PCCFFAP
Portland Community College Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals

Lead Organizer
Solidarity and Political Action

Based in Portland, OR

 

Job Title: Lead Organizer - Solidarity and Political Action
Organization: Portland Community College Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals, AFT Local 2277
Reports to: PCCFFAP President or designee
Status: ☒Regular ☐Temporary ☒Full-Time ☐Part-Time 
FLSA: ☒ Exempt ☐ Non-Exempt
Union Represented Position: ☒ Yes ☐ No

Union Overview
Portland Community College Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals (PCCFFAP) represents approximately 1600 full and part-time faculty and staff at Portland Community College in Portland, OR. PCCFFAP is part of the American Federation of Teachers. The mission of PCCFFAP is to advocate for excellence in education by improving the quality of life of our members through improving economic status, healthcare, working conditions, and security. We promote these ideals for our members, our students, and our community through political activism, collective bargaining, and member and community engagement.

Job Summary 
The Solidarity Organizer works with PCCFFAP’s President, Executive Council, union committees, other staff, and all bargaining unit employees, and is responsible for all aspects of internal organizing in collaboration with the staff Contract Organizer, within our large, multi-campus local. This includes recruiting members, identifying and developing member-leadership, advising member-leaders in developing issues-based organizing plans for assigned areas, motivating the organizing committee and activists, and supporting contract administration. This position is an integral link between union membership and leadership, supporting FFAP to be a member-run and member-led organization. In addition to internal organizing, this job provides more direct support for internal and external solidarity actions and outreach, including supporting political action, external coalition-building, and lobbying efforts; advocating for worker rights and union priorities on a broad scale; and representing FFAP alongside member-leaders at other labor and community-based actions (such as rallies and strike lines).

Work Site, hours 
This job is hybrid, with significant onsite requirements as determined by union leadership. On average, forty hours a week are expected. Hours to follow typical business days with flexibility and some required work on evenings and weekends. Must be able to adjust working hours and locations to meet special jobs. The primary office location is at PCC Sylvania Campus, however, there will be frequent travel to other PCC and non-PCC campuses and locations for meetings or actions.

Physical Requirements
This position involves engaging in computer work for long periods of time, including navigating and writing; communicating with others in the office, by phone and in meetings; traveling to meetings at different locations on campuses or other locations, including out-of-area; occasionally transporting supplies (up to 50 pounds) to various locations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 3 years of experience in coalition building or political activism
• 3 years of experience in higher education or the public sector
• 3 years of experience in labor or community organizing
• Knowledge of the labor movement and community activism strategies
• Ability to build and maintain relationships and coalitions
• Experience in strategic and tactical planning
• Demonstrated skills in the use of social media for effective communication and campaigns
• Dedication to social justice
• Strong active listening skills
• Data management skills
• Project management experience
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds
• Ability to handle multiple priorities in a well-organized, detail-oriented, and focused manner
• Ability to independently plan, organize, and perform work assignments within broadly defined parameters (or with limited supervision) 
• Professional level skills with a variety of technologies and software such as: MS Office Suite (Excel and Word, and PowerPoint), Google Suite (Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Sheets), Zoom, Airtable or other database software, Hustle (group text messaging platform), Slack, Adobe, and demonstrated willingness and ability to learn new applications
• Experience with planning in-person and virtual events for up to 100 attendees, including working with outside vendors
• Employees should be able to transport themselves and equipment/supplies to various locations throughout the district as necessary.

Preferred Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. Equivalent experience in higher education or the public sector will be considered in lieu of a Bachelor’s. 

Job Duties
External Organizing

1. Build coalitions with students, unions, community groups and movement organizations
2. Develop and mentor member leaders in political, legislative, and organizing capacities
3. Assess, track, and share statewide organizing opportunities with Solidarity Committee
4. Coordinate with and serve as a point of contact for AFT Oregon and AFT National
5. Represent FFAP at conferences, conventions, and councils where needed, alongside member leaders
6. Support political action and lobbying efforts, advocating for worker rights and union priorities
7. Represent FFAP at other labor and community-based actions (such as rallies and strike lines)
8. Support media outreach and the Communications VP
9. Support the Political & Legislative Action Committee, Communications Committee and Solidarity Committee
10. Lead potential organizing efforts of not-yet-unionized PCC workers, as directed by the Executive Council
11. Administer and update the FFAP Website

Internal Organizing

1. Bridge and facilitate coordination between the various parts of union leadership
2. Support job class groups and ad-hoc issue-based organizing
3. Support liberatory consciousness-raising and political education 
4. Plan, coordinate, and support events (e.g. member meetings, solidarity events, blitzes, rallies, and campaigns)
5. Support and coordinate the mobilization and engagement of membership through various communication channels (email, phone, social media, on campuses, home visits)
6. Coordinate and secondary support organizing committees (Organizing Committee, Contract Action Team, Organizing Prep, Stewards Network)
7. Recruit, train, and mentor new leaders and organizers, fostering local leadership development
8. Respond quickly to changing organizational needs, adapting plans and actions as required to meet goals and serve mission
9. Plan and coordinate member outreach strategies, including recruitment, engagement, and retention
10. Coordinate membership mapping and tracking
11. Evaluate and assess campaign efforts, doing research and providing feedback and adjusting course as needed
12. Ensure prompt and effective communication with members, including responding to concerns

Interfacing with Members 

1. Provide direct member support for Solidarity Officer and Political Action Vice President if their load is too high.
2. Attend major member events and provide support to other staff and, if needed, provide support to FFAP members.

Other 

1. Oversee the Student Organizing Intern positions, AFT Member Organizing Institute (MOI) participants and Part Time Organizers.
2. Maintain, and communicate with others the importance of maintaining, the security and confidentiality for private information of bargaining class members, adhering to privacy standards
3. Meet weekly with other staff
4. Attend Executive Council meetings and other FFAP meetings related to position
5. Cross train in order to cover other staff positions if needed
6. Other duties as assigned

The above examples of typical work activities are meant to illustrate the general range of work functions performed by the position and are not meant to be all-inclusive of assigned duties or restrictive. 

Salary Range

• $75,000 – $80,000 annually
• Excellent Benefits package

Anticipated Start Date: Sept. 1, 2025

To Apply:
Email the following to federation@pccffap.org

• A cover letter that clearly outlines how your past experience has prepared you to meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this role
• A current résumé

Application Deadline: July 21, 2025

Equal Employment Opportunity
Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs. It is FFAP’s policy not to discriminate against employees and applicants based on race, color, citizenship, status, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law, with respect to recruitment, hiring, training, promotion and other terms and conditions of employment. All employment decisions shall be consistent with the principle of Equal Employment Opportunity.