NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS HEADQUARTERS
Hamilton House Mabledon Place London WC1H 9BD
Telephone 020 7388 6191 Fax 020 7387 8458

General Secretary Christine Blower
Deputy General Secretary Kevin Courtney
October 2015

Dear Applicant

ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY – ORGANISING AND MEMBERSHIP

JD Ref: OM01 – RE-ADVERTISEMENT

Thank you for your interest in the above permanent appointment with the National Union of Teachers. The following information is enclosed which will assist you submitting your application:

Letter of Welcome from the General Secretary

Job Description and Person Specification (including departmental structure)

Information about the NUT

Details for submission of application

Summary of Conditions of Service and salary

The Union's Equal Opportunities Employment Policy Statement

Application Form

Please note that the deadline for us to receive your completed application form ismiddayFriday 30thOctober 2015.

Due to the response rates we receive, we are only able to write to those applicants who are placed on the shortlist for interview. We also regret we are unable to provide feedback to applicants who are not shortlisted for interview.

If you have any general enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the Personnel Section on 020 7380 4747, in the first instance.

Yours sincerely

CHRISTINE HURLEY

Principal Officer – Personnel

Business Services Department

Welcome letter from the General Secretary

Dear Applicant,

AttheNUTweareveryproudof our longheritageof organisingtheteachingprofessionand campaigning for education.Welookforwardto continuingthat workinto thefuture.Weareproud of being a lay led union andtheleadershipteamthat youwill be joiningareabsolutelyclearaboutourpriorities andourmission. Wearethe largestTeacher’sUnioninEuropeandwearegrowing. We are an organising union that seeks to engage our members across all their diversity in defending the profession, campaigning for education and ensuring good pay and conditions. Weprovideabroadrangeof servicestoourmembers; representingthemindividually and collectively,wenegotiate discounts with organisationsforthem,we runtraininganddevelopment. Weplaya fullpartin theTUCandin the internationalfora of teachers’organisations.

We are seeking to recruit to the key role of Assistant General Secretary – Organising and Membership who as a member of the Union’s senior management team, will support the General Secretary in the development and production of strategic plans to deliver the Union’s key objectives. The successful applicant will have senior management and leadership experience within a trade union, be highly articulate with outstanding interpersonal, communication and negotiating skills and will have a collaborative and facilitative approach to leadership. A thorough understanding of the trade union movement, the education service and organising with the ability to develop and implement strategies to recruit, retain and engage members are also required.

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity and if you believe you have the qualities and experience for the role of Assistant General Secretary – Organising and Membership, we would very much like to hear from you.

ChristineBlower

NUTGeneralSecretary

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE:ORGANISING AND MEMBERSHIP (OMO1)

GRADE:ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY – BAND 1

DEPARTMENT:ORGANISING AND MEMBERSHIP

LOCATION:HEADQUARTERS

RESPONSIBLE TO:GENERAL SECRETARY

DIRECT REPORTSSEE STRUCTURE CHART ATTACHED

ROLE OF DEPARTMENT

The Organising and Membership Department is responsible for activities related to the organising and recruitment and retention of members at all levels within the Union. Membership recruitment alongside growing and supporting the union’s activist base is of the highest priority for the Union, for the Executive and for all its standing committees and departments.

The Department has responsibility for overseeing the work of the Union’s regional and Wales offices (see Role of the Regional/Wales Offices below) and for coordinating their work and links with HQ departments. The Department is responsible for ensuring that the lay structures of the union are supported effectively through the work of the regional and Wales offices and for industrial action matters other than national action.

The Organising and Membership Department has a key role in ensuring that the agreed policies of the Union are taken forward through the Union’s regional and Wales offices and lay structures and in ways that will both aid recruitment and deliver greater engagement with the union in line with its organising agenda. The Department has a duty to identify issues or activities which would be an aid to such activity.

The Department includes the section responsible for the collection and recording of membership subscriptions. There is a requirement for regular reports on membership trends, nationally, regionally, by division and by local associations. From time to time the section will be required to provide other reports in respect of particular groups of teachers, areas of the country or other criteria. These reports are essential in order to promote and market the Union. Membership statistics also need to be analysed in order to identify trends, problems which need to be addressed and potential areas of growth. This section is also responsible for the preparation, production and distribution of membership credentials.

Recruitment programmes need to be established and developed in respect of the specific recruitment requirements of student membership; conversion from student membership to in-service membership; in-service recruitment generally; and activities directed towards the recruitment of specific groups within the profession including head teachers and deputy head teachers.

The Department has responsibility for the co-ordination and monitoring of the Union's national membership effort including activities at regional, division and local association level.

These activities include the development of procedures; the deployment to the best effect of staff engaged in membership work; the provision of support and assistance to recruitment activities at local level; and the production of membership recruitment materials.

The training of members including local officers and school representatives is an integral part of the Union’s organising agenda. The Department has responsibility for the union’s training programme delivered at national, regional, Wales or local level. The department has direct responsibility for the planning and administration of the national training programme and for the provision of guidance and materials

The provision of benefits and services for Union members is a significant element in the promotion of membership generally and maximising such benefits and responsibility for liaison with those providing them falls within the remit of the department.

