Job Description
The Chief of Staff plays a key role in driving the operations and strategy of our union and ensuring that the work of staff and member leaders is collaborative, cohesive, effective, and mission-driven. This role manages and supports all AFT-OR staff and builds strong teamwork across staff and member leader roles to implement the vision and goals of our union federation. The Chief of Staff advises the President, Executive Vice-President, Executive Committee, and Executive Council and helps oversee the organization’s finances. This position is central to maximizing the union’s impact and building a powerful member-led education labor movement.
Summary/Objective
The Chief of Staff:
- Manages and supervises AFT-Oregon’s staff
- Manages daily administration and operations
- Collaborates on financial oversight
- Coordinates execution of strategic goals
- Anticipates organizational needs, identifies solutions, and proactively ensures that critical issues are addressed
This role encompasses day-to-day staff management, operations, labor management, collective bargaining, and organizing initiatives.
These duties are subject to the approval of and collaboration with the President and other officers with relevant roles, including the Executive Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice-President of Political Action, and ultimately to the actions of the Executive Council and Member Convention.
Organization
AFT-Oregon is a federation of statewide local unions representing about 18,000 members, led by an elected board. We have an annual budget of ~$2M, a staff of 11, and an executive council of 19. Our 27 locals represent college and university faculty, graduate employees, classified staff at K12 and community colleges, and unions in childcare, online education, and education nonprofits. AFT-Oregon is a central organization that provides organizing support, institutional knowledge, expert staff, direct support, legislative advocacy, resource sharing, and leadership development. We value bottom-up democratic unionism, which trusts that workplace leaders should be at the forefront of decisions.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
- Operations and Staff Management: Supervise day-to-day operations; plan, assign, and direct work; human resources; address complaints and resolving problems; hire (subject to our collaborative hiring process) and develop staff; and collaborate on financial systems. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and productive work culture.
- Manage and direct the work of a team of remote and hybrid staff.
- Manage performance evaluation process, conduct evaluations, lead performance improvement.
- Facilitate labor management relationship with AFT-Oregon’s staff union:
- Facilitate grievance and issue resolution processes.
- Co-lead labor management meetings.
- Collaborate as a member of the management bargaining team.
- Develop, draft updates, and recommend policy and contract proposals.
- Promote open communication, coordinate workflow, and cultivate a positive, respectful, and accountable team environment.
- Lead the hiring committee process including posting jobs, interviewing applicants, and contacting references.
- Strategic Leadership and Governance: Execute strategic plans established by the Executive Council, President and staff. Act as a liaison between staff and the Executive Council.
- Coordinate the planning, implementation and evaluation of work plans.
- Partner with organizational leaders to identify high-priority initiatives. advance key strategic policy goals, drive stakeholder engagement and model team-based leadership.
- Perform ongoing analysis of all organizing campaigns.
- Maintain consistent and regular communication with the Executive Committee regarding work progress and problem-solving strategies.
- Financial Stewardship: Collaborate on oversight of the budget, cash flow, and financial reporting with the Treasurer and Finance Committee.
- Assist in the preparation and presentation of financial reports to the Finance Committee, Executive Council, Executive Committee, and national leadership.
- Assist in the preparation of audited financial statements with the auditor and bookkeeping services.
- Assist in preparation of the budget.
- Support payroll, accounts receivable, and payable functions.
- Review expense reports, credit card expenses, and similar periodic tasks.
- Compliance: Ensure adherence to legal, tax, regulatory, and organizational governing document requirements. Experience with financial audits and the creation and adherence to financial controls.
- Event and project management: Take a lead role in planning and coordinating AFT-Oregon events with up to 200+ attendees in collaboration with officers, staff, and volunteers.
Competencies
- Experience: Bachelor’s degree, 3+ years with direct staff management & senior leadership.
- Required Skills:
- Demonstrated experience supervising staff teams, including direct supervision of at least five staff members.
- Strong staff development skills; with experience leading, supporting and evaluating in-person, remote and hybrid staff.
- Financial management experience with budgeting, oversight of accounting, payroll, bill payment and tax filing.
- Demonstrated ability to organize and execute strategic plans that advance organizational objectives.
- Significant experience with bargaining and organizing, strategic/political analysis, campaign development, power mapping, and navigating complex relational and organizational dynamics.
- Experience working collaboratively, building trust, and navigating multiple organizational layers and structures, including respectfully supporting elected union members’ leadership and local union autonomy
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills. Ability to give and receive constructive feedback. Expertise in conflict resolution and consensus building.
- Experience with HR practices and policies.
- Commitment to the labor movement and a strong work ethic; function with a high level of integrity and transparency.
- Experience facilitating groups and leading in coalition spaces with multiple stakeholders.
- Experience with large group event planning and project management
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice, equity, and member empowerment.
- Ability to work independently without close supervision.
- Discretion in handling confidential information.
- Proficiency in essential programs such as QuickBooks Online, Slack, and Google Workspace including Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Groups, Admin, Docs, Sheets and Slides, and Zoom.
- Preferred Skills:
- Experience working with staff unions or in unionized staff environments strongly preferred
- Experience with labor negotiations
Salary Range
$95,000 - $115,000 starting salary depending on qualifications and experience.
Benefits
This is a full-time supervisory position. It offers generous benefits including 100% employer-covered healthcare and dental for self and dependents, and 12% of salary in additional retirement contributions. Work-life balance remains a priority, with staff enjoying 20 paid days leave annually, which increases with longevity. Staff receive an additional five personal days a year, on top of 13 paid holidays and a full paid week of holiday leave between Christmas and New Years. Other benefits include religious observance flexibility, home office stipend, and professional development funds.
Reports to:
President, Executive Vice-President and the Executive Council
Work Site
This job is located at the AFT-Oregon office, located at 10228 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97219. This position will be primarily in the office Monday - Friday, but will also have some hybrid flexibility, and some required work on weekends. It will require infrequent statewide travel for events and meetings. Must be able to adjust working hours to meet special jobs.
Physical Demands
- Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time, ability to communicate via phone/text and email/video conferencing.
- Occasionally lift and carry up to 40 pounds (accommodations available if needed).
Travel Required
- Valid driver’s license and regular access to a vehicle.
Staff Union Membership
This is a management position, is at will, and is not covered under the United Employees Guild collective bargaining agreement.
Application Process
Please send resume, cover letter and list of three professional references (email, phone number and relationship) to: hiring@aft-oregon.org
First review of applications will be June 22, 2026.
Note: We will reach out to professional references for candidates who advance to the final selection stage.
Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this role. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required for this role.