Ohio AFL-CIO

Project Coordinator
Ohio Public Pension Coalition

Based in Columbus, OH

 

The Ohio Public Pension Coalition (Coalition), a project of the Ohio AFL-CIO, was created by unions representing public employees across Ohio to educate, protect, and promote defined benefit public pensions in Ohio. We are seeking a Project Coordinator for 2025 and 2026. This is an independent contractor position reliant on and subject to ongoing funding.

Responsibilities

• Organize, administer, and host regular Ohio Public Pension Coalition partner meetings.
• Aggregate agendas of varied Coalition affiliates and determine overall Coalition priorities
• Draft advocacy plan in support of Coalition priorities
• Monitor and disseminate information to allies regarding activities at Ohio’s public employee retirement systems, including the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS OH); the Ohio Public Employees’ Retirement System (OPERS); the Ohio School Employees Retirement System (OH SERS); and the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund.
• Set up forums around Ohio with labor unions and allied organizations to educate members and the public regarding the importance of public employee pensions.
• Coordinate responses to pension legislation affecting Ohio’s public employee state retirement systems with partners and the National Pension Public Coalition (NPPC).
• Work with in-state communication staff at union affiliates, the Ohio AFL-CIO, and the NPPC to attract attention and develop a powerful case for protecting public employee retirement security, including drafting and placing letters to the editor.
• Maintenance of a database of forum attendees and social media contacts.
• Maintenance and promotion of all Coalition social media platforms.
• Integrate digital strategies and tactics into the Coalition’s broader advocacy campaign.
• Identify, train, and maintain a database of grassroots spokespeople around Ohio.
• Support the work of partner unions and engage rank-and-file members in the Coalition.
• Communicate continuously with local leadership as designated by the Coalition’s steering committee.
• Assist in creating and distributing one-page factsheets on key legislation and relevant information regarding Ohio’s public employee retirement systems.
• Maintain regularly scheduled communication with the Coalition steering committee and NPPC staff.

The Project Coordinator is expected to have the following background:

• Bachelor’s degree or a combination of education and labor leadership experience.
• At least 1-3 years of non-profit, political campaign, or labor leadership experience.

The Project Coordinator is also expected to be able to do the following:

• Provide your own transportation to events around the state.
• Be a responsive, self-motivated person with a passion and respect for member engagement.
• Maintain a Coalition budget and always seek the lowest-cost options for all programming and travel costs, using union-organized vendors where applicable.
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Work with leaders with varying interests to build consensus.
• Support the Coalition with administrative tasks, including bookkeeping, receipt tracking, and interfacing with fiscal sponsor as needed.

Other terms:

• This part-time independent contractor position pays $30,000 annually.
• The Project Coordinator should be based within 100 miles of Columbus, Ohio.
• The job duties and/or expectations may be modified by mutual agreement of the Ohio AFL-CIO, the Coalition steering committee and the coordinator.

To Apply:
Send résumé and cover letter to: Jessica Vernon-Coleman at jvernon@ohaflcio.org