Independent Education Union of Australia WA Branch

Position Description

Job Title: / Organiser/Professional Learning Coordinator
Work Location: / Rivervale, (Perth) WA
Work Conditions: / Contract of Employment and Clerks Private Sector Award / Full-time
Part-time
Section: / Organising
Reports To (Title): / General Secretary
Liaises With: / Members including Teachers, Support Staff, Undergraduates, Retired Teachers, Delegates and Member Coordinators
Employers including Catholic and Independent School Principals
About the Organisation:
The IEUA WA Branch operates in the Federal Industrial Relations system through the Fair Work Commission (FWC) and the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC).
The primary objectives of the union are to protect and advance the professional and industrial interests of its members. The union has been in operation for more than fifty years.
Members are Teachers and Support Staff who are employed in the non-government education sector including primary and secondary schools throughout Western Australia.
The IEU offers a collegial and supportive working environment working with a team of dedicated staff including Organisers, Industrial Officers and Member Services staff.
Vision: / “To be regarded as a constructive, influential and authoritative union of members that:
•  Is able to effectively advocate for and achieve social, economic, workplace and professional advancement for its members;
•  Is an integral part of a member’s career and identity; and
•  Is instrumental in shaping the strategic direction of education in Western Australia.”
Mission: / “To have the resources and knowledge to provide quality and timely service and advice that facilitates collective action in protecting and advancing the interests of members.”
Values: / Honesty (Transparency and Integrity), Respect, Social Justice, Collectivism.
Key Result Areas: / The organisation measures its performance by implementing various actions to achieve goals and objectives relating to the following areas:
1.  Member Services and Advancement;
2.  Industrial and Political Advocacy;
3.  Financial Management;
4.  Internal Management Systems and Processes (including Governance); and
5.  Organisational Learning and Growth.
Key Purposes of this dual Role:
The staff member in this position will have the responsibility for coordinating the Professional Learning program the IEU provides to members, equal to 0.4 FTE time fraction.
The Professional Learning Coordinator will work closely with members, including a Reference Group of members to ensure that the IEU’s Professional Learning program is of high quality and relevant to the needs of all groups of members.
The balance of the position is an Organising role, 0.6FTE.
The most significant aspects of that role are to build union strength and capacity in schools by:
-  Recruiting new members to the union to increase membership density
-  Retaining members
-  Supporting members to become workplace delegates or Membership coordinators in their schools
-  Working closely with workplace delegates, particularly in regard to workplace issues affecting more than one member
-  Building workplace activism
-  Supporting members in collective campaigns, actions and activities
-  Providing initial assistance to members who have individual issues
-  Actively supporting members in Enterprise Bargaining at their workplace
Organisers will use and develop skills in negotiation, dispute resolution and member representation.
IEU Organisers are expected to commit to working effectively as a member of the Organising team.
Key Responsibilities:

Member Services and Advancement

# / Key Responsibility / Tasks
1. / Contribute to building and maintaining an effective workplace delegate structure / ·  Identify, develop and support Workplace Delegates and Membership coordinators
·  Communicate effectively with Workplace Delegates and Membership coordinators
2. / Recruit new members including Early Career teachers / ·  Join up new members using presentations, conversations, rapport, objection handling, overcoming challenges and completion of forms
·  Give presentations to groups of staff to promote union services and the relevance of union membership
3. / Build the presence of the union in the workplace / ·  Maintain a current list of school staff in relevant schools
·  Organise school visits
·  Follow up potential and unfinancial members
·  Have one-on-one conversations with members/answer queries
·  Keep members up-to-date on relevant issues
·  Distribute and gather information
·  Promote Member Professional Learning opportunities
·  Be a source of accurate information about Teacher Registration matters
·  Active involvement in worksite or system wide Enterprise Bargaining
·  Promote and demonstrate the ‘Curriculum Organiser’ program
3. / Retain Existing Members / -  Negotiate with members at risk and resigned members including overcoming objections and overcoming challenges
4. / Resolve school based issues locally / ·  Work with delegates to ensure there is active member involvement in regard to disputed or contentious matters
·  Consult with members to identify key workplace issues and support members and Workplace Delegates in resolving these issues
6.  5. / Enhance and establish Professional Learning opportunities for members / ·  Develop targeted training and learning opportunities for members across all membership groups
·  Deliver and/or coordinate Professional Learning presentations
·  Identify and implement technology solutions that will provide regional and remote members with the opportunity to participate in Professional Learning programs
·  Work with Teacher Learning Network (TLN) to provide Professional Learning courses for members
·  Provide access and/or deliver training opportunities in Occupational Safety and Health for members and Occupational Safety and Heath representatives
·  Provide seminars to assist members in meeting the regulatory requirements to achieve or maintain Teacher Registration
·  Conduct surveys to ascertain the Professional Learning needs of members

Industrial and Political Advocacy

# / Key Responsibility / Tasks
1. / Workplace advocacy including Enterprise Bargaining / ·  Liaise with members to identify key workplace issues
·  Provide initial advocacy and assist members with workplace grievances in collaboration with the IEU Industrial Team
·  Run campaigns at schools – petitions, surveys, information gathering
·  Occupational Safety and Health in Schools – collect and update school information, plan and produce OSH information kits
·  Advise members of their entitlements, rights and responsibilities in accordance with relevant Awards, Agreements and legislation
·  Consult with members regarding Collective Agreements
·  Attend bargaining meetings as a member of the IEU bargaining team;
·  Ensure that the best interest of members are achieved through the negotiations
Competencies, Education and Work Experience Criteria:
Essential
·  A demonstrated commitment to trade unionism and social justice
·  High level verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders
·  Exceptional interpersonal skills including the ability to deal sensitively with members, manage professional relationships and work well in a team
·  Computer proficiency (MS Office – Word, Excel and Outlook)
·  Must be able to work under pressure, meet deadlines and manage difficult situations
·  A proven capacity to independently manage workload and exercise initiative
·  Strong strategic thinking and planning skills
·  Relevant education or training qualifications
·  An understanding of the principles of adult learning
·  Ability to understand relevant legislation as it applies to the education sector
·  Ability to advocate for and represent members
·  Current drivers licence
Desirable
·  A background in education, human resource management, industrial or union activity

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