General Description
CTA Region 4 covers most of the southern portion of California and includes all of San Diego, Imperial, Orange and Riverside Counties and a portion of San Bernardino County as well. Areas within Region 4 are often at the forefront of extremist attacks on public education. Region 4 has a mix of urban, suburban and rural chapters that range in size. Travel within this large region is a frequent and regular part of this assignment.

Region 4 serves approximately 84,000 members within 147 locals. The position requires systemic organizing around state and local elections, including school board races.  Strong interpersonal communication skills, technology skills and the ability to work effectively with management, CTA staff, leaders and members are critical attributes for this assignment. This assignment requires strong political advocacy and political organizing skills to assist field staff and chapter leaders with their political action plans.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Organize members to elect CTA's recommended candidates and support CTA's political action goals.
• Provide locals with assistance in campaign planning and execution, including budgeting, working on campaign mail, digital advertisements, grassroots voter outreach and other campaign plan needs.
• Provide locals with assistance in forming PACs and fulfilling political reporting requirements.
• Assist chapters in acquiring CTA support, including CTA/ABC funding, for local endorsed candidates and/or issues.
• Assist chapters in bargaining or other local organizing campaigns and provide political and organizing support as needed.
• Assist in the implementation of governmental relations training and services for chapters, leaders, and staff including development and distribution of political resource materials, and organization and execution of training services including political academies, Presidents Conference, Summer Institute assignments, multi-day trainings, and regional and county-based trainings.
• Provide training using a variety of methods and tools including computer-assisted presentations.
• Liaison to political party conventions, coalitions and CTA State Council of Education as assigned.
• Serve as the governmental relations liaison with regional CTA Regional UniServ staff and with CTA leadership.
• Aid in the implementation of assessment and recommendation procedures and receipt and referral of funding requests.
• Support CTA legislative priorities.
• Provide assistance in the implementation of the CTA-NEA state and federal contact programs.
• Assist in developing local participation in CTA-NEA Governmental Relations Awards programs.
• Promote membership in CTA, CTA/ABC, NEA-PAC, and CTA Issues PAC.
• Assist in the preparation of political action materials for CTA events.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of CTA’s political databases.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or higher degree preferred.
• A working knowledge of the California political processes, functions of the State government, and political campaign compliance.
• Demonstrated knowledge of all the necessary elements for a political campaign plan.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and explain relevant legislative and political processes.
• Ability to work cooperatively with members, staff, and public.
• Working knowledge of CTA-NEA political action programs and governance structure is desirable.
• Deep understanding of the issues facing the public schools and the education profession.
• Experience in fast-paced campaigns situations, including contract campaigns, strikes and political campaigns.
• Demonstrated support for racial, social, and economic justice; worker's rights; and a well-funded public education system.
• Adaptable and flexible. Able to adjust seamlessly and effectively to changing factors and conditions that impact CTA campaigns, projects and other union programs.
• Experience in organizing and campaigning, with relentless drive to proactively surpass campaign/program goals under pressure and with the tenacity to tackle challenges head-on in a fast-paced, dynamic, and rapidly changing environment.
• Computer proficiency in the Microsoft Suite and the ability to learn and use the Association's software programs.
• Ability to communicate clearly, verbally and in writing.  Bilingual/Spanish preferred.
• Ability to work and travel regularly, including evenings and weekends.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid California Driver’s License.

* This position is in a bargaining unit represented by CSO. Salaries are established by a collective bargaining agreement. Step placement is also determined by the CTA/CSO Agreement.