Washington State Labor Education and Research Center

Labor Educator

Based in Seattle, WA

 

Opportunity Description
The WA Labor Education and Research Center (LERC) at South Seattle College is looking to hire a Labor Educator.

Salary Range for this position is $58,632 to 80,968 annually.

To Apply:
Application and required materials must be submitted no later than July 14th, 2025. Applicants should apply on the Seattle Colleges website at the following link: https://hcprd.ctclink.us/psc/tam/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=60&JobOpeningId=14896&PostingSeq=1.

Position Summary
Under the supervision of the Director of the Labor Center, the Labor Educator will be responsible for working with center staff to plan, implement, and teach trainings and workshops with workers and staff from unions, community organizations, and campus programs. These trainings and workshops will provide education and skills development for and about workers and their organizations. Some of the workshops the Labor Educator may be asked to facilitate include classes about union steward duties, collective bargaining, leadership and communication, community-labor alliances, organizing, and basic workplace rights. The Labor Educator will do strategic outreach to the labor community to develop programs, and be a resource to faculty and staff at the Seattle Community Colleges.

This position is full-time, working 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, primarily 8:30 - 5:00. The position will require some evenings, weekends, and multi-day travel, scheduled in advance.

This position works a hybrid schedule of both remote and on-site work.

This position is governed by a collective bargaining agreement with representation by AFT Local 1789.

About Us
We are a district of three distinct colleges, North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and South Seattle College, and five specialty training centers. Which makes us the largest and most diverse community college district in the state of Washington, we are leaders in change and innovation. 

Seattle Colleges is committed to recruiting dedicated faculty and employees who together create a welcoming academic climate that reflects the diverse backgrounds of our community, including ethnicity, national origin, religion, race, gender, gender identity, age, status as a veteran or disabled veteran, disability, political status, and sexual orientation.

As a Seattle Colleges employee, you will gain access to a great benefits package including: 

• Competitive Pay Rates 
• Promotional Opportunities 
• Great Medical, Dental, and Retirement plans 
• Paid Sick and Vacation Leave 
• Transportation benefits 
• Tuition Waivers
• PEBB Wellness Plan 
• Washington State Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

Seattle Colleges staff and faculty also enjoy professional development opportunities and enrichment experiences in areas of their choice, including committee, workgroup, and affinity group opportunities.

Application Procedures:

• Submit a current résumé (PDF).
• Submit a cover letter (PDF) addressing how your background intersects with the job.
• Submit a list (PDF) of 3 professional references, including names, positions, organizations, phones, and emails.

Required application materials must be completed and submitted online

Notice to Applicants: 
Please note that Seattle Colleges has moved to holding interviews virtually using video conference options such as Zoom. As such, if you are selected for an interview, please be prepared to hold your interview virtually.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a regular basis. The employer will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

What you will be working on:

• Curriculum Development:
  • Designing and adapting lessons plans, curriculum, handouts, and other materials for a wide variety of trainings, classes, and other programming
  • Collaborating closely with other Labor Center staff and members of partner organizations
  • Researching and integrating existing training materials from other sources, helping to build out the Labor Center as a repository for labor education curriculum and resources
• Conducting Trainings: Running and teaching trainings, workshops, and other events, using popular education pedagogy, to provide workers with the skills they need to build power in their workplaces, unions, and in the broader labor movement 
• Doing the above work on topics including but not limited to:
• Union organizing:
• Building worker power
• Defending and extending workplace rights
• Handling grievances
• Contract interpretation and enforcement
• Collective bargaining / contract negotiations
• Writing contract language
• Planning effective campaigns of escalating actions
• Power mapping
• Base building
• Structure tests
• Running effective meetings
• Robert's Rules
• Just Cause
• Weingarten rights
• And other related topics
• Unions, labor councils, and organized labor groups 
• Community organizations
• Other educational institutions including community colleges, high schools, and apprenticeship and trade Programs
• Taking responsibility to ensure space, food, technology, and other training logistics run smoothly
• Visit classes at South Seattle College, in apprenticeship programs to share information about the LERC and its programs
• Workplace rights under WA State Law and local laws, including rights related to:
  • Scheduling, pay, and minimum wage
  • Workplace safety
  • Discrimination
  • Organizing free from retaliation
• Labor histories related to:
  • U.S. workers' history
  • Local Washington regional organizing histories
  • Perspectives on international workers¿ struggles
  • Historical of groups marginalized within organized labor along the lines of race, gender, and sexual orientation, immigrant status, and others
  • The development of labor coalitions and institutions
  • Recent trends and developments in labor politics and practice
• Organizing for workers who are not organized in labor unions:
  • Developing campaigns to improve working conditions
  • Conversations with coworkers and 1:1 organizing skills; communications skills
  • Building union campaigns from the ground up
  • Issue identification
• Outreach: Develop relationships with key constituencies, help to understand their needs, work with the rest of the LERC team to design appropriate programming and do outreach and relationship-building with: 
• Representing the LERC at conventions and other community events
• Strategic Program Development and Coordination: Work with the rest of the Labor Center staff and allies to develop and implement the LERC's strategic plan
• Serve as a Member of the LERC Advisory Committee
• Participate in professional development by working with the LERC team to identify areas for growth and opportunities for training and development.
• Logistics and administrative support for Center functions: 
• Resource for faculty and students: Work with campus programs and instructors to incorporate the specialized knowledge and practices of Labor Education into existing College settings.

