About Labor Notes

Labor Notes is a media and organizing project that has been the voice of union activists who want to put the movement back in the labor movement since 1979.

Through our magazine, website, books, conferences, and workshops, we promote organizing, aggressive strategies to fight concessions, alliances with worker centers, and unions that are run by their members.

Labor Notes is also a network of rank-and-file members, local union leaders, and labor activists who know the labor movement is worth fighting for. We encourage connections between workers in different unions, worker centers, communities, industries, and countries to strengthen the movement—from the bottom up.

About the position

Labor Notes is seeking an experienced organization-builder who wants to help put the movement back in the labor movement. An interest in building a strong, militant labor movement is a must.

Labor Notes’ reach, program, staff, and budget are growing. This role will be critical in ensuring that the organization’s infrastructure, systems, and processes are in good order to support the expanding program. Do you bring experience helping an organization grow? Are you excited about building infrastructure for a strong, fighting labor movement? We want to hear from you!

Labor Notes operates as a collective, organized in teams. This position leads the Operations Team. There is also some opportunity to participate in the program work of the organization if you’re interested. As members of the staff collective, we all participate in discussions and decision-making about organizational work, and take up additional tasks as needed.

Responsibilities:

Lead the Operations Team: The Operations Team is responsible for the development and maintenance of the infrastructure that makes Labor Notes’ work possible. As the team lead, the Operations Coordinator will plan agendas and facilitate monthly meetings with the team in order to:

Build shared assessments about the state of operations work: from all the parts, build a shared picture of the whole
Set annual goals and evaluate progress toward goals throughout the year
Collectively problem-solve issues that involve integration across areas of operations work
Support team members in thinking through Labor Notes’ operational needs and structure during time of growth

Manage the budget and financial reporting:

In consultation with co-workers, lead annual budget development, approval, and revision
Produce and present financial reports, lead regular collective assessment of finances
Support the Business Coordinator in their role (managing Labor Notes book, merch and event sales, managing accounts receivable and payable, and bookkeeping)
Monitor cashflow between accounts, sign off on expenses, and ensure that financial policies are applied
Prepare materials for annual audit

Lead Legal and Personnel:

Run payroll biweekly
Ensure employer and nonprofit legal compliance in all relevant states
Interface with the payroll provider, monitoring for errors and troubleshooting as needed
Manage benefits, including troubleshooting and investigating options when appropriate
Enroll new hires in payroll and benefits, and orient them to staff policies

Support Fundraising:

Provide regular financial reports for the fundraising team
Track major donations and foundation grants
Process donation checks and donor acknowledgment letters
Do fundraising-related data entry
Be point of contact for donor questions
Participate as a member of the fundraising team: Help plan and execute fundraising campaigns

Maintain the Brooklyn office location:

Open and triage the mail
Maintain Labor Notes print archive and small inventory of on-site books, merch, and supplies

Other responsibilities include fielding customer service inquiries about our magazine and merchandise, participating in regular staff meetings (virtual) and quarterly in-person staff retreats, and helping plan and put on the Labor Notes Conference every two years, including traveling to Chicago for a week.

Location details and working arrangements:

This position is based out of the Brooklyn office, with a requirement to live locally and work out of the Brooklyn office. There is some flexibility around hybrid working arrangements.

Pay and benefits:

All Labor Notes full-time staff are compensated at the rate of $75,900/year. Benefits include 100 percent employer-paid health insurance for staff and dependent children, 401k retirement plan with employer match, and 15-20 vacation days depending on seniority, as well as Fridays off in the summer and two weeks’ office closure at the end of the calendar year. Staff have the option of taking short-term sabbaticals after three years and six years.

We believe in a healthy work-life balance, and most work happens during regular office hours. Every other year, we have a few very busy months planning the Labor Notes Conference!

Even if you aren’t sure that you meet all the qualifications, what we are most looking for is someone who is a problem-solver, attentive to details as well as the big picture, persistent, trustworthy, and a good communicator. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to apply:

To apply, please fill out the form at https://labornotes.org/jobs.

Questions can go to jobs@labornotes.org.

Hiring Timeline

March 10: Application deadline
March 10-March 14: Interviews scheduled
March 17-March 21: First round of interviews
March 24-28: Second round of interviews
March 31-April 4: Decision and hire offer
April 7 or April 14: Ideal start week

Labor Education and Research Project/ Labor Notes jobs

Operations Coordinator

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