The Department has responsibilities for the development of the Union's policies towards professional unity and for relationships with those organisations which are the subject of special agreements.

THE ROLE OF THE REGIONAL OFFICES AND THE WALES OFFICE:

The Union has eight regional offices (Northern, North West, Yorkshire/Midland, Midlands, Eastern, South East, South West and London) and a Wales Office, NUT Cymru.

The regional offices have responsibility for supporting our local associations and divisions in their organising work and taking the Union’s services into schools and providing advice, guidance and support to members both on an individual and collective basis.

Each Regional Office is managed by a Regional Secretary who has overall responsibility for the work and efficiency of the office. They are assisted by a team of Regional Officers based in the Regional Office who undertake members’ casework including up to representation at tribunal, participating in negotiations with local employers, undertaking organising and recruitment activities and campaigns, providing training for local Union representatives and promoting the Union locally. Other staffing includes a Principal Officer who undertakes day-to-day administrative direction of the Regional Office and a Casework Support Officer together with a small administrative/clerical support team. Organisers are based at each Regional Office but are managed by the Head of Organising.

Additionally each Regional Office in England (and the NUT Cymru Office in Wales) has a Solicitor providing legal assistance to members and to the Union generally in the region (Wales) (the Union’s Senior Solicitor at HQ has overall responsibility for all legal aspects of the Union's work). This includes the representation of individual members in the Courts and Tribunals and involves technical work in legal processes. Further assistance on all aspects of professional services is offered at regional level.

The Regional Secretary has overall responsibility for the work and efficiency of the Regional Office. The Principal Officer undertakes day-to-day administrative direction of the Regional Office and is assisted by two Professional/Administrative Officers. In addition, the Administrative/Clerical Assistants are responsible for providing assistance of an organisational, administrative, secretarial and clerical nature relevant to their particular areas of work.

The Wales Office also has responsibility for fulfilling the functions outlined above. It serves an area which is co-terminus with a national boundary, in which there are two national languages. The National Assembly for Wales is responsible for education in Wales. Each of these special circumstances adds an extra dimension to the work of the Wales Office. The national status of the office is acknowledged by the existence of Welsh institutions within the Union structure. The National Assembly’s responsibility for education in Wales is reflected by relevant additional staffing support including a Wales Policy Officer and an Organising, Communications and Campaigns Policy Officer. The presence of two national languages is, in turn, reflected by the increasing use of bilingualism in the work of the Union in Wales.

GENERAL DUTIES

The General Secretary has overall responsibility for the management and administration of the Union and all members of the senior management team and other staff work under her/his general direction. The Senior Solicitor has overall responsibility for legal aspects of the Union's work. The departments of the Union are headed by a member of the Senior Management Team (which includes the Assistant General Secretaries) who have responsibility for the supervision and management of staff within their department and their effective deployment to allow the Union to respond to and initiate activities in the most dynamic way.

Heads of sections and Principal Officers are responsible to their head of department for assisting in providing advice on Union policy development, implementation and promotion of policies and activities. Under the direction of their head of department, they have day-to-day managerial and administration responsibilities for a specific section and/or areas of work within their departments. Heads of sections and Principal Officers may be called upon by their head of department from time-to-time to deputise in his or her absence.

Heads of sections and Principal Officers are also expected to co-operate and liaise with colleagues from other departments. Heads of Department, other than the head of department to whom they are directly responsible, may have policy responsibilities in areas of a Principal Officer's work. Principal Officers will therefore have a functional relationship with those Heads of Department.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. To support the General Secretary as a member of the senior leadership team in the achievement of the Union’s goals, includingthedevelopmentandproductionofstrategicplans,which successfully take forwardtheUnion’s agreedkeyobjectives.
  1. To provide oversight of the work of the Union’s offices to ensure the consistent and effective delivery of organising and campaigning priorities and services to members and lay officers. To line manage the regional/Wales secretaries who manage those offices.
  1. To line manage the Head of Organising and oversee the work of the organising section of the department to ensure the effective delivery of the Union’s objectives and the coordination of work between the team and the work of the regional and Wales offices.
  1. To line manage the Head of Membership and Subscriptions and oversee the work of the subscription, recruitment and retention section of the department including the monitoring of the Union’s membership figures and density and strategies to maximise recruitment and retention.
  1. To line manage the PO for Learning and oversee the work of the Union’s training and professional development section to ensure that learning programs assist in taking forward the Union’s strategic objectives.
  1. To line manage the PO for Partnerships and Membership Services and oversee the work of this section including the development of the Young Teachers Conference, affinity partnerships and relationships with partner unions.
  1. To be Secretary to the main committee of the Executive relevant to the area of work – the Organising and Membership Committee.
  1. To have overall responsibility for the management of the OM budget and resources.
  1. To have responsibility for action matters in relation to local industrial action and act as Secretary to the Union’s Action Sub Committee.
  1. To have responsibility for the development of work in relation to the oversight of the Union’s Professional Unity policy.
  1. To ensure that the work of all sections of the department and the work of the regional and Wales offices is effectively coordinated to ensure the delivery of the Union’s strategic objectives, including the support provided to school representatives which may originate from different departments within the Union.
  1. To undertake other duties as directed by the General Secretary from time to time.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

1.SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Essential Criteria

(a)High level management and leadership skills to ensure effective oversight and coordination of key areas of the Union’s work.

