The USFWC is the national grassroots membership organization for worker cooperatives and other democratic workplaces. Our mission is to build a thriving cooperative movement of stable, empowering jobs through worker-ownership. Representing 350 member workplaces (and growing) and 10,000 workers across the country, we advance worker-owned, -managed, and -governed workplaces through cooperative education, organizing, advocacy, and development.
The Membership Director is responsible for overseeing member retention, recruitment, and engagement as well as accessibility of member services and benefits. This is achieved through the development and ongoing maintenance of high-value benefits; providing access to quality training, education and cooperative resources; supporting a nationally coordinated network of worker-owners and allies, and executing a highly-targeted recruitment and engagement strategy.
The next Membership Director joins at an exciting time for the USFWC. Membership growth has continued (even during the pandemic) with half a decade of momentum. USFWC programs have created a platform for Black, immigrant, and LGBTQIA, and spanish-speaking co-op leaders to flourish. The new Membership Director will be developing the USFWC’s organizing, outreach, and engagement strategy to deepen connection with a distributed network of co-op leaders. The successful candidate will also bring leadership to the USFWC’s goals of strengthening and expanding Black worker ownership in this next decade.
Scope of work
Engagement (25%) Develop and execute a member engagement plan with strategic leadership pipelines to foster the development of a diverse national network of effective worker-owner leaders
- Coordinate at a high level peer networks and member councils; support establishment of new peer networks
- Support member-led local organizing initiatives, including support for local Federation Partners, Local chapters
- Cultivate a member pipeline for participation in training and leadership programs, including USFWC Speakers Bureau, Co-op Clinic, Member Councils, and peer networks
- Coordinate organizational governance, such as: Annual member meeting, and Board of Directors annual elections, as well as support for some Board Committees
- Manage member survey collection, including biannual economic data survey and member profiles
Member Benefits (25%) Maximize member value through management of high-quality benefits; analyze benefit usage and satisfaction for ongoing improvement and development
- Conduct member visits and act as first point of contact for members with support from Membership Coordinator
- Research, develop, promote and evaluate new member benefits
- Manage and promote all existing benefits with special focus on high-impact and potentially revenue-generating benefits
- Oversee the Worker Benefits program and support enrollment outreach for our Worker Benefits Program in collaboration with Worker Benefits Manager
- Supports work of Communications Director to compile information and provides program reports for printed materials
Membership Retention and Recruitment (25%) Oversees strategic member recruitment plan that reflects the growing diversity of worker-owners in the US and achieves USFWC recruitment targets
- Drafts annual recruitment goals and work-plan
- Maintain recruitment materials in collaboration with Communications Coordinator and Membership Coordinator
- Oversee outreach, recruitment and retention; supports Membership Coordinator to provide monthly and annual membership reports to staff and Board
- Oversee new member on-boarding process
- Oversee member renewal and retention with support from Membership Coordinator
- Train staff to conduct member visits and support member engagement
Resources & Trainings (10%) Ensure members have easy access to essential resources to grow their businesses through Co-op Clinic
- Oversee handling of member requests for ‘Custom Consultations’ in coordination with Membership Coordinator and Co-op Clinic Manager
- Serve as staff liaison with partner organizations
Admin & Support (15%)
- Participate in staff meetings, Staff Director meetings, Board meetings, annual retreats
- Provide staff support for Board of Directors, Membership Committee, Elections Committee, and International Committee
- Support and collaborate with other staff to complete team projects as needed
- Supervision of Membership Coordinator and Worker Benefits Manager
- Oversees maintenance of records in our systems like CiviCRM database with support from Programs Manager
Qualifications:
- Member Services, Customer Support, or Community Relations Experience: At least three years of experience providing support services to a community.
- Cooperative Experience: Basic familiarity with the cooperative business form and workplace democracy. People with previous experience with worker ownership are highly encouraged to apply.
- Program Management: Proven experience leading successful program work. Able to perform necessary research and development, implement a program, manage a program budget, conduct evaluation, and ensure ongoing program improvement
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; capable of communicating effectively with a wide range of people and through many communication channels (small group, public speaking, mass emails, facilitating conference calls, print, etc)
- Stakeholder Engagement: Highly effective at engaging diverse stakeholders, listening to many perspectives and able to provide necessary leadership
- Local/ National/ International/ or Community Organizing: Passion and experience with organizing for racial justice, workers rights, and a solidarity economy
- Creative Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to foresee obstacles, generate and implement solutions, and manage long-term changes as needed
- Basic Technology: Proficient with Microsoft Office, Google apps, management of listserv, relational databases (we use CiviCRM), basic website editing (WordPress), use of online channels for communication (we use Slack) and project management online tools (we use Asana), comfortable with software for online video conference.
- Desired, but not required: Written and verbal Spanish proficiency is highly preferable, but not necessarily required.
Compensation & Benefits: This is a 32- 40 hour/week salaried position, with a starting FTE (40 hour full time equivalent) base salary of $50,000-55,000 based on experience. Staff receive annual raises, and we offer a modest increase on top of base pay for staff with dependents (for parents and employees caring for an elderly family member). Base salaries are increased slightly for employees residing in particularly costly cities. The USFWC provides healthcare, vision and dental coverage for full time equivalent employees. Among our generous fringe benefits, we offer flexible holiday pay, 3-5 weeks of annual vacation, and a stipend for professional development.
Location: ⅔ of our staff are based in Philadelphia, PA, with remote staff currently working from CA, NY, MD, MA, and TN. We maintain a flexible work environment, including remote working and occasional out of town travel for work as health guidelines allow. At this time, we are only accepting applications from the following 7 states where the USFWC is set up as an employer: New York, California, Washington State, Massachusetts, Maryland, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania.
About Being on Staff:
U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives is a growing organization, currently consisting of twelve full time employees, two part-time staffers, and some part time contractors, along with leadership from our nine-member Board of Directors. The USFWC has expanded both its programs and its staff significantly over the last four years. We are dedicated to serving our members and focusing on growing our impact, our value, and our member benefits.
Applying:
To apply please send a resume, cover letter, and 3 references from current or former workplaces (or significant organizing initiatives) to savanna@usworker.coop. Kindly also include a writing sample in your application. Make the subject line of your email “Your Name, Membership Director Application”. The position will be open until filled, but applications submitted by July 5th will receive priority.
The USFWC is an Equal Opportunity employer. We highly encourage applicants of color, applicants who grew up poor or working class, LGBTQIA applicants, and applicants from other historically marginalized communities to apply.