UNISON. Job Brief: Community Organising Co-ordinator

Transcription

1 UNISON Job Brief: Community Organising Co-ordinator 1. UNISON is Britain s leading trade union, with over 1.3 million members working in the public services, private, voluntary and community sectors and in the energy services. We employ 1200 staff, approximately 370 at our national centre in Euston, central London and the remainder in our 12 regions across the UK, including Northern Ireland. 2. UNISON is facing unparalleled political and industrial challenges, but it is a strong union and many of the changes we have made in recent years stand us in good stead to meet these challenges. Developing clear objectives and priorities: introducing formal project management processes; developing our ICT, changing our service group structures and most importantly focussing firmly on recruitment and organising at branch and regional level through the introduction of new local and area organisers. 3. The National Strategic Organising Unit is a new initiative, it is proposed that the unit will have a small core full time staff which will be augmented as necessary and dependent on the particular project, will short/fixed term secondments utilising the experience of existing regional and national staff. 4. The Community Organising Co-ordinator is an exciting new role whose purpose is to help UNISON develop a wide engagement with the community identifying and nurturing suitable strategic coalitions mutually enabling both parties to achieve key campaigning objectives. 5. The terms of reference for the new unit are; work with the Secretariat and NEC members on the transformation of UNISON into an organising union, identify ways of empowering UNISON members and staff to organise and recruit more members, share good practice and innovation on organising and recruitment across the union, provide detailed research and monitoring of recruitment trends, undertake strategic intelligence on employers including density levels, recruitment trends and employer/company profiles, integrate national organising priorities into regional plans, monitoring results and performance, work with regions in identifying and undertaking strategic national organising campaigns, undertake organising work in Regions in furtherance of this, ensure that there is an effective national recruitment strategy that

2 integrates national and regional priorities along with those of the service groups, 6. The post holder will being identifying appropriate coalitions arising out of the strategic organising campaigns UNISON is running in the regions and nationally. They will need to identify appropriate national bodies and facilitate engagement with them where that meets UNISON s wider social agenda. Our engagement with the community also requires reciprocal work by UNISON to support community organisations in the campaigns they undertake. 7. It is also anticipated that the Community Organising Co-ordinator will have strong presentation and public speaking skills. They have a strong understanding and commitment to partnership working within an organisation, to the public service ethos and a keen membership focus. 8. UNISON regions are currently undergoing a period of major change to meet the union s developing recruitment, organisation and campaigning agenda. The Community Organising Co-ordinator needs to be committed to leading change and helping branches and lay activists to do likewise. 9. While the Community Organising Co-ordinator post is a demanding position, requiring attendance at meetings outside of the conventional working day, UNISON is a strong supporter of the work/life balance ethos. Post holders will therefore prioritise their working arrangements in such a way as to demonstrate by example their personal commitment to these aims in partnership with senior regional lay officials.

3 UNISON Community Organising Co-ordinator 3 Years Fixed Term Contract (subject to one months notice) National Strategic Organising Unit Ref: ORE/20T JOB DESCRIPTION Grade: 3 Hours: 35 per week Location: UNISON Centre, London NW1 Reports to: Head of the National Strategic Organising Unit OVERALL SUMMARY This post undertakes research and leads recruitment and organising. Working under the strategic direction of the Head of the National Strategic Unit, they will act as an important catalyst for improving UNISON intelligence and learning about recruitment and organising and provide leadership to the unit s campaigns. Key responsibilities Developing community organising strategies linked to achieving union organisation and recruitment. Identify and help build strategic coalitions at a national level with appropriate external organisations. Plan and deliver activists training on community organising. Establish processes for recognising community organising within the branch assessment process. Brief and work with national committees and regions to plan coherent community organising campaigns. To lead and participate in organising and recruitment campaigns organised and supported by the unit. Provide leadership to groups of staff, and activists from the union and community during the course of a campaign. Using UNISON s project management framework and where necessary producing templates and documentation for use by regions, sectors, and national service groups for the planning of community organising campaigns.

4 Providing advice and guidance on community organising to people at all levels in the union. Liaising with regions and service groups on the development of campaigns, leading and participating in recruitment campaigns organised and supported by the unit. Preparing regular briefings and publicity on ongoing organising campaigns. Ensuring that activities are undertaken within the budgets allocated and all proposals and activities are carefully monitored for their financial implications. Undertakes other duties as required by the grade descriptor and or job profile for the post.

5 UNISON Community Organising Co-ordinator 3 Years Fixed Term Contract (subject to one months notice) National Strategic Organising Unit Ref: ORE/20T Person Specification and Selection Criteria UNISON is an equal opportunities employer, committed to providing equal opportunities regardless of race or ethnic origin, gender identity, family situation, sexual orientation, disability, religion or age. This person specification is designed to help members of Interviewing Panels judge the qualities of interviewees in a systematic and consistent way and in accordance with UNISON s equal opportunities policy. It is given to all job applicants for information. Assessment code A Application form Pl Panel interview Heading Selection criteria Assessment 1. Thinking 1.1 The ability to develop strategies, solutions or plans to solve difficult problems using Research The analysis of complex information including statistics & financial information An awareness of the political environment 2. Interpersonal and Communication 1.2 A commitment to personal and staff development that supports the Unit s objectives 2.1 Highly developed interpersonal skills including Leadership Team Working Mentoring and coaching Handling difficult relationships Handling complaints Ability to work in partnership with lay members 2.2 A track record of organising strategically

6 3. Initiative and Independence 4. Staff Management 5. Resource Management 2.3 Experience of advocacy in difficult situations 2.4 Experience of influencing people at all levels internally and externally including the ability to influence and respond to national and regional media using Presentation skills Writing correspondence, reports newsletters etc 2.5 A detailed understanding of and the ability to use Information and communications technology 3.1 Track record of using initiative and independence over a broad area of activity involving decision making and discretion 4.1 Motivating and encouraging innovation including the ability to Monitor and review performance Delegate and supervise work Build teams 4.2 Demonstrable leadership skills gained in an a bargaining and organising environment 5.1 Ability to work on and manage projects including Planning and evaluation Time management Evidence of contributing towards budget management including monitoring progress and resource control Setting clear objectives 6. Physical Skills (with DDA modification where necessary) 7. General Knowledge 6.1 Keyboard skills A 7.1 Understanding of and commitment to UNISON S aims and objectives including the principles of equality and democracy

7 7.2 A detailed knowledge of the key areas of employment law including developing case law 7.3 In depth understanding of the role of trade unions and the national and local social and political environment in which the union operates 7.4 Knowledge of ICT packages including Microsoft Office suite. A & PI Other Information Please submit three copies of your completed application form. Completed application forms must be received by HR Department, UNISON, 130 Euston Road, London NW1 2AY no later than Friday 08 January Please quote ref: ORE/20T. Interviews will be held on 25 and 26 January 2016.