  Administrative experience and knowledge of collective bargaining are required and leadership with the AAUP at the local, state or national level is desirable.

Skills: Demonstrated interpersonal and organizational/management skills; proven communications, public relations and writing skills; must have the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities; experience in development/fundraising a plus.

Position Benefits

Salary will be commensurate with educational background and work experience. Excellent benefits.

To Apply

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Inquiries, nominations, letters of application, and curricula vitae should be directed to Chair of the Search Committee, AAUP, 1133 19th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. E-mail: exdirsearch@aaup.org.

Part-Time Fundraising Coordinator

Reporting to the executive director, the fundraising coordinator will spearhead development efforts of the new AAUP Foundation. A new position in the organization, the fundraising coordinator will have the opportunity to build the Association’s development function. This half-time position offers flexible hours, fringe benefits, and is part of the staff union bargaining unit. It is expected to evolve eventually into a full-time position.

Qualifications:

• BA (required), MA (a plus)
• 3–5 years experience in development and fundraising
• Knowledge of higher education issues
• Knowledge of fundraising information and research resources and of fundraising techniques and strategies, especially in a nonprofit context
• Computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint, Publisher, and Excel
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to write clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive proposals
• Excellent time-management skills with the ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
• Ability to maintain client confidentiality
• Good leadership skills
• Understanding of budget control, expenses, and allocations

Responsibilities:

• Advise and assist in the development of an organization-wide fundraising strategy, plan, and budget to support the work of the AAUP Foundation, the AAUP, and the AAUP CBC
• Build and maintain profitable, long-term fundraising relationships with current donors and potential donors by working closely with communications professionals in the Department of External Relations and other departments within the Association
• Provide staff support to the AAUP Foundation
• Represent the AAUP, the AAUP CBC, and the AAUP Foundation at outreach meetings and events
• Prepare grants and project proposals and progress reports as directed by executive director

 
To apply, please submit a résumé and cover letter with salary requirements to Martin Snyder at msnyder@aaup.org. No phone calls, please!

Staff Counsel

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has an immediate opening for Staff Counsel, its senior general counsel position.  The position, in a department of two lawyers, involves managing the Association’s legal office and wide range of internal legal affairs, serving as Counsel to the Board and Executive Director, advising attorneys, faculty members, and administrators on higher education issues and litigation, public speaking, and appellate brief writing. The substantive areas include academic freedom, employment and labor law, discrimination, constitutional law, tax and benefit issues, and internal publications, leases, contracts, and personnel and benefits matters. Preferred background includes experience in nonprofit organizations and labor and employment, as well as higher education and civil liberties. Candidates should have demonstrated legal management experience, the ability to handle diverse substantive areas in a timely manner, and excellent writing skills. Appellate brief writing experience is a plus.  The position includes general support for the Association’s committees and operations.

AAUP is a national organization founded in 1915 that is active in areas including intellectual freedom, due process, professional ethics, and university governance. Membership is approximately 44,000 faculty and academic professionals from all disciplines. The staff enjoys the opportunity to work on significant issues with Association members who are leading scholars in law and other fields.

Seven or more years of legal experience preferred. Membership in District of Columbia Bar required within reasonable period after appointment. Excellent benefits package includes medical, vision, dental, and disability coverage; retirement plan; and generous vacation. Some travel required.  Competitive nonprofit salary, commensurate with experience.

Please e-mail resumes by Friday, July 13, 2012 to: legalsearch@aaup.org or by mail to Legal Search, AAUP, 1133 Nineteenth Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036. No phone calls please. For more information, please see AAUP’s Legal Program at http://www.aaup.org/AAUP/programs/legal/. 

Department of Organizing and Services
Regional Coordinator (Midwest)

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is pleased to announce a Regional Coordinator position, to be filled as soon as possible.   This position offers a unique opportunity to play a leadership role with faculty and professional staff who are organizing and building their strength across the Midwest.  The Regional Coordinator will work under the direction of AAUP’s National Director of Organizing and Services.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Develop in consultation with the AAUP’s Organizing and Services Director and AAUP faculty leadership an external and internal organizing plan for the Midwest.
2.  Assess organizing opportunities across a range of potential units at Midwestern universities and colleges, and develop organizing committees.
3. Work with already existing union and advocacy chapter leadership and develop/support current and future leaders.
4. Make plans with faculty leadership for membership growth and development.
5. Support the development of contract campaign planning and execution.   
6. Coordinate multiple new organizing campaigns.
7. Supervise organizers and member organizers.
8. Develop and implement training/education plans for staff and members.  
9. Work with staff and member organizers in the field and give timely feedback. 
10. Work with other labor union staff on joint organizing campaigns.
11. Represent the AAUP in a variety of contexts, demonstrating expertise in AAUP policy and principles.

