POSITION DESCRIPTION: PSA CAMPAIGN ORGANISER

Position: PSA Campaign organiser

Position status and location: This is a permanent position and is based in our Wellington office.

Reporting to: National secretaries and assistant secretaries

Staff reports: None

Cost centre sign off: To be considered

Date: September 2012

Purpose of this position

This is an organising role which is designed to develop, initiate and support campaigning work that links the PSA's political and industrial agendas. It is intended to strengthen the campaigning focus of organising by identifying opportunities for campaigns, particularly around restructuring and providing campaign support for organisers. The campaign organiser will also develop and lead political campaigns. It is intended that this role also provide an external link to campaigns run by other groups, including the CTU, other unions and community and advocacy groups and builds support for the PSA campaigns with these groups.

Reporting

This position reports to the national and assistant secretaries. Day to day supervision will be provided by one national and one assistant secretary.

Working relationships

Internal: / External:
National secretaries
Assistant secretaries
Communications team
Policy team
Organisers
Local and national organising teams / CTU and campaign staff
Campaign staff in other unions
Community and advocacy organisations

Location

The position will be located in Wellington but will work across the country. The location is in Wellington because of the need for close and constant co-work with the policy and communications teams and with the secretaries.

Status

This is an organising role and is therefore on the pay steps for organisers plus allowances.

Key accountabilities

Key Accountabilities / Activities

Campaign planning

/ Develop overall work programme for agreement of national secretaries
Design, develop and monitor campaign plans, including clear objectives and deliverables
Identify outcomes that advance PSA interests
Marshall resources to support plans
Adapt and revise plans as circumstances change
Manage within designated budget
Report regularly on activity and progress

Delivering campaigns

/ Lead campaigns or elements of campaigns
Model effective campaign management and best practice
Build campaign capacity amongst staff and delegates
Ensure database of activists is maintained
Explore and implement different campaign methodologies

Support for organisers

/ Assist organisers to build campaign plans around industrial events and in particular restructuring
Support campaign activities at enterprise and worksite level, as required
Organise activities to support the campaign, in conjunction with other staff.
Attend activities as appropriate

Make effective use of strategy and support teams to support campaigns

/ Work with policy and communications teams on campaign plans, resources and communications
Identify resources required from support teams, in particular IT team.

Building external support

/ Identifying key organisations or campaigns with which we have shared interests and building constructive relationships and joint activity.
Assist organisers by identifying potential allies and assisting organisers to connect with relevant community groups and allies.

Liaison with external campaigns

/ Building relationships with and collaborating with CTU, affiliates and other groups on campaign activities.
Developing synergies between the PSA and other campaigns and using these to create opportunities for PSA workplace activity.

Organising

/ Any other organising duties, as agreed between the parties

Person Specification

Technical/professional knowledge/skills

Experience in union organising

Experience in planning and running campaigns

Skills and experience in networking

Excellent communication skills, including writing, public speaking, preparing and delivering presentations, and use of social media

Attributes

Politically and industrially astute

Motivate themself and others

Well organised and able to manage projects

Working with others in teams

Imaginative and creative, able to generate innovative ideas

Able to build effective relationships with internal and external parties

Working at the PSA

PSA Employment Principles

The management of the PSA is committed to being a good employer and providing a quality working environment; a process of constructive engagement with staff through their unions; and operating fair, transparent and consistent employment processes and good faith principles.

Our organisational values

The PSA takes a strategic approach to unionism and our organisation values are:

·  collectivity and solidarity

·  trust and integrity

·  accountability.

Leadership and Management style in the PSA

The PSA aims to achieve an optimal balance between an empowering leadership style and ensuring sufficient accountability for achieving the strategic outcomes of the union.

By empowering leadership style we mean encouraging people and teams to take individual and collective responsibility for making appropriate decisions within their sphere of influence and to manage their work effectively. The PSA has staff working in teams with a dual emphasis on self-management and team work. Within the context of the PSA’s team based approach to work, an empowering style means developing the ability of teams to co-ordinate and control their work and to work effectively with others to achieve the union’s strategic goals.

National and Assistant Secretaries hold management accountabilities which enable them to make appropriate decisions whilst being mindful of the PSA employment principles.

Treaty of Waitangi

The PSA affirms the te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa / New Zealand and is committed to the Treaty principles of partnership, protection and participation in activities pursuant to the purpose and objects of the union as they relate to the working lives of members.

Professional Development

PSA staff members have the responsibility to consider their own personal and professional development. Staff are expected to provide collegial support to co-workers and contribute to the mentoring of less experienced staff. Staff will also participate in individual and collective professional development.

Health and safety

All staff shall take all practicable steps to ensure their safety at work and that no action or inaction of the staff causes harm to any other person.

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