(b)Highly articulatewith outstandinginterpersonal,oral,written communicationskillsandnegotiatingskills.

(c)Proven ability tothinkstrategically using sound judgment and withstronganalytical and decision-makingskills.

(d)A provencollaborativeandfacilitativeapproachtoleadership,withthe capacitytosupportanddeveloptheseniorteam andalllevels withinthe organization.

(e)A teamworker,abletobuildeffective partnerships andproductive relationshipswithinternalandexternalpeople andorganizations.

(f)A thorough understanding of the trade union movement and the education service.

(g)A thorough understanding of trade union organising and the development and implementation of strategies to recruit, retain and engage members.

(h)Knowledge of and commitment to diversity and ability to apply such knowledge effectively in the role.

(i)An understanding of trade union training programs and their delivery and application.

(j)General knowledge of employment law, industrial action legislation, teachers’ pay and conditions.

Desirable Criteria

(a)None

2.QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION

Essential Criteria

(a)Degree or equivalent

Desirable Criteria

(a)None

3.EXPERIENCE

Essential Criteria

(a)Proven management experience at a senior level within a trade union or similar organisation.

(b)Experience in working in some roles relevant to the various section of the post.

Desirable Criteria

(a)None

4.SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Essential Criteria

(a)A full and valid driving licence.

(b)A willingness to travel frequently throughout the Union’s regional areas and Wales, occasionally for extended periods and to attend the Union’s Annual Conference and any Special Conferences.

(c)A firm commitment to the trade union movement, to the role of teacher unions in particular and to the belief that enhancing the teaching profession is an essential element in a quality public education service.

(d)A firm commitment to providing high quality Union services to members.

(e)An understanding of and commitment to the NUTs objectives to promote equality and oppose unfair treatment.

Desirable Criteria

(a)None

Areas Covered
REGION AREA 1
NUT Northern Regional Office
3 McMillan Close
Saltwell Business Park
GATESHEAD
NE9 5BF / City of Sunderland, City of York, Cumbria, Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Redcar & Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton
REGION AREA 2
NUT North West Regional Office
25 Chorley New Road
BOLTON
Lancashire
BL1 4QR / Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Bolton, Bury, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Isle of Man, Knowsley, Lancashire, Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, St Helens, Salford, Sefton, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Warrington, Wigan, Wirral
REGION AREA 3
NUT Yorkshire/Midland Regional Office
Lazarus House (First Floor)
14 Princes Street
DONCASTER
DN1 3NJ / Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Derby City, Derbyshire, Doncaster, East Riding of Yorkshire, Grimsby, Hull, Kirklees, Leeds, Lincolnshire, North of Lincolnshire, Nottingham City, Nottinghamshire, Rotherham, Sheffield, Wakefield
REGION AREA 4
NUT Midlands Regional Office
Tudor Court
8 Edward Street
BIRMINGHAM
B1 2RX / Birmingham, City of Leicester, Coventry, Dudley, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Sandwell, Shropshire, Solihull, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton, Worcestershire, The Wrekin
REGION AREA 5
NUT Eastern Regional Office
Elm House
45a Anvil Way
Kennett
NEWMARKET
Suffolk CB8 8GY / Bedford Borough, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Peterborough, SCE Worldwide, Southend on Sea, Suffolk, Thurrock
REGION AREA 6
NUT South East Regional Office
Britton House
College Road
ARDINGLY
West Sussex RH17 6TT / Bracknell, Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Medway, Oxfordshire, Portsmouth, Reading, Slough & Eton, Southampton, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor & Maidenhead, Wokingham
REGION AREA 7
NUT South West Regional Office
1 Lower Avenue
HEAVITREE
Exeter
Devon EX1 2PR / Bath Radstock & NE Somerset, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Guernsey, Jersey, North Somerset, Plymouth, Poole, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Torbay, Wiltshire
REGION AREA 8 – WANDSWORTH
NUT London Regional Office
The Pavilion
90 Point Pleasant
Riverside Quarter
LONDON
SW18 1PP / Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, City of London, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Greenwich, Hackney, Haringey, Havering, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster
WALES – CYMRU
NUT Cymru Office
Tŷ Sinnott
18 Neptune Court
Vanguard Way
CARDIFF
CF24 5PJ / Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Tawe Afan Nedd, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan, Wrexham, Ynys Mon
NUT NATIONAL ADVICELINE (part of the Advice, Policy and Campaigns Department)
Lazarus House (Ground Floor)
14 Princes Street
DONCASTER
DN1 3NJ

SALARY AND OUTLINE OF CONDITIONS OF SERVICE