Qualifications

1. 5 years experience in external and internal organizing.  Demonstrated skill in organizing all phases of a new organizing campaign—from targeting, early leadership identification, and committee recruitment to messaging, mobilization, and GOTV. 
2. 3 years “lead” organizing experience, including direct supervision of staff and member organizers (preferably in the context of a new organizing campaign).
3. Significant experience with all phases of a contract campaign. 
4. Experience working for a national union or very large local union.  This experience needs to include building constructive relationships with elected member leaders across multiple locals or chapters or shops. 
5. Work experience in higher education, and familiarity with the issues that challenge faculty and professional staff.   This might include experience working as a faculty member or graduate student assistant.  It might also include working for a higher education union or division within a union. 
6. Experience and demonstrated skill in working with professional groups and individuals.
7. Must have a Masters degree.  
8. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office/Word, Excel, and comfortable using multiple databases.
9. Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
10. Willingness to work long hours and travel extensively.  Although this assignment is based in the Midwest, candidate must be willing to accept occasional assignments in other areas of the country. 

Preferred Qualifications

1. Master’s degree required, but Ph.D. (or equivalent terminal degree) desirable. 
2. Some experience acting as a chief negotiator in bargaining related to professional groups, especially within a higher education context. 
3. Experience with all steps of the grievance process including arbitrations.
4. Demonstrated ability to plan and execute large actions or events, mobilizing hundreds of members.
5. Significant experience running complex community-wide campaigns and working with coalitions.
6. Experience running or working on joint union organizing campaigns. 

Compensation

• Salary commensurate with experience
• Generous benefits package

 This position is designated as a senior program officer in the Department of Organizing and Services, and is part of the staff union bargaining unit.

To apply, email a resume with cover letter to the Director of Organizing and Services, Angela Hewett, at ahewett@aaup.org, or mail your resume and cover letter to AAUP, 1133 Nineteenth Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC  20036, Attention: Angela Hewett.  No phone calls please.    Applicants will be reviewed beginning August 27; no applications will be accepted after September 14.  

Legal Internships and Externships

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is seeking qualified interns or externs for the 2011-2012 academic year as well as for the Summer of 2012.  The AAUP is a national organization founded in 1915 that is active in areas including intellectual freedom, due process, professional ethics, and university governance.  Membership is about 46,000 faculty members and scholars from all disciplines.

The intern and extern positions will be in a legal department currently staffed with 2 lawyers and 1 paralegal and involves significant in-house legal and other support work for the Association. The legal office files amicus briefs in higher education cases of national significance, provides legal information on a wide range of issues to staff and members all over the country, and acts as a resource on higher education issues.  Staff and volunteer lawyers are experts in such areas as academic freedom, discrimination, affirmative action, intellectual property, and employment.  Interns and externs can expect to be asked to research and write on a variety of legal issues including First Amendment, higher education, collective bargaining, election, tax, labor, personnel, financial, and contract issues.

Past legal interns have helped research and write amicus briefs in the federal court system, updated a multi-state survey on faculty handbooks as employment contracts, and researched and written legal outlines and fact sheets on topics such as “Faculty and Defamation Suits,” “Faculty and Family Leave Issues,” and “Academic Freedom and the First Amendment.”

Externs should be in their 2nd or 3rd year of law school and be available to work approximately 15 hours per week.  Summer internships are available to students who have completed their 2nd year of law school.  AAUP legal staff will work with interested applicants to arrange for public interest stipends, academic credit or pro bono credit from their law schools.

Qualified applicants will possess:

• excellent analytical skills
• strong writing and research skills
• interest in higher education issues
• enthusiasm and initiative

To apply for an externship or internship position, please send a cover letter, resume, official transcript and writing sample to: 

AAUP – Legal Department
ATTN:  DC Internship Program
1133 19th St. NW, Suite 200
Washington, D.C.  20036
legal.dept@aaup.org (If applying by email, please address the Subject line as: “DC Internship + Your Name”)

The AAUP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability, race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, personal appearance, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, or other characteristics unrelated to professional performance.  For more information, please see AAUP’s Legal Program.