Organizational Specialist (Temporary)

National Education Association; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 118,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Education Association seeks a Regional Organizing Advisor to join the Northeast Region team. The incumbent provides organizing guidance to local and state affiliates, develops strategic organizing plans, and coaches UniServ staff and activists to grow membership.

You will partner with other NEA centers to craft campaigns around policy issues, deliver trainings, report progress, and help affiliates scale successful strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
• Experience in organizing, strategic planning, crisis management, or related advocacy work.
• Willing to work weekends and late evenings; extensive travel (over 90 overnights/year).
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to use data analytics.

Responsibilities

• Provide organizing advice and assistance to affiliates on developing and executing strategic organizing plans.
• Support capacity building, team building, and education reform efforts.
• Partner with NEA centers to organize around state and federal policy issues and develop scalable strategies.
• Model and deliver hands-on coaching and training to organizing projects and campaigns.

Skills

Field organizing experience

Training experience

Leadership

Data analytics

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master's degree desirable

Job description

Posting Period: September 08, 2026 - Until Filled

Employee Group Type: AFSE Association Field Service Employees, OO128 Center for Organizing & Affiliate Support (C4OAS)

Position Type: Temporary (Fixed Term)

Salary Range: $118,000.00 - $165,240.00

This position supports the NEA’s strategic objective to focus the energy and resources of its 3 million members toward the promotion of public education by providing a variety of professional services with strong emphasis on membership and organizing for the Center for Organizing and Affiliate Support.

Position Summary: The incumbent serves as a member of the Northeast Region team providing organizing advice and assistance to assigned local and state affiliates on a variety of areas, such as developing and executing strategic organizing plans, organization development, strategic planning, capacity building, team building, and education reform. The work includes partnering with other NEA Centers to organize around state and federal policy issues and develop strategies to assist affiliates in achieving NEA’s strategic goals. The incumbent will model and provide hands‑on coaching and training to organizing projects and campaigns, with the intent of developing skills and capacity among field staff, UniServ staff, local leaders, worksite leaders and activists for the purpose of increasing membership and organizing successfully in new markets. The incumbent will partner with state and local affiliates to recruit and train trainers in the basics of organizing, develop a variety of materials to support, present and report on progress in the targeted sites and promote mutually developed effective strategies and programs to affiliates and NEA. The incumbent will also coordinate with NEA and state communications staff to deliver strategic communications in targeted sites to grow and engage membership as well as aid the field teams in assessing and sharing their learnings with our stakeholders as a basis for developing and scaling effective membership organizing strategies in all affiliates. The employee uses effective interpersonal skills and an understanding of group/human dynamics to develop and promote organizing/capacity‑building strategies. To carry out these responsibilities, the incumbent submits regular reports and uses a personal computer, associated software, and other office automation technology and travels extensively by various conveyances, including driving a car.

Minimum Education Requirement: Bachelor's degree or equivalent. Minimum Qualifications: Experience as an employee on an Association staff or an advocacy organization with primary duties in one or more of the following areas: organizing, strategic planning, crisis management, collective bargaining, public relations, communications, and/or legislative/political action. Other Requirements: Writing samples (training, facilitation, strategic planning, reports, etc.) may be required at time of interview. Must be able to work weekends and late evenings. Extensive travel (over 90 overnights per year) is required. Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Selection Criteria: Tier 1 (Essential): Demonstrated field experience in an accepted organizing model related to membership growth. Training experience in the basics of organizing. Demonstrated experience and accomplishments in working with leaders, members, and affiliates in problem solving, conflict management, and creative and critical thinking. Demonstrated ability to lead affiliates in conceptualizing, planning, and executing timely, within budget, outcome oriented and mutually-developed projects while using data analytics to shape and guide the ongoing work. Excellent communication (both oral and written), interpersonal, and analytical skills. Demonstrated ability to participate as a professional team member in collaborative activities, including demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with team members and with diverse client systems. Proven effective consultation, coaching, presentation, training, and facilitation skills, including experience synthesizing information. Demonstrated effectiveness producing written products under stringent timeframes and changing priorities/conditions, including ability to self-schedule. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in conjunction with the demands of extensive travel. Significant experience in and knowledge of organizing, collective bargaining, membership recruitment and retention issues. Successful references. Tier 2 (Significant): Demonstrated high motivation level and willingness to take risks by experimenting with new techniques for business solutions. Positive openness toward continual learning and self-development. Demonstrated ability to support NEA and affiliate partnership and coalition efforts with other organizations. Effective skills in developing and maintaining productive trust relationships. Experience in and knowledge of organizational development/effectiveness, project design, development, tracking and whole person development. Tier 3 (Desirable): Master’s degree.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the following is provided: The position involves skill in using a computer and/or laptop; oral and written communication skills; skills in proofreading and editing; use of clear and articulate speech; interpersonal relations skills; reasoning and problem‑solving skills; ability to work in a fast‑paced environment; ability to sit for long periods, stoop, bend, reach and carry light materials (up to 10 lbs.); and ability to travel by various methods of transportation, e.g., airplane, car.

NEA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability.

NEA Participates in E-Verify. Right to Work.

NEA complies with the DC Wage Transparency Act of 2023.