Director – Retail Action Project – New York, NY

The Retail Action Project (RAP) is seeking a Director to build staff leadership and worker power in the retail industry through engaging in collective action, highlighting worker voices, growing workers’ professional capacity, and nurturing member leadership. The Director is responsible for supervising RAP’s team, overseeing the building of worker committees, providing vision for campaigns, and growing community support for retail worker organizing.

We are a member-based organization with the mission of building worker power, elevating industry standards, and promoting family-sustaining jobs. RAP is an initiative of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

One in nine Americans work in retail – yet most corporate retailers pay below a living wage and engage in abusive just-in-time scheduling practices. Workers struggle not only with underemployment but also unpredictable schedules that change with little notice. Scheduling practices affect how much retail workers take home in pay, whether or not they receive health benefits, and workers’ ability to balance life and work. We are building worker power across the retail industry by supporting workers organizing for the jobs that they deserve.

Director Responsibilities

Supervision: Supervise and provide professional development support to all RAP staff.
Worker Organizing: Develop the leadership of workers to advance strategic store campaigns to address unpredictable, part-time, or discriminatory scheduling issues.
Membership Building: Assist in membership engagement and oversee follow-up with new RAP members.
Engagement: Work with RWDSU locals to maximize the union and RAP’s presence in the retail industry.
Industry Knowledge: Monitor retail industry trends and news.
Coalition Support: Engage allied organizations and individuals to support worker organizing.
Legal Action: Track labor violations experienced by workers.
Operations: Oversee the management and procedures of the RAP office.

Qualifications

Minimum of three years experience leading campaigns to organize low-wage workers
Experience supervising at least two full-time staff
Demonstrated commitment to social, economic, racial, and gender justice
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, manage and prioritize multiple tasks, and work with attention to detail
Capacity to critically assess effectiveness of strategies and make adjustments as needed
Demonstrated ability to relate to and work with diverse groups of people
Self-motivated
Strong listening, writing, and communication skills
Willingness to work long and irregular hours, including evenings or weekends as needed
Work experience or knowledge of the retail or fashion industry preferred
Minimum of a two-year employment commitment desired

How to apply

Women, people of color, and members of the LGBT community are strongly encouraged to apply. The RWDSU is an equal opportunity employer. Competitive salary and benefits.

Please send a resume, three professional references, and a cover letter stating specifically why you are interested in the position and building power with retail workers to pandrews@rwdsu.org. The position is open until filled, and applications received early will be reviewed with preference. No phone calls, please.

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