Labor Standards Director

AFL-CIO; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The AFL-CIO is seeking a Labor Standards Director in Washington, DC to lead policies that expand workers’ rights to organize and bargain. You will work with policy teams, affiliates, and allies to develop campaigns and public strategies that extend bargaining power across private, public, and gig sectors.

The role requires 8–10 years in labor with at least 5 years in management, plus strong research and outreach skills and willingness to travel.

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience in labor unions or advocacy groups.
• Proven ability to build consensus across departments, affiliates, and allies.
• Strong background in policy research and evidence-based advocacy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; public speaking ability.

Responsibilities

• Oversee AFL-CIO efforts to coordinate policy discussions and build consensus on workers’ rights to organize and bargain.
• Lead development and implementation of strategies and campaigns with departments, affiliates, and allies.
• Conceive, develop, and design research projects in support of such policies.
• Oversee production of promotional materials supporting policies.
• Represent AFL-CIO in policy discussions at public events or coalition tables.
• Lead analysis and synthesis of varied policy proposals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Consensus-building

Policy research

Communications

Project management

Public speaking

Travel willingness

Job description

Are you passionate about economic fairness and social justice? Do you want to improve the lives of working people and strengthen the labor movement? If you answered, “Yes!” then the AFL-CIO may be the right place for you. We are the largest federation of labor unions in the United States, and our team of dynamic professionals is dedicated to growing worker power and ensuring every working person has a voice on the job. When you work at the AFL-CIO, you’re more than just an individual employee—you’re helping to lead a movement with a proud history and a bright future ahead.

The Labor Standards Director is responsible for developing and promoting policies that expand and strengthen workers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain. This includes public policies at all levels of government, from state and local to federal levels, utilizing legislation, regulation, and other levers to ensure workers can exercise their bargaining power to improve their lives and the broader economy. These policies may relate to all categories of workers: private sector, public sector, gig workers, and other types of workers hitherto excluded from bargaining coverage. This is a management-level position, working with the policy and legislative staff, other departments of the AFL-CIO, affiliates, and allies to develop and implement policies and campaigns for such policies.

The AFL-CIO Advocacy Hub unifies the labor movement around the policy agenda that serves America's working people. The Advocacy Hub convenes and coordinates the policy agendas of the 65 affiliate unions, and often non-affiliate unions and allied organizations as well, prioritizes, and then advances a clear and coherent labor movement agenda to the halls of power.

The Labor Standards Director position is a part of the Advocacy Hub, working under the Director of Advocacy.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

• Oversee AFL-CIO efforts to coordinate discussions and build consensus among the AFL-CIO Departments, affiliates, and allies on policies that expand or strengthen workers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain;
• Lead the development and implementation of strategies and campaigns in collaboration with departments, affiliates, and allies in support of such policies
• Conceive, develop, and design research projects in support of such policies.
• Oversee the development and review of the production of promotional material in support of such policies.
• Represent the AFL-CIO at policy and campaign discussions, whether at public events or coalition tables, related to such policies.
• Lead the analysis, interpretation, and synthesis of varied proposals related to such policies.
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• At least 8-10 years of experience working for labor unions, with at least 5 years of experience in management, including a leadership position in a bargaining, organizing, political, or issue campaign.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in leading consensus-building efforts on policy or strategy across organizations.
• Knowledge of and experience with union organizing and/or bargaining campaigns and their interactions with law and policy.
• Demonstrated ability to direct and oversee policy research and analysis, including identifying and engaging reliable resources and experts.
• Ability to manage multiple streams of work.
• Ability to manage, develop, and provide direction to expert staff.
• Excellent listening, interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective time and people management skills.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing strategic plans to advance organizational goals.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead teams and work effectively in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in politically sensitive and high-pressure environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead conflict resolution efforts while maintaining important and effective relationships.
• Ability to speak publicly and persuasively.
• Ability and willingness to travel as required.
• Ability and willingness to work long hours and weekends as required.