Executive Director, Portland & Seattle Locals

Overview

Who We Are

SAG-AFTRA is the iconic American labor union that represents approximately 160,000 media professionals. SAG-AFTRA employees support our members and thrive on securing the strongest protections by negotiating the best wages, working conditions, health and pension benefits. We preserve and expand members’ work opportunities, vigorously enforce our contracts and protect our members against unauthorized use of their work.

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

The Local executive director is the chief executive for the SAG-AFTRA Portland and Seattle Locals. Under the direction of the Executive Director, Locals Operations and the Locals’ Boards of Directors, this person is responsible for administering the business affairs of the Portland and Seattle Locals, including the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements and overseeing policies and programs adopted by the Locals’ Boards of Directors in conjunction with SAG-AFTRA’s national strategies and policies.

(This section provides a general summary of the most significant job duties performed. It does not explain in detail every single duty performed.)

• Oversees and manages all aspects of the SAG-AFTRA Portland and Seattle Localsoperations including compliance with internal union governance procedures, memberoutreach and local communications, local organizing initiatives, local budgeting, and thenegotiation, administration and enforcement of the broadcast and non-broadcast contractsunder which local members work.
• Leads and/or supports negotiations of Local collective bargaining agreements coveringmembers working at television and radio stations. Resolves complex issues and disputeswith performers, agents and studio/producer representatives, including attorneys andbusiness affairs people, including processing grievances and providing support forarbitration proceedings and matters before the NLRB.
• Oversees the administration and enforcement of collective bargaining agreements forperformers employed in commercials, television/radio programming, feature andindependent films, corporate-educational programs, interactive games, sound recordingsand other work that may be covered by SAG-AFTRA agreements.
• Work to cultivate member leadership, develop and provide leadership training and otherprogramming for member leaders, including work with local and national committees. Servesas liaison to all relevant member committees, either directly or through supervision ofappropriate staff. Actively manages internal decision-making processes to ensure timeliness and maximize consensus.
• Establishes and maintains regular communications with SAG-AFTRA membersincluding outreach, print and email communications, and training and guidance. Overseesthe development of programming for members
• Develops and maintains SAG-AFTRA’s relationships with industry stakeholders andstrategic partners in the Local’s jurisdiction, including SAG-AFTRA members and staff,member representatives, employer labor relations representatives, news and sportsdirectors, station managers, program directors, producers, entertainment unions, local andstate elected officials, labor and community organizations (e.g., state and local affiliates ofthe AFL-CIO) and other organizations.
• Works in alignment with national strategy and serves as a lead for the Local on broadcastmember issues such as minimum contractual standards, coordinating bargaining, contract andemployer campaigns and organizing in conjunction with the Chief Broadcast Officer and allnational and local staff working in news and broadcast. Provide consultation related to personal service contracts.
• Works closely with the Local Board to develop and carry out internal and externalorganizing efforts.
• Leads, assigns or otherwise takes part in legislative advocacy efforts in connection withthe state’s film tax credit program and other legislative matters that may affectSAG-AFTRA members.
• Supervises, manages and participates in the assessment of work performance of Localstaff. Attracts and retains committed, results-oriented staff through personal engagement,supervision, training and development.
• Ensures Local office compliance with all human resources and organizational policies.
• Performs other duties as assigned or as the situation dictates

Qualifications

What You’ll Need

We want to make sure you’re successful. To be considered, you must have:

(The individual must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities and be able to explain and demonstrate that he or she can perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.)

• Advanced level of management experience and demonstrated leadership skills required toeffectively manage and develop a team and individual contributors.
• Demonstrated negotiation and/or collective bargaining skills and fundamental knowledgeof federal labor law. Able to negotiate with tact and diplomacy. Experience in disputeresolution.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills in order to explain complex subjectmatter, promote collaboration and teamwork, build consensus, and persuade others.
• Responsible; self-directed; proactive; excellent follow-through.
• Effective problem solver.
• Superlative interpersonal skills: high degree of patience and tact. Must be able to cultivaterespectful, strategic and collaborative relationships with people from diversebackgrounds, both internally and externally.
• Hold yourself and others accountable for a high level of performance and integrity.
• Have an understanding and awareness of workers’ rights impacting SAG-AFTRAmembers.
• Able to invite, accept and give constructive feedback.
• Able to effectively project and manage the local’s budget and other related financialmatters.
• Must be available and willing to work extended hours per day or per week, includingweekends and holidays, as SAG-AFTRA determines is necessary to meet its businessneeds.
• Must be available and willing to travel to such locations and with such frequency asSAG-AFTRA determines is necessary or desirable to meet its business needs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and/or Experience:

• Undergraduate degree in relevant field from an accredited college/university ; or anequivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5 + years of management/supervisory experience.
• Experience in labor negotiations and collective bargaining agreement enforcement, labororganizations, union organizing, or non-profit administration.

Certificates, licenses, and/or registrations:

• Must have a current driver’s license, automobile (in reliable working condition), andcurrent automobile insurance that meets the state minimum requirements.

PREFERRED BACKGROUND:

• Knowledge of entertainment and/or news and broadcast industry, as well as issues affecting creative artists and professional workers, strongly preferred.
• Juris Doctor or advanced degree in labor relations preferred.

What You’ll Get

We are a great place to work because we offer:

• Annually salary of $158,751.00
• Colleagues that are passionate about what we do and how they contribute to our mission
• Balance between work and home life responsibilities
• Affordable and comprehensive medical and dental plans
• Generous pension plan
• Employee discounts and perks