The LERC conducts programs across WA state for diverse working people, and works to accommodates the diverse schedules of its audiences. This requires flexible scheduling, the ability to travel overnight, and the ability to work some evenings and weekends. Time outside of regular work hours will be scheduled in advance.

This description is not intended to cover every aspect of this job, we are a team that works together to meet the needs of those we serve, and every member of the team is expected to contribute, even beyond the specific responsibilities listed in this posting.

What you bring as a candidate: 

• 3 years or more experience regularly designing and leading trainings in organized labor, union, or workers rights contexts
• Demonstrated experience as an active member, officer, and/or staff of a labor union, ideally, with in-depth field experience in contract enforcement, collective bargaining, and organizing
• Demonstrated familiarity with the landscape of organized labor in Washington
• Proven experience with effective curriculum development, including designing and adapting lessons plans, curriculum, handouts, and other materials for a wide variety of trainings
• Proven experience leading participatory trainings and workshops
• In depth firsthand knowledge of the practices, skills, and pedagogy related to:
• Union organizing, including the topics described above
• Workplace rights, including topics described above
• Labor history, including topics described above
• Organizing for workers not-yet organized into labor unions
• Outreach: Proven skills doing organizational outreach and relationship building
• Experience organizing small and medium events, including logistics and programming
• Teaching and public speaking: confident and creative presentation and facilitation skills
• Skilled facilitation skills: being able to navigate group discussions and guide productive discussions among audiences of diverse backgrounds, worldviews, political inclinations, and opinions. Ability to foster respectful listening spaces and draw out learning experiences from all learners contributions. 
• Demonstrated commitment to working against racism, exploitation, and all forms of oppression; ensuring that training materials address historical and current dynamics of exclusion of workers
• Demonstrated experience conducting education programming with workers from marginalized communities and backgrounds in ways that directly address historical and structural oppression, make all learners feel included and empowered in the classroom, and give all participants tools to actively work toward the betterment of their conditions.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team
• Willingness and ability to work non-standard hours, including some evenings and weekends, to meet public/client needs (hours outside of 8:30 - 5:00, Monday - Friday are scheduled in advance).
• Experience with typical workplace software including Office, Google Drive, and Canva, an ability and willingness to learn new software.
• Fluency in a non-English language is a plus.

Physical Demands and Disability Accommodation
Persons with disabilities have the right to reasonable accommodation in all aspects of employment with Seattle Colleges. This includes, but is not limited to, recruitment, application, interviewing, hiring, training, termination, conditions of employment, and any other employer-supported activities. Applicants requesting accommodation should contact Human Resources.

• Seattle Colleges follows the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and provides the following information as a guideline for applicants:
• Ability to operate hand tools, power tools, and motorized equipment
• Ability to exchange information with supervisor, lead, co-workers, and students
• Physical ability to perform required work, including (but not limited to) the ability to lift at least 50 pounds, and to walk, bend, twist, stoop, squat, kneel, climb, reach, grasp, push and pull on a regular to continuous basis
• Work is performed throughout the campus in a variety of weather conditions and encounters noises typical of these settings 

Notice of Non-Discrimination Statement 
Seattle Colleges is committed to the concept and practice of equal opportunity for all its students, employees, and applicants in education, employment, services and contracts, and does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, color, age, national origin, religion, creed, marital status, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, status as an honorably discharged veteran or disabled veteran or military status, political affiliation or belief, citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or presence of any physical, sensory, or mental disability. In addition, reasonable accommodation will be made for known physical or mental limitations for all otherwise qualified persons with disabilities. Further, the Seattle Colleges is committed to ensure that all employees and students work and learn in an environment that fosters mutual respect and professionalism, free from all forms of bullying behaviors, including cyberbullying.

Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the Director of Legal Compliance.

Background Check Statement 
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. In addition to the background check, candidates will complete Sexual Misconduct Disclosure Form WA HB 2327 as required.