Research Specialist

Open Position

Position: Research Specialist

Employment Starts: August 12, 2013

Location: Preference is for the position to be located in the CFT Sacramento Office

Salary Range: $74,755 - $104,461 (Steps 1 -5 on a ten step schedule, depending on qualifications and experience), plus full employee fringe benefit package: health, dental and vision plans and retirement program.

Deadline to apply: July 19, 2013

The AFT in California represents school employees, certificated and classified, at every level of public and private education — pre-school and Head Start, K-12 public and private schools, community colleges, private higher education, and the University of California.

The Research Specialist will work under the direction of the CFT President. The Research Specialist is in charge of the CFT Research Department and has the responsibility of keeping up-to-date on education finance, budget analysis of Head Start, early childhood and child care, elementary, high school and unified districts, community colleges, University of California, and private sector education institutions. This position will generate reports on the education finance, statewide salary and benefit data to both CFT staff and local leaders that have comparability studies related to the jurisdictions represented by the CFT, be available for consultation for negotiations, and conduct training sessions for CFT staff and local leaders on these assigned subjects. The Research Specialist will also provide information for presentation on the CFT Web site.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
1. Bachelor’s Degree or higher
2. Knowledge of the critical issues and problems facing education in California and the nation
3. Knowledge of the labor movement and collective bargaining in California
4. Knowledge of the organization and practices in public and private education in California
5. Knowledge of state and district budget forms and practices
6. Knowledge of the California Education Code
7. Knowledge of California public employment relations laws
8. Ability to work in a high pressure environment
9. Ability to work rapidly and accurately in peak/busy periods
10. Ability to strategize, organize and set priorities
11. Ability to secure relevant, contract, budget, salary and benefit information
12. Ability to make decisions, render judgments and take appropriate action
13. Ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision
14. Ability to research work-related questions in appropriate sources
15. Ability to accurately and coherently compose correspondence
16. Ability to make public presentations to audiences in a range of venues
17. Ability to design and present training sessions

Applicants for the Research Specialist should be able to demonstrate commitment to improving education and to the labor movement, a willingness to work long and irregular hours, an ability to communicate effectively with a diverse staff and membership, and an organizing approach to the job.

Membership in the in the CFT Field Representatives Union is required.

To apply for the position

Submit letter of application, resume, salary history and writing samples to:

California Federation of Teachers, AFT, AFL-CIO
Bay Area Office
1330 Broadway, Suite 1601
Oakland, CA 94612

Attention: Daniel Martin, Executive Director

Applications and accompanying information may also be sent electronically to dmartin@cft.org

The CFT is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer.